how long does swiss meringue last?
I've just discovered swiss meringue as a dairy-free option for frosting cakes and am not sure much about it, including how long it lasts, whether to store it in the fridge or room temperature, how far ahead can I make it and does it freeze.
Please note that I am not talking about swiss meringue buttercream, but just swiss meringue (egg & sugar).
It seems such an easy, delicious frosting I'm surprised I haven't encountered it before. Maybe I'm not aware of the downside?
Best Answer
Swiss meringue is a very stable meringue compared to the more commonly used French meringue.
Swiss meringue is a meringue that has been heated and cooked so that the sugar has melted and reached a certain temperature whereas the French meringue is a raw meringue.
I won't go into too much details about the preparation of the Swiss meringue but due to the cooked nature of Swiss meringue, it can be stored much longer than the French meringue. The cooking helps make the meringue denser which allows it to keep its form better. The cooking also provide the secondary effect of pasteurizing the egg mixture which also extend shelf life.
A Swiss meringue can be prepared a day in advance and should be stored in the refrigerator, covered. It will not leak as a traditional meringue typically do. It is not recommended to freeze it though.
Nonetheless is it still a meringue which is unstable at heart. Its structure will slowly deteriorate but it isn't too noticeable until 2+ days. And if stored properly in the refrigerator it should fall apart before it becomes unsafe to eat.
Pictures about "how long does swiss meringue last?"
Quick Answer about "how long does swiss meringue last?"
Swiss meringue buttercream is very stable and if kept in a cool environment, will keep well under a ganached and fondant covered cake for approximately three days at room temperature. It is reasonable to give three days for filling, covering, and decorating, and two/three days for eating.Can Swiss meringue be made in advance?
It is also very stable and you can make it a day in advance. Just keep it covered in the fridge; it won't start weeping or leaking. It won't collapse either. Because of this, I think Swiss meringue is the perfect meringue to top pies or desserts with!Does Swiss meringue need to be refrigerated?
Swiss meringue buttercream is ok to be left out for hours and hours. After about 8 hours it can get spongy though and loose it's smoothness so it's best to refrigerate if you're not going to use it and then re-whip it. Cakes that are frosted in Swiss meringue buttercream can be left at room temperature for two days!How long does uncooked Swiss meringue last?
Baked meringue (like pavlova or meringue cookies) will stay good this way for up to a month, while uncooked meringue will last this way for up to ten months.Is Swiss meringue stable?
Swiss meringue is stable Because of the combination of egg whites + sugar + gentle heat you create a very stable foam. The air bubbles in this foam aren't very large, but they are very stable. As a result, a Swiss meringue can handle quite a bit. You can pipe it through a piping bag.How to Make Swiss Meringue Buttercream | My Favorite Frosting!
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Mikhail Nilov, Brennan Tolman, Anna Shevchuk, Nout Gons