Making pie from scratch is no easy feat. It can be a time-consuming, messy affair, leaving both the kitchen and the cook dusted with flour. It’s an especially tough task if you’re also preparing the rest of the meal. And for those who find themselves with leftover dessert after a dinner party, the danger of food waste creeps in. Thankfully, I have good news: Many pies — baked or unbaked — freeze beautifully.
Whether you’re looking to get a head start on baking or want to save leftover dessert for later, here’s what you need to know about freezing baked pies whole or sliced, unbaked pies, and pie dough.
Freezing pie crust
If you’re going to put in the effort to make your own pie crust, then you might as well make extra. Once you’ve formed the dough into disks and wrapped it in plastic, instead of putting the pie dough in the refrigerator to rest, add another layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil or drop the whole thing inside a zip-top bag or airtight container before storing in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw the disks of dough in the refrigerator, then roll out as desired.
If you want to take it a step further, you can put the dough in a pie plate, crimp as desired, then wrap and freeze it that way to make your life that much easier when the mood for pie strikes. When that time does come, let the pie crust thaw in the fridge and use as if it were fresh, or fill and bake without thawing at all with a few extra minutes of bake time added to account for the crust being frozen.
The types of pie can you freeze
Fruit pies, such as apple, cherry, peach or blueberry, freeze magnificently, as do pecan pies. They can be frozen baked or unbaked, the latter of which can be a great way to get ahead when hosting a dinner party or big holiday meal. “Fruit pies that have been frozen have a denser, jammier texture than those baked right out of the gate, but they still have the same thickness and consistency overall,” cookbook author Stella Parks wrote in Serious Eats. On the flip side, already-baked pies that are then frozen won’t have the same crispy, flaky crust as pre-freeze, but in my experience they are still delicious, especially when reheated in the oven and/or served a la mode.
Most cream, custard and meringue pies do not hold up well to freezing. People are on both sides of the fence when it comes to whether you can freeze pumpkin pie. The issue is that such pies tend to texturally degrade when frozen because of the high water content found in most recipes. (As such, denser sweet potato pies typically freeze pretty well.)
The best way to freeze pies
Be they baked or not, whole or in slices, first place the uncovered pie on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, about two hours, before wrapping in a layer or two of plastic wrap. You can then put the pie in a layer of foil, a resealable bag or an airtight container for extra insurance from freezer burn if you want. (The same method works for freezing cake.) For optimal freshness, you’ll want to consume them within a couple of months.
Thaw already-baked pies in the refrigerator before enjoying. For unbaked pies, bake them directly from frozen at the recipe’s specified temperature. They will take longer than the recipe states, but exactly how much longer — typically anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes — will depend on the recipe, so it is best to use visual cues to determine doneness, such as a bubbling filling for fruit pies. Remember, if any part of the pie starts to darken too quickly, tent it with foil.
FAQs
Once you've formed the dough into disks and wrapped it in plastic, instead of putting the pie dough in the refrigerator to rest, add another layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil or drop the whole thing inside a zip-top bag or airtight container before storing in the freezer for up to three months.
What is the best way to freeze pie crust dough? ›
Pie dough is a great keeper in the freezer. As long as it's tightly wrapped in heavy-duty aluminum foil or freezer-weight plastic wrap and sealed in a freezer bag, it should keep for up to 6 months. Pie dough freezes so well, in fact, you'd be wise to make some extra to keep around for whenever inspiration strikes.
Do you thaw frozen pie crust before making a pie? ›
If you are ready to use one of your pre-shaped pie crusts, you can thaw it in the fridge overnight or you can bake directly from frozen. In fact, it's a good idea to bake your pie crust from frozen as it will help combat shrinkage from the oven.
Is it better to freeze pies, cooked or uncooked? ›
Most pies will freeze well from a raw or cooked state. However, custard filled pies do not tend to freeze well. When freezing a fruit pie, you'll see the best results if you freeze a combination of cooked fruit filling in a raw pastry. Raw fruit filling can become watery on thawing and may require additional thickener.
How do you keep frozen pie crust from getting soggy? ›
How to Prevent a Soggy Bottom Pie Crust
- Blind Bake the Crust.
- Choose the Right Rack in the Oven.
- Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White.
- Put the Pie on a Hot Cookie Sheet.
- Make a Thicker Crust.
- Add a Layer.
- Consider a Metal Pie Pan.
Roll out your dough a little bit wider than usual, so you can crimp the edges in the pie dish a little taller than usual. If the edges are taller or wider to begin with, they'll have more room to shrink. Freeze the un-cooked pie crust for at least 30 minutes, preferably an hour, before blind-baking.
Can you freeze pie crust with egg? ›
You can also roll out and freeze your pie crusts in their pie tins until you're ready to bake them--freeze your pie crusts wrapped in plastic wrap in their pie tin for up to three months!
Should I prebake frozen pie crust? ›
You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie. you should probably get: Pie weights are super helpful to have for pre-baking.
Can you use a frozen pie crust as a pie top? ›
Remove crust from pan and center frozen crust upside down on top of filled pie. LET THAW 10-20 minutes; crimp edges together. CUT 2-3 slits in top crust. BAKE on cookie sheet as directed in your recipe.
Does frozen pie crust need to be thawed before baking pumpkin pie? ›
You can bake frozen pie crust straight out of the freezer without thawing. Whipped cream: You can make your own whipped cream or substitute store-bought; just don't skip it entirely as the cream complements the custard pie beautifully.
Be they baked or not, whole or in slices, first place the uncovered pie on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, about two hours, before wrapping in a layer or two of plastic wrap. You can then put the pie in a layer of foil, a resealable bag or an airtight container for extra insurance from freezer burn if you want.
Why are some pies not suitable for freezing? ›
Custard pies, meringue pies and cream pies do not freeze well. They will be watery and separate after thawing. A baked pie can be frozen for 6 months, a longer freezing time than an unbaked pie. Loss of quality increases with the length of time in the freezer.
How far ahead of Thanksgiving can I make the pies? ›
You can bake a fruit-based pie a few days in advance as long as it's stored properly. Loosely cover: After baking and cooling your pie, loosely cover it with aluminum foil. Store: store for at room temperature for up to two days, or up to seven days in the fridge according to USDA guidelines.
How do you wrap a pie crust for freezing? ›
Wrap dough disks in plastic wrap, then airtight in a plastic bag. Stack rolled-out crusts with waxed paper or plastic in between, and slip into a large plastic bag (or wrap securely in foil). Double-bag crusts in the pie pan. You're trying to avoid both freezer burn and off flavors from surrounding foods.
When using frozen pie crust do you thaw it first? ›
To Make a Baked Ready-To-Fill Crust:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Remove frozen crust from package. Let thaw 15 minutes.
- Thoroughly prick bottom and side of crust with fork to help reduce shrinkage and bubbling. ...
- Place on baking sheet and bake on middle oven rack for 12-15 minutes at 375°F.
- Cool completely.
With docking, the holes allow steam to escape, so the crust should stay flat against the baking dish when it isn't held down by pie weights or a filling. Otherwise the crust can puff up, not only impacting appearance but also leaving you with less space for whatever filling you have planned.
Can I freeze Pillsbury pie crust dough? ›
For best quality, use refrigerated pie crusts before the “use-by” date on the package. Pie crusts may be frozen for up to two months if placed in the freezer before the “use-by” date. Don't use the microwave to defrost from frozen. It may melt some parts of the crust.
How do you freeze homemade pastry? ›
Freezing uncooked pastry
Shape uncooked pastry into a disc. Wrap well in plastic wrap, then seal in a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months. Transfer to the fridge to thaw completely (this will take about 1 day).
Do you chill pie dough in the fridge or freezer? ›
Divide and chill
Run the disks edgewise along a floured surface to smooth the sides, like you're rolling a wheel. The smoother the edges now, the rounder your crust will be when rolled. Wrap the crusts in plastic or your favorite reusable storage wrap. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
