This Is the Best Way to Store Pumpkin Pie (2024)

Lauren Salkeld

Lauren Salkeld

Lauren Salkeld is a New York City-based writer and editor. After studying pastry at the French Culinary Institute, she spent a decade working for food magazines and websites, including Bon Appétit and Epicurious. She now uses her culinary and editorial background to help chefs and food personalities share their recipes and stories, by writing and editing cookbooks. Lauren has worked on numerous high-profile cookbooks, including Maman: The Cookbook, The Cook’s Atelier, Cherry Bombe: The Cookbook, and the James Beard Award–winning Eat in My Kitchen. She’s also the Director of Outreach for The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts and co-producer of the Inside Julia’s Kitchen podcast on Heritage Radio Network.

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updated Oct 20, 2023

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This Is the Best Way to Store Pumpkin Pie (1)

In This Article

  1. Does Pumpkin Pie Need to Be Refrigerated?
  2. How to Store Pumpkin Pie
  3. How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Last in The Fridge?
  4. Is It Okay to Leave Pumpkin Pie Out?
  5. How to Freeze Pumpkin Pie
  6. How to Serve Pumpkin Pie After Storing It

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Pumpkin pie might be your favorite way to complete your Thanksgiving feast and it’s one of the easiest pies to make, but the fall classic’s real superpower is that it’s ideal for baking in advance. As anyone who’s cooked a holiday meal can attest, make-ahead dishes are one of the keys to a successful feast. And even if you don’t want to make your pumpkin pie ahead, you’ll want to be sure to keep the leftovers in good shape so you can continue eating pie for days after the holiday.

With that in mind, we baked a few pumpkin pies and put them to the test to answer all your pie-related questions. What is the proper way to store pumpkin pie so it’s perfect on the big day? Does pumpkin pie need to be refrigerated? How long can pumpkin pie sit out? And can it be frozen? We have answers to all of those questions — and more.

Quick Overview

Does Pumpkin Pie Need to Be Refrigerated?

On most occasions, yes, pumpkin pie needs to be refrigerated. Though products like pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie spice are shelf stable, homemade pumpkin pie is typically made with eggs and some type of milk or cream, which means it must be refrigerated. The USDA advises that all “homemade egg-rich pies” be stored in the refrigerator, ideally within two hours of cooking and cooling.

How to Store Pumpkin Pie

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Once baked, allow your pumpkin pie to cool completely. Once cooled, cover your pie loosely with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator.

Store-Bought Pumpkin Pie

All this talk about refrigeration might have you wondering about the pumpkin pies you see sitting out at the supermarket. Store-bought pies may contain preservatives, which can affect how they should be stored. The USDA recommends contacting your bakery for storage information.

How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Last in The Fridge?

According to FoodSafety.gov, homemade pumpkin pie can be stored in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. To keep your pie as fresh as possible, be sure to wrap it loosely in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

As with most foods, the quality gradually starts to decline over time, but even after two days in the refrigerator, a properly wrapped pie will taste just-baked. By day three, you may notice the crust starting to dry out and the filling tasting flat. Pumpkin pie is still perfectly safe to eat after four days, but the crust will very likely be a bit soggy on the bottom and dry around the edges, while the filling will get a bit bland.

How To Tell if Your Pumpkin Pie Is Okay to Eat

While three to four days is the USDA’s recommended storage window, if you’re someone who hates to waste food, you may be tempted to keep your pie longer. Be sure to check your pie thoroughly first — these are signs it’s time to toss it:

  • Any off smells
  • A funky appearance such as excessive weeping or separation
  • Mold

Is It Okay to Leave Pumpkin Pie Out?

Yes and no. The USDA advises against leaving food out of refrigeration for more than two hours to avoid the “danger zone,” the temperature range (between 40°F and 140°F) where bacteria grows the fastest.

If your homemade pumpkin pie has been refrigerated, it can safely sit at room temperature for up to two hours before serving. So, if fridge space is limited on the big day, or you simply prefer the taste of room-temperature pie, you can leave it out for a bit before you slice and serve.

Can I Freeze Pumpkin Pie?

Yes, pumpkin pie can be frozen. According to FoodSafety.gov, pumpkin pie can be frozen for up to 2 months after baking. This is great news if you want to get a jumpstart on holiday baking, or if you want to freeze leftover pumpkin pie to enjoy a few weeks after Thanksgiving. Here’s how to do it:

  1. For the best results, bake your pie in a disposable aluminum foil pan. The thin pan allows the pie to freeze faster, so there’s less chance of large ice crystals forming in the filling, which can affect the texture of your pie. Bonus: Using an aluminum pan frees up your glass or ceramic pie dish for making an apple or pecan pie.
  2. Once baked, allow the pie to cool completely, then wrap it tightly in three layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil, and freeze it on a level shelf until fully frozen.
  3. Store in the freezer for up to two months, but try to enjoy it sooner for the best quality and flavor.

How to Defrost Pumpkin Pie

When it’s time to defrost your pie, slow and steady is the way to go. At least 12 hours in advance, remove all but the layer of plastic wrap that’s closest to the pie, and thaw the pie in the refrigerator (room-temperature defrosting almost always leads to a soggy crust!). If you see any liquid on the surface of the pie, gently dab it with a paper towel. See any marks or cracks? That’s what whipped cream is for.

How to Serve Pumpkin Pie After Storing It

When it comes to serving pumpkin pie that’s been refrigerated or frozen, you have a few options.

  • Serve it cold: Many people enjoy pumpkin pie cold, in which case it can go from the fridge to the table, with a pit stop for a dollop of whipped cream.
  • Serve it room-temperature: If you prefer room-temperature pie, take it out of the fridge to take the chill off before serving, keeping in mind that it shouldn’t sit out for more than two hours.
  • Warm it up: Want your pumpkin pie warm? Whether you’re reheating a slice, several slices, or a whole pie, loosely wrap the pie in foil and place in a 350°F until heated through. Slide a knife in the middle to check — the knife will be warm to the touch if the pie is toasty in the middle. How long this takes depends on how much pie you’re warming, but start checking after 10 to 15 minutes. Once pumpkin pie has been rewarmed, it can’t be refrigerated or frozen again.

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This Is the Best Way to Store Pumpkin Pie (2024)

FAQs

This Is the Best Way to Store Pumpkin Pie? ›

Once the pumpkin pie is completely cool (or at least cool to the touch), wrap it in food-safe plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store in the fridge. Place your wrapped pie in the refrigerator. Keep it covered for up to four days.

Should you cover pumpkin pie with foil or plastic wrap? ›

To keep your pie as fresh as possible, be sure to wrap it loosely in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. As with most foods, the quality gradually starts to decline over time, but even after two days in the refrigerator, a properly wrapped pie will taste just-baked.

Is it okay to leave pumpkin pie out overnight? ›

Allow it to cool completely on a wire rack before putting it in the fridge. You can also keep pumpkin pie at room temperature for up to two hours, according to the FDA. So feel free to take the pie out of the fridge a little while before cutting a slice.

Why do stores not refrigerate pumpkin pie? ›

Most pumpkin pies that are commercially produced, like those you would buy at the store, are shelf stable because they have been cooked at a higher temperature. They also typically contain preservatives and producers have carefully controlled the acidity of the pie to reduce risk of bacterial growth.

Should pumpkins go in the fridge or counter? ›

Store whole pumpkins upside down in a cool dark place. Store cut pumpkin, wrapped tightly in beeswax wraps, in the fridge. Make sure you remove the seeds first.

Can you make pumpkin pie 2 days before Thanksgiving? ›

Make Ahead: Pumpkin pie can be made one day ahead of time and refrigerated. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The dough can be made ahead, wrapped in plastic, and refrigerated for up to 2 days, or frozen for up to 1 month. If you freeze it, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze pumpkin pie? ›

Good news: You can freeze pumpkin pies. The rich custard filling (read: high fat content) of pumpkin pies means they freeze beautifully. In fact, the same is true of other pies with custard filling, including sweet potato pies.

How to keep pumpkin pie from pulling away from the crust? ›

The oven rack may be too close to the top heating element in the oven. This can cause filling to 'skin' and crack as it bakes and to settle slightly when cooling and pull away from the crust. Another possible reason is over-baking. Try reducing cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes.

How should I store a pie overnight? ›

Loosely cover: After baking and cooling your pie, loosely cover it with aluminum foil. Store: store for at room temperature for up to two days, or up to seven days in the fridge according to USDA guidelines. Bake: Bake pie 10 to 15 minutes in a 375°F oven before serving to help re-crisp the crust and warm up the fruit.

Is pumpkin pie healthy? ›

According to the USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, we should all be eating 2 cups of orange veggies each week. Pumpkin pie can help meet these recommendations plus that brilliant orange color provides the antioxidants vitamin A and lutein.

How to tell if pumpkin pie has gone bad? ›

There are a few ways to check if your pumpkin pie has gone rancid. Toss the pie if it has a foul smell, looks like it has excessive separation or weeping, or has grown mold.

Can you eat pumpkin pie right out of the oven? ›

Allow the Pie to Cool Completely

You can't rush a pumpkin pie. A still-warm pie doesn't hold its shape well when served, and that may explain why your perfectly baked pie turned into a mushy mess on a plate.

Why should you not throw pumpkins in the garbage? ›

Pumpkins that end up in landfills have a hard time breaking down because landfills function to store material and don't have much oxygen to allow organics to decompose properly. When organic materials don't have enough oxygen to break down, they release methane gas, a greenhouse gas that is harmful to the environment.

Why do you store pumpkins upside down? ›

Pumpkins usually last three months in a cool, dry place but can store up to six months if you are lucky. Pumpkins continue to ripen after they are picked so storing upside down can aid in this process, and is said to make the pumpkin taste even sweeter. (Be careful not to damage the stalk if you choose to do this.)

How long will pumpkins last unrefrigerated? ›

How Long Do Pumpkins Last? Freshly harvested pumpkins or store-bought pumpkins can last 1 month at room temperature and 2 to 3 months if stored in a cool, dark, dry place. When it comes to carving a pumpkin, don't carve too early! It only lasts 3 days to 1 week before rotting, depending on the weather conditions!

What do you cover pumpkin pie with? ›

Once the pumpkin pie is completely cool (or at least cool to the touch), wrap it in food-safe plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store in the fridge. Place your wrapped pie in the refrigerator. Keep it covered for up to four days.

Should I cover my pie with foil when baking? ›

Reducing the oven temperature after about 15 minutes allows the pie to bake fully without danger of burning. However, if the edge of the crust looks like it's browning too quickly towards the end of the bake, cover it with a pie shield or strips of aluminum foil.

Is it better to wrap food in foil or plastic wrap? ›

While cling film may be suitable for short-term storage or covering food in the refrigerator, aluminum foil is the clear winner in terms of long-term food preservation. When it comes to cooking and heating, aluminum foil shines.

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