One of the frequently asked questions is, “Can homemade pies be frozen? Well, the appropriate answer is Yes! Pies made at home can freeze wonderfully. There are several reasons to freeze your pies; for instance, you could be preparing pies in advance for a family dinner, an upcoming holiday, or looking to store some to eat later on. Regardless of the reason, the guide below is a recipe for enthralling freezing results.
we use the same baking method and ingredients most people use at home to roast our pies. Therefore, the steps below can apply for all our pies, and those baked similarly.
Freezing
- Make and bake your pie in using disposal/recyclable pies pans.
- After baking the until the pie is completely done, remove the pie from the oven and cool on a rack. Please ensure that the pie cools completely before proceeding.
- Using an airtight freezer bag or plastic wrap, wrap and seal the cooled pie.
- Place the wrapped pie in a freezer. To freeze thoroughly may take 24 hours or a little longer to freeze the pie fully.
Cook’s Note:
- Pies take approximately 8 hours to cool fully. Checking on cool time guidelines is essential for the best results.
Storage Half-Life
When it comes to the storage half-life, you will get different estimates on how long the frozen pies can last. However, from our vast experience, we recommend the following time limits. Note that we have estimated the shortest period. Therefore, you can leave it for quite a little longer without worrying about its safety for consumption.
- Frozen fruit pies are best served within six months.
- Custard based pies should be served within three months once frozen.
Defrosting and Serving
If you check various sources, two main methods can be used to defrost and serve frozen homemade pies. Both methods work exceptionally well, but we like one of the methods since it is relatively convenient.
First Defrosting Method
- Pre-warm the oven to more than 300.
- Remove the pie from the freezer and unwrap the pie.
- Remove any accumulated frost common on the top side of the pie.
- Place the frozen pie in a baking sheet and place it in the preheated oven.
The baking times vary, so verifying doneness is essential. An easy way to check whether or not a pie is ready is to insert a knife to the center, remove and feel the temperature of the knife tip using your finger. If the knife is warm, your pie is ready for consumption. That said, the various baking times include;
- 5” pie takes between 15 to 30 minutes
- 7” pie takes between 30 to 50 minutes
- 10” pie takes between 40 to 70 minutes.
Let the pie cool then serve.
Second Defrosting Method
This method takes much more time compared to the first method.
- As usual, take out the frozen pie from the freezer and leave it for at least 5 to 6 hours
- Unlike the first method, don’t remove the plastic wraps or airtight freezer bag. Defrost the pie with the wraps on it for approximately 4 to 5 hours or to room temperature. Doing this allows condensation to occur outside the plastic wrap instead of forming on the pie’s crust.
- Once condensed, unwrap the pie and put it on a baking sheet.
- Place the pie to heat in the oven for 30 minutes at 300. Note that the timing applies to all pies regardless of the size.
- Remove the pie from the oven, place on a rack, and let the pie cool and serve.
Pie Freezing Do’s and Don’ts
Freezing pies can be as simple as the guide outlines above. However, there are some things to note when freezing your pie. Below are common dos and don’ts when freezing a pie.
- Do label the pies with descriptions and dates of placing them in the freezer.
- Do store the pies together and with other similar foods in the freezer.
- Do freeze pies in individual portions, which makes it easy to thaw only what you need and shortens thawing time.
- Do leave some air between the wrapped pies, which allows air to circulate freely.
- Don’t freeze the pies while hot. Make sure that they cool before putting them in a freezer.
- Don’t use extra-large containers.
- Do squeeze all the extra air from freezer bags used to wrap the pie before sealing.
There you have it. We hope this guide will help you achieve better-frozen homemade pies. Observe the dos and don’ts for better results.
