If you have made a pecan pie from scratch for a weekend or holiday treat, you probably wonder what to do with your freshly baked dessert. Should it be left on the kitchen counter or immediately stored in the fridge once baked?
You are presumably going through these questions continuously, not knowing the correct answer or the proper way to keep it. Well, not to worry, with this guide in hand, you will learn what to do with a pecan pie, when and why it should be refrigerated, and the proper storage conditions.
You will also discover how the store-bought pecan pie differs from a freshly baked one and its storage conditions. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What Is Pecan Pie?
Pecan pie is a classic American Thanksgiving dessert. The primary ingredients consist of an egg-based filling, sugar, butter, and plenty of pecan nuts.
Over the years, different variations of pecan pies have taken form. Many of them include the use of alcoholic beverages even.
It all depends on the home chef’s taste preference, but the somewhat traditional recipe of a pecan pie includes the following ingredients:
- Pecan nuts
- Eggs
- Butter
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
With these base elements, the pie comes out flawless. Crunchy and nutty on the outside and sweet and chewy on the inside as it is supposed to be. It’s a beautiful and tasty dish, but does pecan pie need to be refrigerated?
Does Pecan Pie Need to Be Refrigerated?
Wearing oven mittens, you carefully remove your first freshly baked pecan pie that you have made yourself from scratch, with love and devotion. With the pie in your hands, you’re looking back and forth between the kitchen fridge and the counter. Why? Because you’re not sure if it should be refrigerated instantly or left at room temperature.
Here is what you have to do? Leave it out for a while. The exact amount of time is challenging to inform because the straight from the oven pie that is hot needs to cool down first. Once the pecan pie reaches room temperature, you need to refrigerate it. Keep in mind that it may take an estimated two hours, and after that, it should be placed in the refrigerator as recommended by USDA.
Is It Okay To Leave Pecan Pie Out Overnight?
No, it is not okay to abandon a pecan pie out overnight. Leaving it for a couple of hours is recommended but not more. If a pie is kept out longer than the suggested time, harmful bacteria will start to grow. Also, the egg is a dairy product and one of the main ingredients, so it has to be refrigerated.
Also read: Does Apple Pie Need To Be Refrigerated After Baking?
Why Are Store-Bought Pecan Pies Not Refrigerated?
The preservatives added as part of the ingredients are why store-bought pies don’t require a cool temperature. If it has an expiration date and can remain safely on the store shelf for months, refrigerating it is not an option.
How Long Does Pecan Pie Last Unrefrigerated?
You have already learned that it needs to stay at room temperature for a couple of hours. But for how long a pecan pie can survive out in the open is an estimated one to two days if it’s covered but to maintain its taste and consistency, it’s best to not leave it out for more than a few hours.
In the refrigerator, the pie can stay for 3 to 5 days, and if you want it to remain for a longer duration then freeze it. It will be safe for up to 2 to 3 months.
Can You Freeze Pecan Pie?
If you believe that you won’t be able to finish your pecan pie within a few days or want to bake and stock loads of pie for future use, you can freeze it. Don’t stuff the pie in the freezer, make sure that you have a suitable container in hand.
Also read: Does Sweet Potato Pie Need To Be Refrigerated? Does It Go Bad?
How to Store Pecan Pie?
Storing it depends on when you want to consume it.
If you’re going to finish it in a day or two, you can leave the pie on the kitchen counter. Do make sure that the room temperature is cool and dry and the pecan pie is away from direct sunlight. However, it is best to refrigerate it as recommended by USDA.
Refrigerate the pecan pie if you want it to last for more than a couple of days. In the fridge, the pie can last for 3 – 5 days. It is an egg-based recipe with zero preservatives, so it should be in the refrigerator.
If you want the pecan pie to last for months, you should freeze it. Here are the two ways to properly store a pecan pie in the freezer.
- Place the whole pie as it is in the freezer.
- Slice it up and store it separately.
- You can wrap it in aluminium foils or air-tight containers. Label the date so you know when you froze the pie.
How Can You Tell If Pecan Pie Has Gone Bad?
First of all, how long has the pie been sitting in the fridge? If it is more than the recommended days, then analyze the surface of the pie to check for any discolouration or mould.
A couple of other ways to check is to smell the pie or take a small sample bite to sense if it tastes weird.
Also read: Does Peach Pie Need to Be Refrigerated? Does It Go Bad?
Can You Get Food Poisoning From Pecan Pie?
If you consume the pie when it is freshly baked, then you will not get sick, unless there was something in the ingredient that made you feel unwell. Pie kept for more than a few days, unrefrigerated should be discarded right away because it becomes a place for harmful bacteria to grow. So naturally, consuming such a pie may lead to food poisoning.
Conclusion
According to most opinions, The pecan pie should be refrigerated after it has cooled down. Don’t store it in the fridge right away, and don’t keep it in the open for more than a few hours. If you are confident that you will devour it within a day or two, it is still wise to refrigerate it.
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