How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Last and Should You Refrigerate It?

In this article, we talk about how long pumpkin pie (store-bought or homemade) lasts, whether or not you need to refrigerate it, and how to tell if it is spoiled.

So you have some leftover pumpkin pie, and you’re wondering how long it stays good for or what’s the best way to store it.

Or maybe yours is in the fridge for a few days already, and you want to check if it’s still okay to eat.

Sounds familiar?

If so, this article is for you. Let’s jump right in.

How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Last?

Pumpkin pie lasts for 3 to 4 days in the fridge if covered tightly. Since it tastes great cold, there’s no need to reheat it, and you can serve it straight from the refrigerator. If you need more time, you can freeze pumpkin pie as well.

The 3 to 4 days of storage time is the typical recommended storage time for leftovers and what most recipe bloggers suggest.

If you’re thinking about making pumpkin pie ahead of time, you can make it 1 to 2 days in advance. This way, you still have at least two days of storage time.

Once again, if you need more than those 3 to 4 days, pumpkin pie freezes well, so there’s no need to force yourself or your family to eat it all in that short period.

That also means that if you want to save time or bought a giant pumpkin, you can double your recipe and freeze the second pie for the next week. Or freeze that leftover pumpkin pie filling.

Or, if you have too much puree, you can freeze that pumpkin puree instead and bake the pie when convenient.

Does Pumpkin Pie Need Refrigeration?

Pumpkin pie is a custard pie, and because of that, it requires refrigeration. You should let the pie cool at room temperature for 1 to no more than 2 hours and then transfer it to the fridge. Or, if it’s store-bought, place it in the refrigerator once you return home with it.

In case you were wondering, the same is true for open pumpkin puree, the most important ingredient of the filling.

How to Store Pumpkin Pie?

You should store pumpkin pie well covered and refrigerated. A good cover protects the pie from absorbing any fridge odors, while refrigeration keeps it safe.

There are a couple of ways you can store pumpkin pie:

• In a pie pan covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
• In a food container, which is a great option for storing leftovers.
• In a cake carrier. The main downside of this is that cake carriers are quite tall, so that’s a waste of fridge space, and the leftovers might dry out a bit faster.

Once again, you should refrigerate pumpkin pie within two hours of cooking or once you get home from the bakery.

If you want to store the pie for the long term, freezing pumpkin pie is the way to go.

How to Tell if Pumpkin Pie is Bad?

You can tell if your pumpkin pie has gone bad by checking its smell and appearance. If you notice any mold, which will most likely show up on the filling, discard the whole thing. The same applies if it gives off a “funny” or off aroma instead of the usual sweet and pumpkin-like smell.

Besides that, pay attention to storage time. If the pie sits in your fridge for more than, say, five days, it’s probably better to discard it for safety purposes. Better safe than sorry.