Sponge cake is conventionally made fresh daily due to its perishable nature. The mold-free shelf life of preservative-free bakery is limited to only a few days. Extending the shelf life of sponge cakes is challenging. Aside from rapid microbial degrada- tions, a slower, complex set of deleterious physical and chemical changes associated with organoleptic characteristics also de- termines cake shelf life, which complicates efforts to extend both safety and quality. Crucial phenomena that lead to freshness loss of sponge cakes are staling and lipid oxidation (Del Nobile, Buonocor, Limbo & Fava, 2003). To increase shelf life and enhance safety, chemical preservatives are commonly employed. Recent food safety laws and regulations worldwide as well as consumer demand for organic and wholesome products with “clean” labels have shifted the burden of synthetic chemical preservatives away, and toward