Keeping Pies Safe

March 30, 2023 Food Safety, Spoonful

— By Kathy Savoie, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Educator

Holidays and pies just go together kind of like mornings and coffee. Everyone in my family seems to have a favorite pie type for each holiday so there are plenty of leftover pie slices to store (at least for a short period of time). The question of pie storage for food safety is a common question. Can this pie be stored on the counter or do I need to make room for it in my refrigerator? Let’s get to the facts with this Pie Storage Chart:

Pie Type Storage Long Term Storage
Fruit pies (ex. apple, berry) made with sugar. No eggs in the recipe. Can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 2 days and then refrigerated for 2 additional days. Or, put them straight in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Can be frozen. For best quality use within 4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Fresh Fruit, Custard, Cream, and Chiffon Pies Refrigerate promptly after preparing and keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. These pies do not freeze well.
Pumpkin, Pecan, and other pies made with eggs Store these pies in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Pumpkin and pecan pies can be frozen. For best quality use within 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Pies made with sugar substitutes Lack of sugar shortens the shelf life of these pies. Store in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days. Can be frozen. For best quality use within 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Please note that some perishable commercial pies include preservatives, so check the label for their specific storage instructions.

If you’re looking for more information on storing foods safely, check out The FoodKeeper. The FoodKeeper is a complete guide to how long food will keep in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer. You can download the FoodKeeper App for Android or Apple devices.

Resources