Baking a pie is almost an art form. There are so many different types of pies you can create and even different methods based on the same ingredients. Once you are done baking a pie, you want to make sure that it is going to last and will not get old and taste bad before you can enjoy it. How should you properly store a pie though?
Do pies need to be refrigerated? Pies should be refrigerated shortly after you bake them. Letting them sit out for more than a few hours may encourage bacteria to grow and can make them unhealthy to consume. Once the pie has some time to cool down from the oven, wrap it up and keep it in the fridge for two to four days while you enjoy.
Making delicious pies takes time and can sometimes be complicated. You want to ensure that you store the pie well so it can last while you and your family enjoy it. Placing the pie into the fridge will help it last for a few days without harmful bacteria getting a chance to grow on all the sugary sweetness of the pie. If you need to store the pie for longer, then use the freezer.
Let’s take a look at some of the simple steps that you need to help get the pie into the fridge.
How to Refrigerate a Pie
It is pretty simple to refrigerate a pie after you bake it. Start by assembling the pie using the directions in your chosen recipe. Once done, place it in the oven and allow it time to bake until done. Take the pie out of the oven and set it on a clean surface to cool down for a bit. Do not place the pie directly into the fridge. It is too hot and will warm up all the other items you keep in there.
The pie will need a few hours to cool down. You can add a towel over the pie to keep it safe and make sure nothing gets on it in the meantime. After two or three hours, come back to the kitchen and check the pie out. If it still feels really hot, then let it sit for a bit. It is fine if it is lukewarm, but you want it mostly cooled down before you proceed.
When the pie is close to room temperature again, wrap it up in some plastic wrap and add to a plastic bag or another container if you have one. Place it into the fridge to keep it cool and safe until you are ready to serve. Be careful about putting it somewhere that nothing will smoosh it. Somewhere cool, so not in the door, is important as well.
Types of Pies to Refrigerate
Most types of pies will need to be placed in the fridge once they have had a chance to cool down. Make sure that you do this with any type of pie that has dairy or eggs in it. These are the ones that will go bad the fastest, though they can do fine for up to two days, though many recommend adding them to the fridge as soon as possible.
Some of the pies that you should place into the fridge include chiffon, mousse, pumpkin, custard, and cream. These will all go bad if you keep them out of the fridge for more than two days. Unless you plan on eating them right away though, it is best to put them in a cooler location like the fridge as soon as they are cooled down from baking.
Of course, it is possible to place any kind of pie in the fridge that you would like. Even if the pie does not have dairy or eggs in it, or is not on our list above, you can place them in the fridge to keep them safe. Fruit pies can often do well in the fridge and sometimes taste even better when cold than at room temperature.
How Long Do Pies Stay Good in the Fridge?
Most pies will last in the fridge for 2 to 4 days depending on the type. Pies that have fresh fruit will do well for one to two days while cream pies are closer to two and three days. If you plan to eat the pie in the next few days, then adding it to the fridge to prevent bacteria from growing may be a good idea.
How to Keep Pies for Longer
Baking pies ahead of time for special events is always a good idea. They take some time to bake and taking one day to make a bunch of them can be more efficient. Since most types of pies will only last in the fridge for up to four days, it is important to find a different way to store those pies for a bit longer.
You can freeze any pie that you make. This helps the pie to last for six to eight months in most cases. This will help you to get a head start on your pie making and can make it easy to create all the pies that you need for the holiday season.
Freezing the Pie
Freezing the pie is simple. You will assemble the pie just like you were getting it ready to bake in the oven. Then place it in the freezer without a covering until it starts to firm a bit. This will only take a few hours. Then take the pie out of the freezer and wrap it in a few layers of plastic wrap and then into a freezer bag. When this is done, you can place it back into the freezer until you need it.
When ready to serve, take the pie out of the freezer and add a little egg wash to the crust. Bake the pie as instructed, which usually takes around 40 minutes and then check to see if it is done. If it is, allow it time to cool and then serve.