Homemade pies are the best when you have guests coming home over the weekend. Pecan pies are at the top of the list when it comes to homemade desserts.
We all would love to do them at home, provided they do not create a mess and stress us when the guests are just about to arrive.
Can you freeze pecan pie? Yes. You can certainly freeze the pecan pies. Freezing the pecan pie is not that hard to crack. And what if you have leftovers at your house party? Do not worry at all. You can freeze them too.
If you can follow the freezing techniques properly, freezing the pies would be a cakewalk.
It’s time for us to learn how to freeze and thaw them properly to make the house party a grand success.
Contents
Types of pecan pie
Pecan pie can be baked as we require them to be served. They can be
- Large single pie
- Mini pies
- Bite-size tartlets
- Bars
The buttery crust is loaded with pecan nuts and the filling of butter, corn syrup, and eggs.
You can also make it eggless. The eggless filings are best suitable for freezing.
The fat and sugar content in the pies enables them to freeze and thaw without much alteration in the texture and flavor.
You can also try out alternatives for corn syrup like brown sugar, cane syrup, molasses, maple syrup, or honey.
How to Freeze the Pecan Pie?
Freezing the pecan pie largely depends on the ingredients used to make them. The pecan pies may be homemade, store-bought, or leftovers from the party. Let us freeze them and enjoy.
Freeze Homemade Pecan Pie
The homemade pecan pie does not contain any preservatives to store them for a longer time. The shelf life of a homemade pecan pie is lower than the store-bought.
While freezing the homemade pecan pie, it is better to avoid eggs in the recipe. It is also best to prepare and freeze the pie crust and use fresh fillings on serving. Lets us look at how to freeze the pies.
Step 1: Once the pie is fully baked, leave them to cool completely to room temperature. You can also place them in a cooling rack before freezing.
Step 2: Slice the pie into different pieces as required. Individual square pieces are the best for snacks. You may also leave the pie as one large piece.
Step 3: Wrap them tight with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. The pie has to be completely covered to avoid freezer burns.
Step 4: Transfer the wrapped pie into a Ziplock bag or a cling film. Make sure you release all the air inside the bag before sealing.
Step 5: You can label the pie with the storage date for ready reference and place them in the freezer.
It is very important to ensure that the pie crust has properly baked without any sogginess and moisture. If the pie is properly cooked before freezing, thawing and reheating will be as much easy as it can be.
Freeze Store-bought pecan pie
The store-bought pies contain preservatives to give them a longer shelf life. You can place them in the fridge and use them for a few days. But, if you prefer to freeze them, the procedure is so simple.
Step1: Wrap them in tightly using aluminum foil.
Step2: Place them in a zip lock bag or cling film to protect them from burns.
Step3: Label the cover and place them in the freezer.
Handy tips for freezing pecan pie
Freezing the pecan pie might seem easier. But if you don’t hit perfection anywhere in the process, it could ruin your pie very badly. Let us look at some handy tips for freezing the pecan pie.
If you are aware that you might have extra pies, do not leave them at room temperature for a long time. Put them to freeze as soon as they cool down. Especially if you bake the pies with eggs, it could go bad very soon. There are high chances of contamination and bacterial growth if your pies are out at room temperature for a long time.
The Pecan pie feels complete only after the toppings have been added. Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream is the usual topping for a pecan pie. Please note that dairy products do not freeze well. So, it is better to avoid adding the toppings before freezing.
Preparing and freezing the pie crust is the best way to preserve the quality and taste of the pie. You can use the filings on the day when you want to serve. Thawing and reheating the pie crust and then including the filling will certainly require more effort, but the result has proven the best.
How to identify if the pecan pie has gone bad?
The spoilt pecan pie can be identified just on the look of it. If the pastry looks mushy, or molds appear over the top layer, or if it has an unpleasant aroma, sure, it has gone bad. Discard the pie immediately.
Can you refreeze the thawed pecan pie?
Certainly not. You cannot refreeze the thawed pecan pie. When you thaw and refreeze the pie, the ingredients may degrade, and the texture and flavor of the pie might change drastically.
How to defrost the pecan pie?
To defrost the pecan crust, remove the crust from the freezer and place it in the fridge the day before you want to serve. Leave them overnight to thaw completely. You can now prepare the filling and bake them as usual.
To defrost the pecan pie with the fillings, remove the pie from the freezer and place them in the fridge overnight. The next morning, it would be completely thawed and ready to be served. If you prefer your pie to be warm, heat them on medium in the microwave before serving.
How long does the frozen pecan pie can last?
The pecan pie can last for about a month in the freezer. The texture may start deteriorating because of the egg and moisture content in the pie.
When should we consume the thawed pecan pie?
After thawing, you should eat the pecan pie within two days. The pie may lose its texture and flavor over two days. Make sure that you don’t refreeze the thawed pecan pie.
Factors to consider before freezing the pecan pie
Cooling and wrapping
It is important to make sure you wrap the homemade pies after they have been completely cooled. If the pie is even slightly warm, it will form small droplets that might end in freezer burns.
Leaving the pie for a longer time at room temperature
Make sure you don’t leave the pie at room temperature for a longer time. Especially if you have added eggs to your pie, it may create food poisoning.
Freezing with toppings
It is recommended not to freeze your pie with the toppings. The dairy products might not freeze properly and may not give a good result. You can use them after thawing the frozen pies.
Refreezing a thawed pie
Do not refreeze a thawed pie. The texture and flavor might change drastically. The varying temperature may spoil the pie and lead to food poisoning.
Can you freeze pecan pie before baking?
Yes. You can freeze the unbaked pecan pies in baked pastry cases. Prepare your filling and pour them into cooled and baked pastry cases.
Please place them in the freezer and leave them to sit for about 4 hours.
Once completely frozen, take the pie out of the cases and wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Please put them in a zip lock cover and label them before placing them in the freezer.
Can you freeze pecan pie filling?
Yes. You can freeze the pecan pie filling.
Prepare the filling and add ½ tablespoon of cornstarch for each pie. You can also add 1-2 tablespoons of normal flour.
Place the pie pan with the foil and pour the filling into the pan.
Place the pie pan with the filling in the freezer and allow it to set.
Once they are completely frozen, remove them from the pie pan and wrap them airtight with aluminum foil.
Place the aluminum foil in a zip lock cover and label them before freezing. You can freeze them for up to 4 months.
Can you freeze pecan pie from Costco?
Surprisingly, yes. If you have spent so much in purchasing them and have leftovers, feel free to freeze them. You can follow the same procedures as the normal pecan pie and freeze them for up to three months.
Final Words
Pecan pie is one of the best desserts. Though freezing is not the best way to store them, it is better to let them spoil. The egg acts as a spoiler for the dish. Now that you have got the expertise about how to freeze pecan pies, worry not. Go ahead with the upcoming get-together. Rock the party with your pies. Happy freezing!