Homemade apple pie is a delicious go-to dessert at any time of the year. However, it is not always possible to bake through to the end in one session. You may also have apple pie leftovers and are wondering what to do with them. Can you freeze an apple pie before or after baking? We have conducted in-depth research on this to help you make this determination.
You can freeze an apple pie before or after baking it. Ensure that you store it properly in the freezer, and it will remain fresh for up to six months.
We explore further the intricate details around freezing an apple pie. Please keep reading to learn more about whether it is better to freeze an apple pie before or after baking, packaging tips for freezing an apple pie, how to defrost the pie, among others.
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Is it better to freeze an apple pie before or after baking?
While you can freeze an apple pie before or after baking, it is preferable to freeze it before baking it. Apple pies frozen before baking have a richer fruit taste than those frozen after baking. Freeze the pie fillings and the crust separately to keep the apple juices from soaking the lower crust during freezing, thus softening it. A soggy crust loses its structural value and falls apart when being sliced.
Freezing an apple pie before baking also ensures that the crust bakes more evenly. A well-baked crust complements the apple fillings, resulting in an apple pie with a vibrant taste. Additionally, an evenly baked crust tastes better when compared to one that is unevenly baked.
Freezing an apple pie before baking saves energy since you will need to heat the oven only once while baking instead of twice if you opt to freeze the pie after baking.
What is the best way to freeze an apple pie? [Packaging Tips!]
You can freeze baked apple pie before it degrades and enjoy it at a later date. We have outlined some of the steps you can take to freeze your apple pie successfully.
1. Ensure that the apple pie cools completely to prevent the excess moisture from soaking the crust while in the freezer. You can leave the pie at room temperature for about a day so that it cools to the center.
2. Carefully wrap the apple pie in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Ensure that the whole pie is completely sealed. You can wrap it twice to be sure that your pie is adequately protected from freezer burn. Further, you can put the wrapped pie in a freezer bag to add another layer of protection.
3. Add a name and date to the package before freezing to ensure that you consume the pie before it rots or when its quality has not begun to deteriorate. Write the name and date using a permanent marker to ensure that the information is not erased during freezing.
If you decide to freeze the apple pie before baking, the steps followed when freezing the unbaked apple pie are similar to those for freezing the baked pie. We recommend that you freeze the pie while it is still uncut to ensure that the fillings remain inside the pie.
Can frozen apples be used for pie?
You can use frozen apples for making pie. How well the apples hold up in freezing determines how efficient the frozen apples will be in making pie. Ideally, you want the apples to retain their firm texture. As such, appropriate preservation methods should be applied when freezing the apples.
You should avoid freezing whole apples since they would need to be thawed first before slicing. Thawed apples tend to go mushy, thus losing their firm texture. As a result, they will not give you the best quality of apple pie.
Like any other farm produce, the quality of the apples deteriorates with time. Therefore, you should process your apples for freezing promptly after harvest to retain their beneficial quality.
We discussed more on whether you can use frozen apples for pie in an earlier post. You can find that information here.
How do you defrost a frozen apple pie?
You can defrost a frozen apple pie by removing it from the freezer the night before and allowing it to defrost at room temperature. Defrosting at room temperature works well if you baked the pie before freezing and plan to serve it without reheating. Ensure that the pie remains covered during the defrosting.
If you intend to reheat the baked pie, you can defrost it for several hours in the fridge and then reheat it at 425 ℉ until it is warm all the way through. Remember to remove the wrapping before putting the pie in the oven.
If your frozen apple pie is unbaked, you can leave it overnight, while still covered, at room temperature so that it defrosts naturally. Assuming that you did not make slits in the top crust before baking, you can do this after removing the wrapping and then bake the pie. We, however, recommend baking your pie directly from the freezer as this eradicates the possibility of your crust becoming soggy during the defrosting process.
How long do you cook a frozen apple pie?
Compared to a freshly prepared pie, a frozen apple pie takes more time to bake. The time taken to cook a frozen apple pie is dependent on whether the pie was baked or unbaked before freezing. If you had previously baked your pie before freezing it, you could reheat it at 425 ℉ for about 25 minutes.
If you had not baked your apple pie before freezing it, you can bake it at 450 ℉ for about 20 minutes and then reduce the heat to about 375 ℉ and continue baking until the top crust browns. Baking may take around 30 minutes. The whole process may take about 50 minutes to one hour.
You can cover the top of your pie with foil when baking to prevent your crust from browning too much.
In Closing
As we discussed, you can certainly freeze an apple pie! While you can do so before and after baking it, it's best to freeze it before baking. Doing it this way preserves those flavors for longer. But most of all, enjoy your tasty apple pie!
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