How Long Does Cloud Bread Stay Fresh?
By now, you've probably stumbled across cloud bread somewhere online. This simple concoction of egg whites, cornstarch, sugar, and food coloring/flavorings creates a light, fluffy, and often pastel-colored treat that's perfect for posting. However, despite the fact that cloud bread has actually been around (in some form) since the 1970s, there are still some things you might not know about this tasty TikTok trend. For instance, how long does it stay fresh? (via Today).
The longevity of your cloud bread, not unlike real bread, will depend in part on the recipe you use and how you store it. KirbieCravings reports that their keto cloud bread recipe will last up to three days in the fridge. However, that recipe includes cream cheese. Unfortunately, cloud bread recipes that are more like a classic meringue (made from mostly egg whites and sugar) probably won't keep as long, so it's best to only make the amount you're going to eat immediately.
If you have to store some cloud bread, Food How recommends allowing it to cool completely, then placing it in a sealed container (using wax paper to separate the loaves so they don't stick together) before refrigerating for 2-3 days or freezing for up to 3 months. However, if you find your cloud bread quickly deflates despite your best efforts, it might not be your fault.
The secret truth of cloud bread
Egg whites are notoriously temperamental (if you need proof, just look at all the TikTok hacks for cracking and separating eggs!). So, if you're going to all the trouble of whipping them to stiff peaks in order to make cloud bread, it stands to reason that you would want that bread to last as long as possible. Unfortunately, what most of the articles gloss over is the fact that even influencers find the perfect cloud bread texture elusive and ephemeral. Even CNN only designated one line to noting that quickly deflating cloud bread is common and the likely result of "whipping time, humidity and altitude." Of course, you can increase your whipping time, but when it comes to humidity and elevation, there's not much you can do.
So, if you do set out to make some cloud bread, you can rest easy knowing that, if it deflates immediately, it probably wasn't your fault. Or, you can just sit back and enjoy the satisfaction of watching other people tearing into fluffy, colorful clouds of bread from behind your screen without having to deal with the egg whites deflating, or what some TikTokers describe as the "rotten egg" flavor of plain cloud bread (via Eater).