Pumpkin pie often makes an appearance around Thanksgiving, but it's far too good to only enjoy once a year. Tasty pumpkin pie recipes mean you can indulge in this delicious, sweet treat whenever you are in the mood. Find out more about how to store pumpkin pie to keep the pie crust crisp and the filling moist.
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An entire pie often disappears fast (at least in this house!) which means it doesn't need to be stored for long, but if you find yourself with some, you will want to preserve it the best you can.
One of my absolute favorite desserts for the holidays has to be pumpkin pie served with plenty of whipped cream on the side and sprinkled with a little cinnamon or nutmeg on top.
There are plenty of wonderful pumpkin recipes to choose from, including cheesecake, pumpkin pie bars, and healthy pumpkin bars.
As pumpkin is a seasonal ingredient, you should be able to find canned pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling year-round. With its sweet flavor and timeless appeal, pumpkin pie is always a popular dessert, and fall just wouldn't be the same without this festive favorite.
What is Pumpkin Pie?
Pumpkin pie is a traditional fall and winter holiday dessert that's made with fresh or canned pumpkin and typically includes sugar and spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
The crust is typically flaky pastry and the filling is poured into the crust before the pumpkin pie is baked in the oven. Pumpkin pie, which is especially popular in the US and Canada, is especially delicious when served with whipped cream. You can find fresh or frozen pumpkin pie in most grocery stores or make your own.
Pumpkins have been grown in Central America for some 7000 years and were one of the first things European explorers introduced from the New World in the 1500s. The first pumpkin pies were made in the pumpkin shell rather than with flaky pastry.
Whether you are planning to prepare a homemade pumpkin pie for dessert or you have store-bought pumpkin pie for a special occasion, it's important to know how to store it to keep it fresh. The following tips also apply to fruit pies such as apple pie, along with pecan pie and custard pie recipes.
How to Store Pumpkin Pie
Whether you have store-bought pies or homemade pies, the end goal is the same, and that's to keep it fresh, tasty and avoid a soggy crust. So let's look at the best way to prolong the life of your pie.
- First, it's important to let the whole pie cool on the kitchen counter until it reaches room temperature. This should take 2 to 4 hours.
- Wrap it in layers of plastic wrap or foil, ensuring the surface of the pie, the top, and the edges are completely enclosed.
- It will keep for up to 2 hours once it's cooled to room temperature or up to 4 days if refrigerated.
- If you want to keep it for longer than that, the best option is to freeze it.
- To freeze pumpkin pie, wrap it in foil and then, to prevent freezer burn, put it in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or airtight container then freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Thaw these tasty Thanksgiving leftovers overnight still in the plastic container, in the refrigerator. If you want it warm, reheat the pumpkin pie for about 15 minutes in the oven at 300°F or 10 minutes at 350°F.
A store-bought pie should be fine for several days after the sell-by date or for a day after the best by or other expiration dates. Keep it refrigerated for the best results.
How to Tell if Pumpkin Pie is Spoiled
Food safety is important and knowing how to spot bad pie is just as worth knowing as how to store pumpkin pie. How long pumpkin pie will keep depends on various factors.
A spoiled pie might have discoloration or mold on the crust or surface, or smell bad or sour. A slimy or very soft texture can also indicate spoilage.
Even if it looks and smells good, a bitter or sour taste means it's gone bad. If you aren't sure whether the pie is still good, or beginning to turn bad, it's best to just throw the pie out rather than risk food poisoning.
Common Questions
Pumpkin pie is as important to your Thanksgiving spread as the turkey, so it's important to know how to tell when it's fully cooked. There are several things to look for. An instant-read thermometer should show 170°F when inserted into the pumpkin filling. A knife inserted into the middle of the pie should come out clean, and the filling edges will be firm. The middle should jiggle slightly but not be any runnier than that. If you take your pie out of the oven too early, you can expect a soggy bottom and runny filling, so make sure it's fully done before taking it out. You can't do much if you overcook it but if the pumpkin custard filling is "weeping" just blot it off with a paper towel.
The classic way to serve this delicious pie is with some whipped cream on top. You can also sprinkle over some cinnamon or nutmeg, or even a drizzle of caramel sauce. A regular or vegan pumpkin pie is delicious when served cold, at room temperature, or warm, whichever you prefer.
Did You Know?
- The United States grows more than 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins every year, with Indiana, Illinois, California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania being the biggest producers.g
- The heaviest pumpkin ever weighed more than a whopping 2,600 pounds and was grown in Germany.
- Botanically, a pumpkin is a fruit rather than a vegetable. They are actually winter squash in the Cucurbitacae family, which includes melons and cucumbers.
Whether it's pumpkin season or another time of year, pumpkin pie is always a winning dessert. Now you know how to store pumpkin pie, you can keep your delicious Thanksgiving dessert fresh for days, weeks, or even months, depending on how you choose to store it.
