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Can You Freeze an Apple Pie? (Discover the Answer and Best Practices)

Can You Freeze an Apple Pie? (Discover the Answer and Best Practices)

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Whether it’s just a regular weekend or Thanksgiving itself, there’s a huge chance you’ll find yourself enjoying an apple pie for dessert.

It makes sense, though, as it’s the most famous American dessert, with its aromatic spices and sweet apples!

However, sometimes we can get carried away and end up with more pie than we can eat.

So, what should you do with the leftovers? Can you freeze an apple pie? Would it still taste good? So many questions and very few answers!

To help you out, we’ve put together this handy guide on whether you can freeze an apple pie, how to do it, and how to undo it!

Let’s get started!

Can You Freeze a Baked Apple Pie?

After a large dinner gathering, you may end up with an extra pie pan or two that you don’t know what to do with.

Thankfully, you can save your apple pie in the freezer without worrying about it losing much of its flavor or texture.

However, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind before you store the pie in the freezer.

What You Need to Consider Before Freezing an Apple Pie

Storing your apple pie isn’t just a matter of wrapping and placing it in the freezer. There are some things you have to think about before doing that, including the following:

1 – The Apple Variety You Used

In case you don’t know, there are 7.500 apple varieties worldwide, and 100 of them are commercially grown in the U.S.

That’s to say, there are various types of apples, each with its own flavor profile and characteristics—including how well it handles freezing temperatures.

So, before you freeze your pie, try to remember what variety you used to learn how long you can keep the pie frozen.

For instance, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, and Fuji apples are some of the best ones to freeze!

They retain their sweet flavor while maintaining their shape and texture.

2 – The Different Spices and Additions in the Pie

Besides the apples, we add different ingredients to the fruit to give it that sweet and earthy flavor.

For example, most people out there love adding cinnamon and nutmeg to their apple pie. However, if you leave your cinnamon—ground or sticks— frozen for a long time, it’ll lose some flavor.

Thankfully, though, spices are generally stable and won’t lose too much taste. Nonetheless, it won’t be the same, especially if you freeze the pie more than once.

On the other hand, if you add ingredients like raisins, walnuts, or any similar addition, there’s a huge chance they’ll lose their texture, becoming softer.

3 – The Wrapping Material You’ll Use

When it comes to storing food, we always fall back on one of two options: aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Each has its advantages, but there are also many drawbacks. For starters, plastic wrapping is excellent for storing produce or if you’re freezing something for a short period.

However, when it comes to foods like pie, it’s not the best option. Plastic wrap can trap unwanted moisture, making your pie crusts soggy and mushy.

Moreover, it can’t prevent freezer burns from forming on your pie, leaving it tasteless and looking less than appetizing.

On the other hand, aluminum foil is great for wrapping any type of food in the freezer and protecting it from freezer burns.

It’s also great at trapping scents, so you don’t have to worry about your pie losing flavor.

The only downside to foil is that it can leave an unappealing blue color when used with acidic food, like berries.

Between the two of them, we’d recommend going with aluminum foil. However, plastic wrapping can be a good option if you save the apple pie for just a few days.

4 – How Functional Your Freezer Is

Finally, before you go ahead and freeze your pie, take a look at your freezer and its content!

This is extremely important, as any trouble in your freezer that can affect the temperature will also affect the pie’s quality.

Additionally, is there something in your freezer that can cause some sort of cross-contamination?

For instance, some foods, like meats and fish, can really affect your pie’s flavor and aroma.

To avoid this problem, make sure you either move this food away from the pie or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil.

How to Freeze a Baked Apple Pie

Now that you know you can freeze apple pie, it’s time to learn how to do it the right way! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step One: Let the Pie Cool Down

The first step in freezing your apple pie is letting it cool completely at room temperature.

This will help you avoid condensation when you wrap the pie, meaning you won’t have to deal with any sogginess. Plus, you won’t damage anything inside the freezer with the heat.

Step Two: Wrapping and Bagging

Considering that you’re storing a whole pie, there’d be no point in removing it from the pan and placing it in some Tupperware.

So, after your pie has cooled down, wrap it up nicely as it is in aluminum foil or plastic wrapping.

Make sure to cover the corners and any spot where the air could get in. After that, you can use a freezer-safe bag to cover the pie to give it extra protection.

Step Three: Labeling and Freezing

Finally, use a marker or a label to write down what this bag is hiding and when exactly you stored it. Once that’s done, you can go ahead and place it in the freezer.

Can You Freeze an Unbaked Apple Pie?

Sometimes, you need to prepare your apple pie ahead of time and save it in the freezer to bake later. Luckily, you can do this without any trouble!

In fact, this could be a better way to freeze your pie than baking it first, as you don’t have to wait for it to cool down!

To freeze an unbaked pie, follow these steps:

  1. Don’t cut your pie at all. Don’t create vents or slits on the dough; leave it as it is
  2. Wrap the pan in foil and make sure everything is tightly wrapped and covered in all directions
  3. Place the pie in a freezer bag to guarantee it won’t get any freezer burns
  4. Label the bag with the date and name to know how long you left it in the freezer

Can You Freeze Apple Pie Slices?

The answer here is another yes! Just like baked and unbaked apple pies, you can freeze the leftover slices that you couldn’t finish.

However, there’s some extra work involved with freezing slices. Here’s what you have to do:

  1. First, leave all cuts for a couple of hours to cool down
  2. Next, place your slices evenly on a tray and put them in the fridge for about one hour
  3. After that, take the tray out and wrap each portion in aluminum foil
  4. For additional protection, place the pieces inside freezer bags
  5. Finally, label each bag and store them for as long as you like

How Long Will a Frozen Apple Pie Last?

Assuming you wrapped the pie well and used extra freezer bags for protection, your apple pie could last up to six months in the freezer!

It’s worth noting that your pie won’t actually spoil after six months immediately, but it’ll lose too much of its flavor that it won’t be appetizing.

Hence, we recommend not going over the six months limit.

How to Thaw an Apple Pie

Restoring your apple pie to its former delicious glory depends on how you stored it originally, i.e., was it baked or unbaked?

If your pie was baked, it’s best you leave it to thaw before heating it again. This means you should place it in the fridge overnight or use the microwave to defrost it.

Afterward, place it in the oven at 375° F for about 35 minutes or until it’s warm enough for you.

If you didn’t bake your pie but saved it as it is, there’s no need to let it thaw out. Instead, you can simply slide it into the oven and start the baking process as usual.

Can You Freeze Apple Pie Filling?

If you happen to make extra apple pie filling and don’t know what to do with it, you can safely store it in your freezer! It’ll last for about four months or more, giving you plenty of time to use it.

But, as we said before, the flavor and texture can be affected by how well you store it.

How to Freeze Apple Pie Filling

Freezing apple pie filling is almost the same as freezing the pie itself. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. After making the filling, transfer it to another bowl and let it cool for about an hour or more
  2. Once cooled, pour the mixture into freezer bags—don’t overfill them.
  3. If the mix is still hot, give it another hour to cool
  4. Seal the bags tightly and ensure there’s no excess air that can affect the food
  5. Finally, label each one and store them in the freezer

Another thing you could do is follow the same steps outlined above, but instead of the bags, use freezer-safe containers or jars to preserve the pie filling.

Can You Refreeze Apple Pie?

Generally, it’s not recommended to refreeze and reheat your apple pie more than once or twice.

That’s because the constant changes in temperature can make your pie too soggy and tasteless, leaving it completely unappetizing.

Final Thoughts

So, again, can you freeze an apple pie? Apparently, yes, you can! And in any form too!

You can freeze your apple pie unbaked, baked, or baked and cut to pieces.

The only thing you need to focus on is how you freeze the pie. You see, each one requires a slightly different method of storage and preparation.

However, if you follow the steps outlined above and wrap everything tightly, your pie should last for many months!

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