Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Pecan Pie?
Yes, pecan pie can be frozen, be it store-bought or homemade. Whether it be because you have leftover pecan pie you don’t wish to waste or because you have made some in advance for an occasion later, freezing it is a great storage option. While it can get tricky sometimes owing to certain traditional ingredients of pecan pie such as egg-based fillings, knowing the right methods and following instructions correctly can help you freeze pecan pie successfully!
This is a comprehensive guide, on how to freeze pecan pie with ease.
I have used these methods myself and they worked great!
Let’s start.
Can You Freeze Homemade Pecan Pie?
Freezing homemade pecan pie works quite well as you can prep the ingredients on your own to an extent and make them more suitable for freezing. Note that because homemade pecan pies will not have the preservatives that are added to store-bought pecan pies, homemade pies will have a pretty short shelf life. Freezing is your best option for long-term storage. Remember to prep the crust the right way.
Materials
- Aluminum foil/plastic wrap
- Airtight resealable freezer bag
Tools
- No special tools needed
Instructions
- Prepare your pecan pie as per recipe – Once baked, make sure the pecan pie cools down completely before you prep to freeze it. Tossing hot pie into the freezer will lead to spitting and will ultimately ruin your pecan pie.
Allow the pie to cool down entirely on a cooling rack. - Wrap the pie tightly in aluminum foil – Once cooled down, your pie has to be packed in and wrapped very tightly and securely in aluminum foil for it to freeze well. You can also use plastic wrap or cling film.
Make sure no part of its surface is exposed and that it becomes completely airtight and watertight as well. - Pack the wrapped pecan pie into an airtight resealable freezer bag – Once wrapped securely in aluminum foil,
pack the pecan pie inside an airtight resealable freezer bag. - Seal securely and freeze – Make sure you squeeze out any excess air from inside the freezer bag and then seal it securely. Label the bag with the storage date, and it is ready to freeze!
Freezing Store-bought Pecan Pie
Time Taken: 15-30 minutes
What You Need:
- Aluminum foil
- Resealable airtight freezer bag
The advantage of working with store-bought pecan pie over its homemade counterpart is that the former has a significantly longer shelf life in the refrigerator in comparison to the latter.
However, if you are looking to store your pecan pie for longer than that time period (always check the manufacturers’ instructions and advice regarding the ‘use by’ and manufacture date), freezing is a considerably safe bet.
It is not too complicated a process and quite effortless.
Do note, that it is tricky and not recommended to freeze store-bought pecan pie in the packaging or container it came in, as the chances are that the original packaging does not provide your dessert with enough protection during freezing.
Wrap the Pie Tightly in Aluminum Foil
Your pecan pie has to be packed in and wrapped very tightly and securely in aluminum foil for it to freeze well.
Make sure no part of its surface is exposed and that it becomes completely airtight and watertight as well.
Pack the Wrapped Pecan Pie into an Airtight Resealable Freezer Bag
Once wrapped securely in aluminum foil, pack the pecan pie inside an airtight resealable freezer bag. This protects the pie from freezer burns.
Seal Securely and Freeze
Make sure you squeeze out any excess air from inside the freezer bag and then seal it securely. Label the bag with the storage date, and it is ready to freeze!
Freezing Pecan Pie in Individual Slices
Time Taken: 20-30 minutes
What You Need:
- Knife
- Aluminum foil/plastic wrap
- Small rigid airtight containers with tight-fitting lids
Whether store-bought or homemade, while you can definitely follow the methods described and freeze your pecan pie whole as instructed, it is also a good idea and very advantageous to freeze the pecan pie in the form of cut, individual slices.
Not only does it help save storage space; but by dividing the pie into individual pieces and freezing them separately, you also ensure that you only take out and thaw exactly the amount you need at a time, without having to thaw the rest and get into the whole hassle of refreezing.
This method also works best if you are freezing leftover pecan pie.
Cut the Pecan Pie into Slices
Use a sharp knife to cut your pecan pie into slices. Do not make the slices/pieces too big or too small.
Wrap Each Slice/Piece in Double or Even Triple Layer of Plastic Wrap
Again, it is very important that you wrap the pieces very tightly.
The more you layer it with plastic wrap (you can also use cling film or aluminum foil), the better its chances of surviving in the freezer.
Put Individually Wrapped Slices in Small Containers
Find small rigid airtight containers with tight-fitting lids, that can fit each of your pie slices without leaving too much space for air.
Packing the individual slices in each container helps prevent them from crumbling.
Secure Containers Tightly, Label and Freeze
As mentioned, try to make sure the containers have tight-fitting lids that cut off any entry of air.
Secure the lids tightly and properly.
Label the containers. They are ready to freeze!
How to Freeze Pecan Tarts
Time Taken: 10-20 minutes
What You Need:
- Tightly covered airtight freezer-friendly container
Pecan tarts make quite the delightful desserts! They are also pretty easy to make! You can find the detailed, step-by-step recipe guide here:
What’s more, you can also freeze them! Read on to find out how.
Allow the Tarts to Cool Down Completely after Cooking
Once prepared as per the recipe, allow your pecan tarts to cool down completely before attempting to freeze them.
Always remember that any prepared (cooked/baked) food will not freeze well if put inside the freezer if it is still hot or even warm.
Your tarts must cool down completely.
Transfer the Tarts into an Airtight Freezer-Friendly Container With a Tight-Fitting Lid
Our favorite method is to simply stack the tarts in the container, but you can do it any way you prefer, as long as the container is freezer-friendly and is clean.
Secure Container Tightly, Label and Freeze
As mentioned, try to make sure the container has a tight-fitting lid that cuts off any entry of air.
Secure the lid tightly and properly.
Label the container.
Your pecan tarts are ready to freeze!
While they can be kept in freezer storage for up to a month, it is wise to finish them up by the earliest time possible within freezing.
Here’s another tip: after thawing, sprinkle the tarts with a little bit of additional powdered sugar before serving.
They should taste as good as fresh tarts. Enjoy!
How Long Can You Freeze Pecan Pie?
Pecan pie does not, strictly speaking, freeze well, and will not keep in the freezer for an extended period of time.
Hence, it is recommended that you consume the pecan pie within 1 to maximum 2 months for optimum flavor.
The longer you keep the pecan pie in the freezer, the more it is going to lose its texture, consistency, flavor, and taste as the ingredients will start to lose moisture, separate, and get spoilt.
How to Store Frozen Pecan Pie?
Pecan pie can be kept in freezer storage in airtight freezer bags, as prescribed in the methods above, whether homemade or store-bought, in one large piece or separately in individual pieces or slices.
Other freezer storage tips include ensuring that the temperature in the freezer remains consistent and that the sealing has been done securely and carefully.
How to Defrost Frozen Pecan Pie?
Defrosting pecan pie is a fairly easy process.
Make sure you thaw it very carefully so that the dessert does not get mushy.
Simply transfer the frozen pecan pie from the freezer to the refrigerator and leave it to thaw overnight.
Once thawed, serve and eat the pie immediately.
If necessary, reheat once before serving.
Can You Refreeze Frozen Pecan Pie?
Refreezing pecan pie is not recommended at all.
Freezing once would be hard enough on the texture as it is; to thaw it and then freeze again only to defrost another time, would simply ruin the texture of the pecan pie entirely and make it inedible.
Avoid refreezing at all costs; once thawed, serve immediately, and do not refreeze any leftovers.
Does Pecan Pie Freeze Well?
The answer to this question comes down ultimately to the type of ingredients used in your pecan pie.
However, on a general note, it can be said that pecan pie freezes fine, as long as it is consumed within a maximum of 2 to 3 months within freezing.
Pecan pie also actually freezes significantly better than most fruit pies owing to its comparatively lower water content.
It is much higher in fat and sugar, and it can be frozen fine.
Make sure the pecan pie is not left in the freezer indefinitely, in which case chances are that the pie will get bad and inedible.
Also, ensure the freezer temperature stays steady and consistent and that the bags or containers you are freezing the pecan pie in are sealed really tightly and securely.
FAQs
Pecan pie actually freezes much better than pumpkin pie; and thaws better too. When thawing after freezing, pumpkin pie can often get kind of watery.
The consistency issues make it such that our verdict goes: pumpkin pie does not freeze as well as pecan pie.
You can bake frozen pecan pie on a cookie sheet or baking tray in the center of the oven for around 15 to 20 minutes.
Store-bought pecan pies actually have a significantly long shelf life when kept in the refrigerator, so yes, unless your plans to freeze your pecan pie do not exceed a couple of weeks, you should be able to safely store your pecan pie in the fridge.
To store it for longer, however, we strongly recommend freezing pecan pie.
Try your best to use up all of the pecan pie the first time around that you freeze and thaw it. Re-freezing is not recommended at all for pecan pie as the ingredients will degrade beyond salvation.
This is why freezing in slices or portions is recommended. If you still have leftovers, we would actually advise you to discard them instead of refreezing.
This goes for all frozen foods: it is always recommended to check carefully for signs of spoilage once frozen and thawed and before consuming.
In case of pecan pie, you can usually tell at a single glance if the pie can still be eaten or not. All the same, still check for the following signs.
If it looks too mushy, smells off, chances are that it has gone bad. If you see growths of molds on the surface, it is a good idea to discard the pecan pie as it has likely gone bad.
Bottom Line
We hope this comprehensive, step-by-step guide covering the best methods to freeze pecan pie, along with pecan tarts successfully at the safety and ease of your home, as well as the tips, hacks and tricks described, has helped you!
For any further questions you may have regarding freezing pecan pie, please do let us know by reaching out to us, we would love to help you out!
If you have any other tips and tricks for freezing pecan pie you have discovered and would like other people to also know, feel free to reach out and let us know; we will add them to this guide so they can help more people!
If this has helped you, please do share it with your friends and family so that they can also use it.