If you ask Ree Drummond what the key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner is, she'll say it is to plan ahead. "To make the day run smoothly," she says. "I have to start early." But how early, you might be wondering? If you're baking a pumpkin pie, it's earlier than you might think! You can store your pie crust in the freezer and whip up a batch of homemade pumpkin puree ahead of time. You can even do your baking the night before and refrigerate your pumpkin pie.
But, if you prefer to plan way in advance, you might be wondering if you can freeze pumpkin pie instead? The simple answer is yes! Making a pumpkin pie in advance and freezing it is one of the best ways to get a head start on the holidays. (It also means you can save your leftover pie for just a little bit longer!) Just make sure to follow a few tips and tricks, and no one will know the difference.
What is the best way to freeze a pumpkin pie?
The Pioneer Woman 9-inch Ceramic Pie Pan
Pumpkin pie can be frozen before or after baking. If you haven't baked your pie yet, carefully wrap the entire thing in a few layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of heavy-duty foil. Make sure to freeze the pie on a flat surface (try setting it on a baking sheet if you've got room!) so it will freeze and bake evenly. You can bake it straight from the freezer—just be sure to add on some cook time until you reach the desired doneness, which is about 175 degrees.
Pro Tip: Be careful using glass pie plates straight from the freezer to the oven, because they may crack. Opt for stoneware or a disposable aluminum pie plate if you can.
Can you freeze a pumpkin pie that's already been baked?
Absolutely, you can freeze a cooked pie. However, it needs to be completely cooled and that will take at least a few hours. (If you cheat on the cooling step, the quality of the pie will be compromised—you might have a soggy crust and extra ice crystals!) Wrap and freeze the cooled pie just as you would for an unbaked pie.
Pro Tip: A disposable aluminum pie plate will result in a faster freeze and potentially less ice crystals—which affect flavor big-time as the pie thaws.
How long can you keep pumpkin pie in the freezer?
The pie can remain frozen, properly wrapped, for at least two weeks without any worries about compromising texture. You can technically freeze it for longer and it will still be safe to eat—the texture just may start to change a bit.
How do you thaw a frozen pumpkin pie?
There's only one place to thaw a frozen pumpkin pie and that's in the refrigerator. The night before serving—or at least 12 hours beforehand—remove the foil and plastic wrap, then set the pie on a flat surface in the refrigerator to thaw. Once completely thawed, remove the pie from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature. Letting the pie defrost slowly prevents it from "weeping" (where beads of water form) and resulting in a soggy crust. If you do find yourself with water droplets on top of your pie, don't worry—either carefully blot dry with a paper towel and/or cover the whole top with whipped cream!
How do you reheat a frozen pumpkin pie?
Once the pie has thawed, you can microwave it (only if the pie is in a microwave-safe pie plate or sliced on a dessert plate) in 15-second increments to warm it up, as desired. The pie may also be reheated in a 350-degree oven, but keep an eye on the crust—if it starts to brown further, cover the crust with strips of foil. There's no need to reheat though—pumpkin pie tastes great cold or at room temperature!
