Who doesn’t enjoy the sweet, nutty flavor of pecan pie, finished with a dollop of ice cream? Pecan pie is a popular dessert, and for good reason.
You may be wondering does pecan pie need to be refrigerated. Yes. Because pecan pie is an “egg-rich” pie, the After it has cooled, the USDA advises keeping it in the refrigerator.
For more information on pecan pie storage, continue reading.
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Should Pecan Pie Be Refrigerated?
Yes. Because pecan pie is an “egg-rich” pie, USDA advises keeping it in the refrigerator once it has cooled. If you don’t intend to serve the pie right away after baking it, it shouldn’t be left out at room temperature. Before putting the pie in the refrigerator, though, make sure it’s completely cool because otherwise the filling might crack and ruin your presentation.
Other pies that fall into the “egg-rich pie” category include pumpkin, lemon meringue, and custard pies, which means they all need to be stored in the refrigerator as well. Both homemade and store-bought pies share this characteristic. All pecan pies should be kept in the refrigerator even though store-bought pies may contain preservatives.
Why Pecan Pie Should Be Refrigerated?
Store-bought pecan pies have preservatives and other ingredients that make them shelf-stable, but if you make pecan pie at home, you’ll probably use an egg-base.
If you are not planning on eating the pecan pie within 2 hours of baking, you will need to place it in the fridge, and it is fine to place the pecan pie in the fridge if it is still warm.
The reason for needing to refrigerate pecan pie is that bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Foodborne illness and food poisoning can result from the growth of bacteria on food. The quick growth of bacteria will be slowed down, allowing your pecan pie to last longer, if you store it in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pie can still be heated when you’re ready to eat it, but only heat what you’ll actually consume because the pie shouldn’t be heated more than once.
How Long Can Pecan Pie Be Refrigerated?
Compared to many other pies, pecan pie is more durable. Meringue or chiffon pies cannot be refrigerated for more than a day or two.
Pecan pie, on the other hand, can last for up to four days in the fridge if stored properly. The pecan pie must be frozen if you want to keep it longer than this.
Using a sealing pie plate, like this one from Amazon, is one of the simplest ways to store or freeze a pie.
How To Refrigerate Pecan Pie?
Pecan pie will stay fresher for a longer period of time if it is stored and refrigerated correctly, giving you more time to enjoy it.
Once the pecan pie has baked, it should be chilled if you won’t be eating it within two hours.
- Wait until the pecan pie has reached room temperature before moving it to a secure surface to finish cooling. Before putting it in the fridge, you shouldn’t let it cool for more than two hours.
- Cover the pecan pie loosely with a layer of aluminum foil or plastic wrap, keeping it in the pie dish. Be careful not to wrap the pie too tightly or to apply to much pressure, as this can ruin the shape and texture of the pie.
- If you don’t have any aluminum foil or plastic wrap, you can use a plate turned upside down to cover the pie. As it does take up more space than simply wrapping the pie, this does not work well in smaller refrigerators.
- For up to 4 days, the pecan pie can be stored in the refrigerator, wrapped.
You can either eat the pecan pie directly from the fridge or reheat it for up to 15 minutes in an oven preheated to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Long Can Pecan Pie Be Left at Room Temperature?
According to the FDA, pecan pies can be left out on the counter for up to two hours before needing to be chilled. Your food is susceptible to the growth of dangerous bacteria after two hours at room temperature. The FDA advises keeping food at or below 40 degrees F (4 degrees C) for storage.
Can Pecan Pie Be Freezed?
Fortunately, pecan pie can be frozen, which means you won’t need to make as many desserts on Thanksgiving. The low moisture content of pecan pie fillings makes them resistant to freezing and ensures that the pie will not be soggy after being thawed. After allowing your baked pecan pie to cool completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer.
The pie should be heated through in a 350°F oven after defrosting in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Storage Tips
Here are some additional storage tips on how to keep your pie as fresh as possible for a longer period of time:
- The risk of the crust getting soggy when storing the pecan pie in the refrigerator exists. To try and avoid this, you should keep it tightly covered and at a steady temperature. The crust shouldn’t get too soggy if the pie is tightly covered and no additional air or moisture is allowed to enter the pie.
- If keeping the pecan pie frozen in a deep freezer is an option, do it. When the door is opened and closed, the temperature in a traditional freezer attached to the refrigerator frequently fluctuates more.
- If you plan on eating smaller portions of the pie, it might be a good idea to freeze individual slices. To do this, cut the pie into slices and let the slices cool. Slices are placed into a freezer bag after being individually wrapped in plastic wrap. In this manner, you can enjoy a slice of pie without having to defrost the whole pie.
- Pie cannot be made in advance and frozen or chilled to be baked later. The egg is a component of pecan pie, and when chilled or frozen and thawed, the egg will curdle and prevent a well-textured pie from baking. For this reason, it is better to bake the pie first and then freeze or refrigerate it.