Maybe you over-prepared for the holidays.  Maybe you just really like desserts.  Either way, if you have too much pumpkin pie, you might be wondering how long it will stay good for.

Quick Answer

How long pumpkin pie lasts depends a lot on how you store it.

• Homemade unrefrigerated pumpkin pie stays good for about two hours.
• Store-bought unrefrigerated pumpkin pie stays good until the sell-by date.
• Homemade refrigerated pumpkin pie stays good for three to four days.
• Store-bought refrigerated pumpkin pie stays good for two to four days past the sell-by date.

Of course, there is a lot of nuance to preserving pumpkin pie.  Different factors can make it last longer, or go bad sooner.

How Long Does Pumpkin Pie Last? Does Pumpkin Pie Go Bad?

The temperature a pumpkin pie is stored at will greatly affect how long it lasts, so keep that in mind when putting your pie away.

How Long Unrefrigerated Pumpkin Pie Lasts

Unrefrigerated pumpkin pie usually doesn’t last nearly as long as other storage methods.

Homemade pumpkin pie will last a few hours unrefrigerated.  A freshly made pie will probably not have many preservatives in it, so it can only be out for about two hours before it becomes potentially unsafe.  Try to avoid leaving it unrefrigerated for more than two hours to reduce the risk of illness.

Store-bought pumpkin pie can usually last longer on the counter.  If you’ve bought a pumpkin pie off the shelf from the supermarket, there’s a good chance it has more preservatives in it, and can therefore be safely left at room temperature until the sell-by date.  If the pie was stored at room temperature in the store, that’s a good indication that it has preservatives.

Pumpkin pies from bakeries are like homemade pumpkin pies.  Buying a freshly-baked pie from a bakery is different from buying one off the grocery store shelf.  A pie from a bakery is the same as a homemade pie, so it should not be left at room temperature for too long.

How Long Refrigerated Pumpkin Pie Lasts

Possibly the most common way to store pumpkin pie is by keeping it refrigerated.

Homemade pumpkin pie lasts a few days refrigerated.  When you’re ready to put your pie away, you can safely keep it in the refrigerator for three to four days.  If this isn’t enough time for you, consider freezing it.  If you’re not sure, you can always refrigerate it for a few days and then freeze what is left.

Store-bought pumpkin pie lasts a bit past its sell-by date refrigerated.  Although store-bought pumpkin pies with preservatives can last on the counter longer than a fresh pie, you can still extend its life by refrigerating it.  Keeping a store-bought pie in the fridge will keep it good for two to four days past its sell-by date.

Refrigerate your pie after opening.  Even though store-bought pies have preservatives, they should still be refrigerated after they are opened.  Cover and refrigerate any pie that has been cut.

How Long Frozen Pumpkin Pie Lasts

If a few days just isn’t enough time for you to keep your pumpkin pie, consider freezing it.

Homemade pumpkin pies should be eaten within four weeks.  For best results, thaw and eat your pumpkin pie within a month or two of freezing it.  After this, the texture may change, and the quality may degrade.  The recommendation is to eat your pie within four weeks of freezing it.

Store-bought pumpkin pies can be frozen for six to nine months.  A pie from the store with preservatives should be good for much longer in the freezer, probably six to nine months.  However, I cannot make any promises about the quality of the texture, although the flavor should remain unchanged.

They should be safe to eat for even longer.  Although the texture of the pie may change and degrade after time has passed, the flavor should stay the same, and it should be perfectly safe to eat indefinitely, as long as it has been stored at temperature under zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Pumpkin pie may not have the longest lifespan on the counter or in the refrigerator, but if you freeze it, it should stay good forever.

How to Store Pumpkin Pie? Can You Freeze Pumpkin Pie?

Pumpkin pie is easy to store in the refrigerator, but there are some tips to keep in mind:

• The best way to store a pumpkin pie is to keep it in the refrigerator.
• Keep it loosely covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
• You can also store it in an airtight container.
• Refrigerated pumpkin pie stays good for up to four days.
• If moisture appears on the top of the pie, gently pat it dry with a paper towel.

If you need more time to save your pumpkin pie, you can freeze it.  However, there are some things to remember about freezing pumpkin pie:

• Freezing and thawing a pumpkin pie can cause it to degrade in quality.
• It is not recommended to freeze a pumpkin pie unless you really have to.
• If you can, freeze the crust and the filling separately.

If you do decide to freeze your pumpkin pie, here’s the best way to freeze and thaw it:

• Wait until your pie is completely cool – let it cool for a few hours after baking before you freeze it.
• Wrap it completely in multiple layers of plastic wrap, and maybe a layer of aluminum foil as well.
• Alternatively, you can store it in a heavy-duty plastic bag.
• Your pie is now ready to freeze!
• For best results, thaw and eat within four weeks.
• Thaw very slowly by refrigerating it for at least ten hours ahead of time. Refrigerating it for a full day is even better.

How to Tell if Pumpkin Pie is Bad

When you’re not sure whether your pumpkin pie has gone bad or not, there are a few ways you check.

Age:  Consider when the pie was made and how long it has been in storage.  Use the guidelines laid out in this article to decide if your pie is outside the range of question.  For example, if your pie has been in the refrigerator for five days, there is a chance (however slim) it could still be acceptable, but if it has been two weeks, it is clearly time to throw it out.

Smell:  If your pie’s age is not unreasonably old, you can try smelling it to determine if it has gone bad.  If your pie’s smell is bad, strange, or otherwise off, you should probably err on the side of caution and throw it out, as it has probably gone bad.

Appearance:  Look at your pie and determine if it looks like it has gone bad.  If it looks off, you might want to throw it out.  Bear in mind, however, that moisture on the top or cracking in the filling do not necessarily mean that it has gone bad.  Of course, if you see mold on the pie, throw it out immediately.

Wrap Up

This year, if you make too much pumpkin pie for your holiday dinner, remember that you have options!  Consider whether you want to refrigerate or freeze your pie, and be sure to take the steps necessary to keep it as fresh as possible.