Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Ideas and Tips Thanksgiving Recipes Thanksgiving Desserts Does Pumpkin Pie Need To Be Refrigerated? Brush up on your food safety knowledge before the holidays. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 26, 2023 Fact checked by Jennifer Hawk Fact checked by Jennifer Hawk Jennifer Hawk is a former English professor with 24 years of experience guiding even the most reluctant through the labyrinths of writing, rhetoric, and research. brand's fact checking process Love it or hate it, pumpkin pie is always expected on the Thanksgiving table. When this classic dessert is not in its usual place on the holiday sideboard, right next to the pecan and apple pies, it feels like a family member is missing. But what's the best way to keep your pumpkin pie fresh and ready to serve? To refrigerate or not to refrigerate? That is the question. Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Does Pumpkin Pie Need To Be Refrigerated? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recipes made with milk and eggs must be refrigerated within two hours of baking. Like quiches, cheesecakes, and other dairy-heavy recipes with a creamy, custardy texture, pumpkin pies cannot sit out at room temperature for very long—even if you reheat them before serving. Eggs and liquid dairy, like milk, are high in protein and moisture. When left at room temperature, bacteria can easily multiply. VICTOR PROTASIO; FOOD STYLIST: KAREN RANKIN; PROP STYLIST: CLAIRE SPOLLEN How Do You Store Pumpkin Pie? After baking the pie, let it cool, then wrap it completely in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store the wrapped pie in the refrigerator up to two days ahead of Thanksgiving. Although the pie will still be good to eat after four days (but not a day longer), for the best flavor and texture, we recommend serving it within two days. If any moisture forms on the top of the refrigerated pie, gently blot it off with a paper towel. If the top cracks (which may happen when a custard-based pie is chilled), cover the top of the pie—and the crack—with a pile of fluffy whipped cream. Why Did My Pumpkin Pie Crack And How Can I Fix It? How Far in Advance Can You Make Pumpkin Pie? Pumpkin pie is a great make-ahead dessert to cross off your Thanksgiving to-do list. You can prepare and bake the pie up to two days in advance, and it will still taste great on the big day. Just make sure you store the pie in the refrigerator—not on the kitchen counter—until you are ready to serve it. Why Aren't Grocery Store Pumpkin Pies Refrigerated? If you're thinking, "Wait, but aren't grocery store pies sold unrefrigerated?" you're not wrong. Many grocery stores offer pies in their bakery departments that come room temperature; however, this is often thanks to extra preservatives in grocery store pies that help stabilize it for the counter. When you make a pie at home, it won't have the benefit of those added ingredients, and it will therefore spoil quicker if left on the counter. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Southern Living is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Are you storing food safely? U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Food Safety A-Z Reference Guide. U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. Leftovers and food safety. Geiger M. Storing pumpkin and pecan pie – refrigerate or not? Iowa State University Extension and Outreach AnswerLine.