Food - Drink
Do You Need To Store Pumpkin Pie In The Refrigerator?
By NATASHA BAILEY
Home chefs will soon be cooking up a frenzy for the holidays, and if you like to prepare (or buy) food in advance, you should know where to store your dishes so they'll be safe to eat when they arrive on the table. Pies are a classic holiday dessert, but it can be hard to tell if your pie is okay to leave out at room temperature or if it has to go in the fridge.
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, other varieties require more careful storage. Pumpkin pie, a holiday season staple, belongs to the latter group, but many people still leave their pie sitting out for several hours before it's time for dessert.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recommends refrigerating pumpkin pie within two hours of buying or baking, in order to prevent bacterial growth. Pumpkin pie is especially prone to growing bacteria at room temperature, since the filling is typically made using eggs and cream, both of which are highly perishable.
The United States Department of Agriculture advises that egg- or cream-rich pies should be stored in the refrigerator, where they will stay safe to eat for up to four days. According to The Kitchn, the best way to store your pumpkin pie in the refrigerator is to allow it to cool completely, then cover it with a loose layer of plastic wrap.