Pumpkin pie is an amazing delicacy, but sometimes you’ve had a bit too much and want to store the remainder of your pie to eat later. However, you might be confused about how to store pumpkin pie properly to keep it fresh. With it being a dessert item, it is quite perishable if the proper steps are not taken.
This article will help you with storing pumpkin pie. Once you know what to do, you’ll never have to worry about your pie getting ruined.
How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Usually Last?
Pumpkin pie contains cooked eggs and usually tend to be tender. This makes it susceptible to mold and bacteria. Leaving your pumpkin pie out at the table will usually make it last for a day or two before you start smelling something off from it and see some mold growing on it.
Excess moisture is also an enemy of pumpkin pie, and leaving it exposed to the air can cause it to grow soggy and unappetizing to eat. As you can see, pumpkin pie can very easily go bad, and you need to take careful steps to preserve it.
How to Store Pumpkin Pie
The best way to preserve pumpkin pie for eating it later is to either refrigerate it or keep it in the freezer. Both of these can greatly extend the life of your pumpkin pie.
Another thing to consider when preserving pumpkin pie is to keep excess moisture away from it or to prevent condensation from forming on the pie. The best option you have against protecting your pumpkin pie from excess moisture is by sealing it properly with a plastic wrap to make it airtight.
So, as you can surmise, the first thing you have to do is to make the sealing of your pumpkin pie airtight and then either refrigerate it or deep freeze it.
Wrapping the Pie
For wrapping the pumpkin pie, a plastic wrap can be used, but in case you don’t have it, you can also opt to use wax paper or aluminum foil to seal it. If you are running a bakery, plastic wrap or wax paper are good ways to wrap the pie in for customers.
Once the pie has reached room temperature, you can start wrapping using your choice of wrap. There are some guidelines you should follow regardless of the wrap you are using.
Wrap the Whole of the Pie including the Pan It Is in
- Remember to seal it tightly. The wrap should touch the pie, and remember to press the top lightly so that it sticks and leaves no empty room. This prevents air from touching the pie.
- If you are storing this at home, for extra protection, you can opt to put the wrapped pie in another layer of wrapping or put it inside an airtight container.
Once you’ve finished wrapping your pumpkin pie, you can then either choose to put it in the refrigerator or freeze it.
Putting Pumpkin Pie in the Refrigerator
Putting pumpkin pie in your refrigerator is a good way to store it for up to 4 days. It is also the easiest way to store pumpkin pie for later use. Make sure the pie is sufficiently cooled before you begin wrapping it.
Once properly wrapped, you can put it in a cool spot in your refrigerator and take it out when needed. Make sure that it’s 4 days or less, and always check the smell to see if something’s off. If you find that it smells bad, it might have gone bad, and you shouldn’t risk trying to eat it.
After taking it out of the fridge (and if it is still good), let it rest for some time before carefully removing the wrap. If needed, you can add the decorated parts or some whipped cream now if you aren’t going to store it again.
Putting the Pumpkin Pie in the Freezer
If you want to store it for longer (a week or so), you might want to opt for putting your pumpkin pie in the freezer. Like before, you should carefully wrap the pumpkin pie before putting it into the freezer.
However, do note that putting your pumpkin pie in the freezer for a long time can affect the consistency and texture of your pie. So it is important not to store your pie in the freezer for a long time and when you take it out, give it a half a day to thaw out and then reheat it for some time in the oven to ensure the best results.
Do not put it in the oven initially without thawing as it can cause the pie to crack.
Necessary Precautions
Here are the precautions you need to take:
Cooling the Cake
If you’ve just finished baking your pumpkin pie and want to store it for when guests or friends come over later, you will want to let it cool down first. When you take it out of the oven, it will be pretty hot, which will make wrapping difficult for you.
Trying to put the hot pumpkin pie into the refrigerator will cause condensation to form on the pie, which will ruin the filling and crust of your pie. As such, it is recommended to allow the pie to cool down for 30 to 40 minutes until it reaches room temperature. Once properly cooled, you can begin wrapping the pie.
Applying Whipped Cream
Another thing to note that if you want to use whipped cream on your pumpkin pie to make it taste even better, it is recommended to avoid applying whipped cream if you are going to refrigerate and store it. Not only will it ruin the texture of the cream, but it will also make it more difficult to wrap and store it.
Apply whipped cream a few minutes before serving for the best results.
Conclusion
Pumpkin pie is a great delicacy, but it can be difficult to store at times since it is so perishable. But you shouldn’t have any problem now as you’ve read our “how to store pumpkin pie” guide.
But still, diligence and awareness are needed to ensure the leftovers of your pumpkin pie do not go to waste.