With Thanksgiving less than a week away, and holiday meal preparation keeping families busy, one item families do not want to be concerned about is classic desserts causing foodborne illness, commonly called food poisoning.
“A common food safety question around the holidays is, do I have to refrigerate the pies?"explains Lisa Peterson, University of Illinois Extensionnutrition and wellness educator.
“Well, that depends on the type of pie," Peterson states. "Pies with ingredients typically stored in the refrigerator,or are higher in protein and moisture, give bacteria the ideal environment to grow and become harmful at room temperature."
Pies made with eggs, cream, sour cream, cream cheese, milk, including evaporated or condensed milk need special care. Pumpkin, cream, chiffon, or custard-based pies should not be out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
"Keep in mind, custard and cream-based pies often do not freeze well," adds Peterson.
Foodborne illness causes 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To ensure pies are being stored correctly, read the ingredients in the recipe. If a pie contains eggs or dairy products, it should be stored in the refrigerator and not left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Pies that do not contain dairy products, such as fruit pies can be stored, loosely covered at room temperature for up to two days. Additionally, to keep the fruit pies a few extra days, they can be stored in the refrigerator.
When discussing the safety of a homemade pumpkin pie, they should be stored in the refrigerator because of the ingredients.
One response Peterson hears when discussing pumpkin pie storage is, “The grocery stores keep their pumpkin and pecan pies at room temperature, why can’t I?” There is a difference between a store-bought pie and a homemade pie, and it has to do with ingredients and processing. Store-bought pies contain preservatives to keep pies safe and shelf-stable. They must also follow compliance with the Food and Drug Administration.
“Pumpkin pie must reach an internal temperature of 180°F at its coolest point to destroy microorganisms, follow good manufacturing practices guidelines, undergo microbial testing, and be labeled with a use-by date," Peterson explains. "Pies can still be prepared before the holiday event; providing they are being stored correctly."
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, pumpkin pie can be kept up to four days in the refrigerator and kept in the freezer for the best quality for up to two months.
Taking extra care to wash hands before preparing food, using a food thermometer, and storing food correctly are just a few ways to prevent a holiday mishap.
Looking for additional recipes or questions about preparing a turkey? Visit University of Illinois Extension website, “Turkey for the Holidays” at extension.illinois.edu/turkey, or get a quick answer by calling your local Extension office.
For those looking to prepare a diabetes-friendly pumpkin pie, try the fluffy pumpkin pie recipe from University of Illinois Extension’s Recipe for Diabetes website. University of Illinois Extension wishes all a happy and healthy holiday season.
For more information, contact Lisa Peterson, University of Illinois Extension Nutrition & Wellness Educator at 217-532-3941.
Fluffy Pumpkin Pie |
½ package Jiffy® pie crust mix
½ cup Splenda
1 teaspoon cornstarch
½ cup skim milk
1 egg
1 can pumpkin, 15 ounces
½ teaspoon cinnamon | 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1 cup Cool Whip Free® |
- Prepare pie crust mix according to directions. Cool.
- Whisk Splenda, gelatin, cornstarch, and milk in a saucepan over medium heat until boils and thickens. Whisk half of the mixture into egg; then back into remaining milk mixture, heating until thickens.
- Remove milk mixture from heat and fold in pumpkin and spices. Cool.
- Fold topping into pumpkin mixture and spread into pie crust. Chill until set.
Nutrition Facts: Makes 8 servings: 142 calories, 7 g. fat, 141 mg. sodium, 17 g. , looking, 2 g. dietary fiber, 3 g. protein |
FAQs
If a savory pie has dairy, eggs, or meat, it must be refrigerated. So wrap up that chicken pot pie or egg-based Zucchini Pie to store it in the refrigerator for up to four days or in the freezer for up to two to three months. Always check the recipe for storage guidelines.
Does pie need to be refrigerated? ›
If a pie contains eggs or dairy products, it should be stored in the refrigerator and not left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Pies that do not contain dairy products, such as fruit pies can be stored, loosely covered at room temperature for up to two days.
Is a pie that should refrigerate? ›
Pie Storage Tips
Be sure to refrigerate pies containing eggs (pumpkin, custard and cream pies). Be aware that custard and cream pies do not freeze successfully.
Do I have to refrigerate apple pie? ›
Well, it depends — a regular apple pie that just contains sugar will last up to two days at room temperature, but an apple pie that is made with custard or cream or has egg in the filling needs to be refrigerated in order to prevent foodborne illness.
Why don t stores refrigerate their pies? ›
However, you've probably noticed that a lot of grocery stores and restaurants serve and store them at room temperature. This is because, quite simply, they taste better that way. So, if you're not going to serve your pumpkin pie for a day or two, your best bet is to store it in the refrigerator.
Is it safe to eat pie left out overnight? ›
McDowell says that fruit and custard pies are best eaten within the first 24 hours after baking, but can be stored at room temperature for up to two days—any longer than that, and the crust will start to get soggy.
What is the best way to store a pie? ›
Pies that make use of eggs and dairy (like pumpkin, mousse, and custard pies) should go straight into the fridge after cooling. They'll stay good for 2 days. You're also fine to freeze some pies like pecan, pumpkin, and fruit pies (as long as they're well wrapped to protect them from freezer burn).
Does a peach pie need to be refrigerated? ›
Do Not Refrigerate Fruit Pies. According to Stephens and Wickenden, a counter pie is any form of fruit pie like apple, cherry, or peach. The pair say these types of pies can be stored in the refrigerator if you want them to last a day or two longer, but that there's a tradeoff.
Does fudge pie need to be refrigerated? ›
How to store fudge pie: the pie can sit on the counter for up to 3 days. Refrigerated it'll last closer to 5 days. You can also freeze the pie for up to 3 months.
Does a pumpkin pie need to be refrigerated? ›
The short and easy answer: Yes, pumpkin pie needs to be stored in the refrigerator. The USDA advises that all "egg-rich pies" must be kept refrigerated after baking and cooling. Pumpkin pie falls into this category, along with custard, pecan, and meringue pies.
need to keep in the fridge some you don't. sure to enjoy within 3 days!
Do Costco pies need to be refrigerated? ›
The Costco pumpkin pie, for example, does not contain any preservatives. Though these pies may last longer, experts recommend that you refrigerate them when you bring them home. “Store-bought pies may have preservatives and other ingredients to make them shelf stable and prevent bacteria growth,” says Susie.
Do baked apples need to be refrigerated? ›
Always make sure to store your baked apples in the refrigerator in a covered container. This will keep them from drying out or absorbing other odors in the fridge. The cold temperatures will slow down the growth of bacteria and molds.
Do unopened pies need to be refrigerated? ›
Cream and chiffon pies must be stored in the refrigerator. These pies can be kept three to four days. Fruit pies such as cherry and apple can be stored at room temperature one to two days or seven days in the refrigerator.
Do I need to refrigerate a pecan pie? ›
According to the USDA, homemade egg-rich pies, including pecan pie, must be refrigerated after cooking and cooling to prevent the growth of bacteria. They recommend chilling pies promptly, and as a general rule, not leaving food at room temperature for more than two hours.
Does pumpkin roll need to be refrigerated? ›
To make ahead:
OR, you can bake the cake, roll it in the parchment paper to cool. Once cool, refrigerate it (rolled in the parchment paper) for up to one day, before frosting. Once you have fully assembled your pumpkin roll, you can also store it in the refrigerator for a few days!
How long can a baked pie crust sit out? ›
Once you parbake or blind bake your pie shells, let them cool completely; then store in an airtight vessel or bag — an XLarge Ziplock (2-gallon) works well. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. From here, proceed with whichever pie recipe you are making.
Can I eat pecan pie that was left out overnight? ›
You can only keep it at room temperature for two hours. Since pecan pies contain eggs, they have more chances to get bad and make you sick. So, if you have kept your pies in the fridge, put them back within two hours. On the other hand, store-bought pies contain preservatives that keep them from spoiling.
