When it comes to muffins, everyone loves them in mint condition. So, when you’re making muffins in large batches, your first concern is how to keep muffins fresh for a long time.
It can be a big problem since muffins start aging as soon as they are prepared. They lose their internal moisture over time and become sloppy in consistency. This sloppiness takes place in one or two days. Thus, figuring out how to keep them fresh for a few more days is quite necessary.
To help you in this situation, we’ve come up with some practical ideas to keep your muffins fresh for some days.
Why Muffins Age Quickly
Muffins taste best when they are taken straight out of the oven. When they remain dry for a long time, the moisture stored inside the muffins starts to transfer outside. So, they lose their rigid core and start softening up.
As a result, in a day or two, they become soggy in consistency. This aging may also take place in less than a day, depending on your room temperature.
There is no permanent solution to this problem, but you can delay their aging process to a few more days.
How to Keep Muffins Fresh for a Long Time
You can enjoy fresh muffins for at least four to five days and sometimes a few weeks, too, if they are preserved accurately. Here are some simple and effective ways you can keep your freshly baked muffins fresh for a few days-
1. Store in Containers with Airtight Lids
This is one of the best ways you can keep your muffins fresh for some time. Airtight lids are very useful in storing any food item for a long time. Containers with airtight lids, primarily Tupperware boxes, work well in this case.
Storing the muffins in airtight containers or Tupperware will require some paper towels beforehand. Paper towels do a great job of absorbing the moisture released from the center of the muffins to the surface.
When you put the muffins in a sealed container, the moisture released will accumulate over the muffins’ top. This moisture can build up on the muffin’s outer surfaces and cause the tops to look damp. It eventually turns the muffins soft and alters the original taste of the muffins.
So, a paper towel will help absorb all the excess moisture and keep the muffins fresh. It will get rid of the moisture building up and keep the muffin bottom and tops in shape.
Place a layer of paper towel at the bottom of the container and cover the muffins with another layer. Both layers will absorb moisture from any side of the muffins and completely block it from accumulating on the top.
Seal the container with an airtight lid and store at room temperature. In this way, your muffins will not turn soggy and remain fresh for a long time.
2. Using a Zip-Lock Bag
This one is quite similar to storing in an airtight container. If you don’t have a proper sealing lid for your box, a Zip-lock bag is the best possible option.
You can store your muffins by placing a layer of paper towel inside the zip-lock bag and then putting your muffins in. Cover the muffin tops with another layer of paper towel and zip the bag. This is an effortless way to store your muffins and keep them fresh for some days after baking.
3. Cooling Appropriately
Another quick trick to make your muffins last longer is by cooling them for some time after taking them out of the oven. This trick provides a formidable core to the muffins and helps them to set entirely in a definite shape. Cooling before storing also offers an excellent form to the muffin tops.
It is best if you can cool them on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before storing them. You can also keep them on your kitchen counter by spreading a clean towel and leaving the muffins with another towel on the top. This can be a useful trick to delay the aging of the muffins.
4. Freezing the Muffins
You can also try freezing the muffins for better results at keeping them fresh for a long time.
Freezing the muffins also makes it easy to take out and serve them in no time. You can carefully freeze the muffins by putting them in a container with a few sheets of paper towels at the bottom. Cover the top of the muffins with a few more sheets and store them in the fridge.
The paper towels will help with the sogginess of the muffins. You can always take them out of the fridge and enjoy them for a couple of weeks. Using these few easy and simple tricks, you can keep your muffins fresh for 2-3 weeks and enjoy their delicious taste.
5. Heating in Microwave
If your muffins turn wet and sticky and there is no option available, heating them in the microwave will help to some extent.
Heat the muffins for a minute or two in your microwave oven, and they will look in good form. Though they might not look fresh like they looked after baking, they will look much better than their soggy state.
Storage Options to Avoid
Sometimes storing muffins inaccurately or using the wrong options can also cause your muffins to lose their taste and consistency. It is essential to know how to store your muffins correctly to prevent them from turning sloppy.
Here are some things you should avoid while storing muffins-
- Avoid wrapping the muffins in plastic wrap. Plastic wraps can’t absorb the excess moisture from the muffin. Instead, the moisture accumulates on the top of the muffins. So, the muffins appear sticky and wet.
- Don’t store the muffins in the deep freezer. Muffins can undergo a complete change in texture and flavor when stored in a deep freezer. So, it is better to keep them with paper towels in the regular refrigerator.
- Never seal the muffins in airtight containers without paper towels. Without paper towels, the moisture will build upon the muffins’ surface and cause them to turn soggy.
Conclusion
Concluding the discussion, it can be said that nothing can beat the taste of fresh muffins. Since it’s not possible to bake muffins every other day, it can be useful to make large batches and store them appropriately. So, if you want to know how to keep muffins fresh for a long time after baking, our easy ideas will help you.