How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Last in the Fridge? How to Store Pumpkin Pie.

How long does pumpkin pie last in the fridge? Does it even need to be refrigerated? Can you freeze pumpkin pie? These might be questions you ask yourself during the holiday season, so let’s go over how to store pumpkin pie. 

Are you planning on making a real, fresh pumpkin pie for this holiday season, or bringing a store-bought one home? I know whenever I bring one out after a nice dinner, it becomes the memorable showstopper of the evening. There’s usually not a crumb left on the pie plate.

With people still social distancing and many big holiday dinners not taking place, at least with the large numbers of guests like previous holidays, maybe this will be the year I’ll have some dessert leftovers. Pumpkin pie for breakfast, anyone?

So, how exactly do you store pumpkin pie and does pumpkin pie need to be refrigerated? And, if you need to, can you freeze pumpkin pie?

Keep reading my guide for all the tips to know if pumpkin pie needs to be refrigerated, how long pumpkin pie lasts in the fridge, and answer any of your questions on keeping our favorite desert as fresh and delicious as it was right out of the oven!

How to Store Pumpkin Pie

One of the best things about pumpkin pie is its longevity. This dessert will keep for days if stored correctly. So, how do I ensure my dessert will stay as tempting as when I had my first bite?

Pumpkin pie needs to be completely cooled from the oven before it is stored. It must be stored covered in the refrigerator because this dessert is made from ingredients that require cold temperatures to stay food safe. I wouldn’t want to go to the trouble of making or buying my dessert just to end up with a spoiled pumpkin pie!

Most pumpkin pies are a type of custard dessert, meaning it is made by thickening cream or milk with eggs. Although fine to leave on the counter while cooling and serving to guests, pumpkin pie needs to be wrapped and stored in the fridge in an airtight container when not being consumed.

Learning how to preserve your food is essential for a good home cook. And, when you go to the effort to create lovely recipes and bake delicious desserts, it would be such a shame for these treats to not last for another day. Wrapping your pumpkin pie properly and storing it in the fridge will secure both its flavor and nutritional integrity for up to four days.

How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Last on the Counter?

Unlike cookies, cakes, and many other fruit pies that can sit out on the counter for long periods of time, pumpkin pie needs to be stored in a refrigerated space. As I described, pumpkin pies are usually made from custard and can stay safe on the counter for up to two hours.

Pumpkin pies brought home from big grocery stores usually have some type of preservative added to ensure a longer shelf life. If you purchased your pie and it wasn’t refrigerated in the store, then it can live on your counter until the best before date. If your pie came from a family-owned bakery or farmer’s market, then treat it like a homemade pie and get it refrigerated as soon as you get home.

Like all our Vegan Pumpkin Recipes, vegan pumpkin pies don’t have the same safety risks as pies made from sweetened condensed milk and eggs, but they still require proper storage for food safety. Treat your vegan pumpkin pie the same as you would with a traditional recipe.

How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Last in the Fridge?

Because pumpkin pie is a traditional dish made of dairy and eggs, it must be stored in the fridge to keep it food safe. Like anything else perishable, a pie will only keep for as long as it is stored with correct refrigeration and sealed from the drying cold air.

Up to three days in the fridge will guarantee the same delicious flavor as when you first brought it home. Four days is my limit in the fridge, but some people believe you can store a pumpkin pie up to five or six. I recommend you consume it within the three-to-four-day limit.

Hold off on topping your pie with any of our Best Pumpkin Pie Decorations as they won’t last as long. 

Can You Tell if a Pumpkin Pie is Spoiled?

The safest way to keep track of the quality of your pumpkin pie is to write the date on the container when you first store it in the fridge. This is a good food-safe practice and one all commercial kitchens use to ensure your safety and keep track of their multitudes of ingredients.

Bacteria, and other pathogens that can make us sick, are invisible to the naked eye. Not taking risks with your food, keeping your eye on cooling times, and ensuring leftovers are stored properly is how I keep my family safe from accidentally eating spoiled food.

Spoiled pumpkin pie will first show signs on the filling, usually appearing as mold. If the pie has a strange, “off” aroma but no visual signs of going bad, that is a signal that it is likely past its best before date.

Can You Freeze Pumpkin Pie?

So, what do I do when my pumpkin pie is stored correctly in the fridge, but I’m not going to get to eat it in the next few days? I make space in the freezer.

Yes, that’s right, you can freeze pumpkin pie! Pumpkin pie will freeze well for up to one month.  I often make multiple pies when baking to save time later on. Once the pie has completely cooled (usually it takes one and a half to two hours) I wrap the pie securely in food-grade plastic wrap to store in the freezer for a later date.

Aluminum foil or reusable beeswax wraps are also a good option. The goal is to keep the refrigerated air away from contacting the pie. Using two layers or a layer of plastic wrap and then aluminum foil over top will ensure the freshness of your dessert.

How to Store Pumpkin Pie in the Freezer

Pies with custard fillings stand up to storing in the freezer well. The rich ingredients and the sturdy pie crust keep their shape and texture under freezing conditions.

You can save yourself some time this holiday season by baking off half a dozen pumpkin pies and storing them efficiently in your freezer. Then you’ll have access to this season’s favorite homemade dessert any time you feel like it!

For storing both in the fridge or the freezer, you can keep the pie in the baking pie pan, or transfer it to a food container with a sealed lid. The goal is to make sure the pie isn’t exposed to the air, ensuring it will stay fresh and moist when you pull it out to eat again.

You can slice the pumpkin pie into individual pieces if you like.

I’ve done this before and froze the slices individually, wrapping each one to be air-tight. This way you can pull out one or two slices at a time to defrost if you live alone or in a small household. They don’t hold their shape like a pie that hasn’t been cut does, but if you aren’t too worried about looks, this won’t matter.

Double wrapping my pumpkin pie is my technique for keeping it as fresh as possible. I like to leave my pie in the pie pan so once it’s defrosted it can go straight into the oven to warm up again. Although, cold pumpkin pie is just as tasty!

Thawing Out Your Pumpkin Pie

Now, you’re probably wondering how to thaw pumpkin pie properly. Well, it’s quite easy to do and pretty much a hands-off step!

When it’s time to pull my pumpkin pie out of the freezer, I make sure I do so the day before I want to consume it. Then, I make room on a fridge shelf and let it sit. That’s it!

It will take at least twelve hours to defrost in your refrigerator, so that is why it is important to plan ahead. Unless you’ve tried freezing the individual slices of pie, then those will take much less time to fully defrost.

If once your pumpkin pie is fully defrosted, you notice there are some imperfections on the pie face, you can always dress it up by baking some pie crust decorations or load it up with sweet, Chantilly cream.

One of the great things about pumpkin pie is that it tastes just as good cold straight from the fridge as it does warm right out of the oven! Remember, if you’re wondering how long does pumpkin pie need to be refrigerated, it will last up to four days and up to three months in the freezer. Though, eating it sooner rather than later will guarantee the pumpkin pie tastes its best.

Enjoy Delicious Pumpkin Pie Leftovers

Now that you know all the steps to keep your pumpkin pie stored safely, it won’t matter if you have leftover dessert after these holiday dinners. Since learning how to store my pumpkin pie recipes properly, I’ve been baking them more often, and not just saving them for special occasions.

Be sure to check out all the pumpkin recipes on the Yummy Mummy Kitchen database! I’ve got options for gluten-free pie crusts, vegan custards, and pumpkin spiced lattes. Remember to drop me a comment on the recipe you love the most!

Here’s to a happy pumpkin pie season!