Does Pecan Pie Need To Be Refrigerated | Tips By Expert (2021)

The Pecan Pie is a typical autumn and winter dessert that belongs to the southern United States’ culinary tradition. Made with a crumbly base, this cake contains a creamy filling based on maple syrup, and the original version of the pecan cake is made with corn syrup instead of maple syrup. Many lovers of this never fail to ask the question: Does pecan pie need to be refrigerated? This has been adequately answered in the preceding paragraphs below.

A Brief History of the Pecan Pie

Everyone loves a generous helping of a good pecan pie.

But have you ever wondered who came up with this ingenious recipe in the first place?

While pecans have been around for over 8,000 years, the fantastic pecan pie was only known to humankind a few hundred years ago. Most people believe that pecan pie was invented by the French when they settled back in New Orleans in the 18th century and were introduced by the pecan Native American tribes. Today, pecan pie has become almost a cultural symbol for the southern United States and a popular holiday treat for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and various other occasions.

How to Prepare the Pecan Pie

Before learning how to store the pecan pie, it’s best to be informed of its preparation steps.

• To prepare this delicious cake, start with the pie crust, the Pecan pie’s crumbly base. To make it the best, it is also essential that all the ingredients are very cold. In a kitchen mixer (the ones with a metal blade), put the flour (160 g), half a teaspoon of salt, and sugar.
• Combine the frozen butter cubes and run the mixer at full power until you get crumbly dough. Alternatively, you can always use two sharp knives or a crescent to incorporate the butter into the flour mixture. The important thing is to avoid touching it with hot hands.
• Next, transfer the mixture into a large bowl, add the vinegar (cold) and 50 ml of ice water, and then mix everything well with a fork.
• The mixture should still be crumbly but stick together if you pinch it between your fingers, adding a little more frozen water if necessary.
• Next, pour the crumbly mass on the work surface, knead it quickly and shape it into a flattened disk. Don’t worry if you have whole bits of butter left; that’s how it should be. Wrap the dough disc using cling film and put it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• After the dough’s resting time, take it back and spread it on the work surface until you get a disk of 30 cm in diameter and about 3mm thick. This can be done using a rolling pin.
• Transfer the dough disc into a tart mould with a diameter of about 23-24 centimeters, leaving a border at least two centimeters high all around.

Next steps are;

• Put the mould in the freezer for about 20 minutes.
• In the meantime, heat the oven in static mode to 200 ° C and prepare the filling for the cake. Coarsely chop the pecans and toast them for a few minutes in a pan on low heat, making sure they do not burn, then let them cool.
• In a bowl, beat the melted butter with the eggs, brown sugar, maple syrup, and salt pinch.
• When the oven is hot, put the pie’s base to cook (which you had put to harden in the freezer), covering it with a sheet of perforated parchment paper and filling it with dried beans or with the special ceramic balls for cooking white tarts.
• Let the base cook for 15 minutes, then remove the balls (or beans) and the baking paper and continue cooking for another 6-7 minutes, then take it out of the oven and lower the oven temperature to 160 ° C.
• Mix the mixture of eggs and maple syrup with the chopped and toasted walnuts, then pour everything into the pre-cooked base, and if you want, decorate the surface of the cake with whole pecans.
• Bake the pecan pie in a preheated oven at 170 ° C for about 50-55 minutes, taking it out of the oven when the outer edges are firm, but the center is still slightly shaky: don’t worry; it will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Let the pecan pie cool completely before serving it, perhaps with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

How to Store a Pecan Pie

The Pecan Pie is a delicious and decadent dessert, whether store-bought or homemade. However, it must be stored properly to keep it fresh and tasty for as long as possible. It must be kept at the right temperature and away from contact with air to store it properly. The pecan pie will last long enough for you to enjoy until the last bite upon adequate storage. Furthermore, According to the USDA, bacteria can double as quickly as 20 minutes in the Danger Zone (45°F – 150°F). Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, foodborne illness causes 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year.

To store a pecan pie properly, wrap the pie in plastic wrap or foil. It is essential to keep the surface of the pie away from contact with air. You can use plastic wrap or aluminum foil, whatever you have on hand.

Does Pecan Pie need to be Refrigerated?

Pies made with pecans are much more stiff than many other types. It keeps well-refrigerated for up to five days, so enjoy it while you can. Put it in the fridge if you want to preserve it for longer; when properly frozen, pecan pies may be kept for up to four months.

 Before doing this, set your pecan pie on a secure surface and let it to cool to room temperature. Please, however, don’t wait more than two hours to put the pecan pie in the fridge. Fruit, pecan, custard, pumpkin, and chiffon pies may all be safely kept in the refrigerator for more than 3–4 days, as per the chart and FDA recommendations.

Put a thin coating of foil or plastic wrapping over your pecan pie to protect it. Avoid wrapping or pressing on the pie too firmly as this might provide less than perfect results. Alternately, you might place the pie in the refrigerator and cover it with a big metal dish. Since it takes up a lot more room in the fridge than just covering the pie does, this approach is best suited for those who have a large refrigerator.

It’s great to keep your pie in the fridge for three to four days. The pie may then be eaten or served immediately after being warmed for more than 5 minutes in an oven and bake.

More tips on storing the pecan pie

It’s best to eat the pecan pie in a few months. While a well-frozen pecan pie can last a while in a freezer, it won’t till eternity. To ensure that you consume it within three months, it may develop freezer burn.

Store the pie at room temperature if you are using it during the day. A pecan pie which will be consumed on the same day it was made, or even the next day, can be left at room temperature. Just keep it covered and place it somewhere out of the way on your counter.

Cool the pie completely. If you’ve made a pecan pie, it’s essential to let it cool before covering and storing it. Make sure it’s at room temperature by touching the underside of the pot. If there is heat given off, it needs to cool down longer. Also, it’s best to let the pie rest on a wire rack at room temperature until completely cooled. This may take several hours, though it’s dependent on the temperature of the pie and the temperature of your room.

Most importantly;

Avoid freezing and unbaked pecan pie. Putting this in the freezer can make the consistency of the pie unpleasant when baked. For example, it can curdle the eggs from the filling, resulting in a lumpy filling that just isn’t quite correct when cooked.

You can put the pie into plastic wrap. The plastic wrap will prevent air from entering the pie, which will help prolong its general freshness in the end. If you desire to obtain a tight wrap, make sure the surface is completely covered and put the plastic wrap around the mould too.

It’s also best to add a second layer of protection as the pie will come in contact with very low temperatures, while in the freezer, it is best to wrap it in a double wrap to protect it more. You can use another layer of aluminum foil or plastic wrap, along with a plastic freezer bag too.

Does Pecan Pie Need To Be Refrigerated: FAQs

How long is pecan pie good for at room temperature? 

Apecan pie can be good at room temperature if left for 2 days.       

Does store-bought pecan pie need to be refrigerated?

This would ensure its proper preservation.

How long does pecan pie last unrefrigerated?

As earlier highlighted, a pecan pie can last unrefrigerated for 2 hours if you desire to extend this time, to put it in the refrigerator.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Pecan Pie is a typical American pie prepared, especially during Thanksgiving Day or Christmas. The pie is 100% plant-based (dairy-free, eggless), gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and easy to make! While pecan Pies are relatively easy to store, they can be pretty challenging as they go bad very quickly if mishandled. Thus, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on how to store pecan pies above.