Can you freeze apple pie? Baked or unbaked
Can you freeze apple pie? Yes. Baked versus unbaked, how to wrap it, storage time, and how to bake or thaw it, using extension and test kitchen guidance.
Yes, you can freeze apple pie, baked or unbaked. Unbaked pies keep the crispest crust. Wrap the pie once it's frozen solid and, per test kitchens, eat it within 2 to 4 months for the best crust. Bake unbaked pies from frozen and thaw baked ones in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze apple pie?
Yes. Penn State Extension says you can freeze pies either baked or unbaked, with a trade-off: pre-baked pies keep longer, while unbaked ones taste fresher. America's Test Kitchen froze baked and unbaked versions of five pies and found that apple, blueberry and peach pies frozen before baking were indistinguishable from fresh. The thawed baked versions had soggy crusts.
Freezing fits a holiday plan nicely. You can make the pie weeks ahead and move one thing off Thanksgiving morning's list.
How can you freeze apple pie?
To freeze apple pie before baking:
- Assemble the pie in a metal pie pan. Skip the egg wash and sugar topping until you bake.
- Don't cut vent slits yet. Penn State says to cut them just before baking.
- Freeze the pie uncovered until solid. Wrapping a soft pie can crush the crust, so wait. America's Test Kitchen suggests a double layer of plastic wrap and then foil.
- Label it with the date and baking instructions, and put it back in the freezer.
To freeze a baked apple pie, bake and cool it completely, freeze it uncovered until solid, then wrap it the same way.
One filling tip from Penn State: freezing can make liquids thickened with flour or cornstarch separate. Fillings thickened with tapioca or a modified food starch such as Instant ClearJel hold their texture better, and a baked pie keeps its consistency better too.
How long does apple pie keep in the freezer, and how do you bake or thaw it?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Best quality, unbaked | About 2 months (America's Test Kitchen) |
| Best quality, baked or unbaked | Up to 4 months (Better Homes & Gardens) |
| USDA FoodKeeper | Lists 8 months for fruit pies, a longer window than the test kitchens use (USDA FoodKeeper) |
| Safe to eat after that? | Yes, food held at 0°F stays safe indefinitely; the limit is quality |
| Baking unbaked from frozen | Don't thaw. Penn State suggests 25 minutes at 425°F in the lower third of the oven, then 350°F in the center until done |
| Thawing baked | In the refrigerator, in its wrapping, then serve; warm it briefly if you like |
These windows are quality guidance, not safety limits, and they don't match: the two test kitchens are judging crust and flavor, and FoodKeeper's 8 months is longer. Use the shorter one. A frozen unbaked pie takes longer to bake than a fresh one: Penn State says frozen pies bake from the frozen state and need extra time, and America's Test Kitchen adds 10 to 15 minutes for most fruit pies. Cover the edges with foil or a pie shield if the crust browns too fast.
When in doubt, throw it out. USDA guidance is that frozen food kept at 0°F stays safe, so the time limits here are about quality. If something smells off, looks slimy or was thawed on the counter, don't taste-test it.
Already baked and just have leftovers on the counter? That's a different question, covered in do you have to refrigerate apple pie.
What changes when you freeze apple pie, and how do you serve it?
The filling stays good. The crust is what changes. A baked pie loses some of its crispness as it thaws, because the crust soaks up moisture from the filling the entire time it cools, freezes and thaws. Warming a thawed slice in the oven helps. Skip the microwave if you care about the crust.
Unbaked pies come out nearest to a fresh one, which is why most bakers freeze them before baking.
Other foods you can freeze like apple pie
See the can-you-freeze-it guide, or try these:
- Can you freeze apples?
- Can you freeze applesauce?
- Can you freeze zucchini bread?
- Printable freezer storage chart
Apple pie freezing FAQ
Is it better to freeze apple pie baked or unbaked?
Unbaked, if you have the time. Test kitchen results showed the crust stays crisper. Baked is easier when you need a pie ready to serve after thawing.
Do you thaw frozen apple pie before baking?
No. Bake an unbaked pie from frozen and allow extra time. Cut the vents just before it goes in the oven.
How long can you freeze apple pie?
America's Test Kitchen says 2 months and Better Homes & Gardens says 4 for the best crust and filling, while USDA FoodKeeper lists 8. Past those windows it's still safe at 0°F, but quality declines.
Want to keep track of what's in your freezer?
Frozen food gets forgotten fast. Add what you have to Well Stockd and it estimates an expiration date for fridge and pantry food from typical shelf life, with the food closest to expiring at the top of your list. Freezer items don't get an estimated date, so write the freeze date on the package. Try it free and add three foods from your kitchen to see what you can cook. Our guide to the best apps for tracking expiration dates compares the options if you want to shop around.
Sources: Penn State Extension, Freezing Pies and Pie Fillings, Penn State Extension, Preserving the Amazing Apple, America's Test Kitchen, How to Freeze Pie, Better Homes & Gardens, How to Freeze Pie and Pie Crust, FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart, USDA FoodKeeper.