Do You Need To Store Pumpkin Pie In The Refrigerator?

The holidays are just around the corner, which means that your kitchen is about to be fuller than it ever was before. Bread rolls to stuffing crumbs line your shelves, corn and green beans crowd your vegetable drawer, and apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and more fall fruits seemingly land right in your home. Your kitchen feels like it might explode, and hey, maybe it will. The holidays can be stressful, but there is nothing better than good food and friends celebrating together.

But while you're celebrating, be sure to go it safely. According to Saladino Law, the holidays are the most dangerous for car-related accidents so it's important to be safe while traveling during the holidays, but you should also exercise food safety in the home. During parties, it is all too common for food to be left out at room temperature for hours, and in the rush of things, accidents like forgetting to close the refrigerator door all the way or overstuffing the freezer can happen. 

Let's make sure that this holiday season, you walk away with a full belly and zero food poisoning.

There seems to be some confusion about how to store pies. And honestly, it's understandable. Even though we're in the habit of looking at pies as one food group, there are so many variations using vastly different ingredients. Not all pies are created equal and while some can be safely left out on the kitchen counter to enjoy at a moment's notice, there are others that you need to take a little more care with.

Pumpkin pie is a holiday favorite, but all too often people will leave their desserts sitting out for several hours, which goes against the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's recommendation of refrigerating the pumpkin pie within two hours to prevent bacterial growth. Pumpkin pie is especially apt to grow bacteria at room temperature because it is made using eggs and cream, which are highly perishable. The United States Department of Agriculture advises that egg or cream-rich pies be stored in the refrigerator where they can remain safe to eat for up to four days. According to Kitchn, the best way to safely store your pumpkin pie in the refrigerator is to allow it to completely cool and then cover it with a loose layer of plastic wrap.