Can You Freeze Key Lime Pie?

Key lime pie is one of the world’s most loved desserts as it is the perfect mix of sweet and tart. No one ever wants to waste dessert, so if you end up with leftover key lime pie, what should you do? How can you store it?

How to Freeze Key Lime Pie

Key lime pie is best served chilled so you should store it in the fridge or the freezer except when serving. In the fridge, the key lime pie will last up to 5 days but make sure you loosely cover it with plastic wrap or aluminium foil.

If you are certain you want to freeze your pie or you know that it won’t be consumed within 5 days, knowing how to freeze it effectively will be key to ensuring great results when defrosted:

1. Pre-Freeze
   Place the pie in the freezer for 2-4 hours, uncovered, in a baking sheet. Be sure that the sides or top of the pie aren’t touching anything else in the freezer.  
2. Wrap
   After the pre-freeze, take the pie out of the freezer and wrap it in a layer of clingfilm. Turn the pie and wrap it in another layer of clingfilm. It’s recommended that you use 2-4 layers of cling film. 
3. Label and Date
   As always, write the name of the frozen product and the date of freezing.
4. Freeze
   Find a space in your freezer and freeze your key lime pie for 3 months.

You can also freeze portions of the pie if you prefer. Cut the pie into portions and then freeze the portions on a baking sheet, as above. Once solid, wrap and then place into a freezer bag.

3 Tips for Freezing Key Lime Pie

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing key lime pie to have the best results:

Watch That Cream
When frozen, your pie should keep well but the integrity of the whipped cream topping may degrade if you keep it in the freezer for too long. 

Don’t Freeze the Meringue
Some key lime pies are topped with meringue instead of whipped cream. In this case, only freeze the base and custard filling of the pie and pipe fresh meringue on top once it has been thawed.

Wrap Carefully
Wrapping your pie well is key to ensuring that your pie freezes in the perfect way. You want to ensure no surfaces are exposed to reduce the risk of freezer burn so using multiple layers of cling film is key. Also, be sure not to squish the pie when you’re wrapping!

How Long Can You Freeze Key Lime Pie?

You can freeze it for up to 3 months when stored properly. The pie ingredients will freeze well though but, as is often the case, the quicker you can consume it, the better as there is a risk the flavour and texture will degrade over time.

Beyond 3 months, it will remain perfectly safe to eat but there is a high probability of major textural changes.

You Can Freeze Key Lime Pie for up to 3 Months

How Do You Defrost Key Lime Pie?

You don’t have to worry about any special instructions when you take the pie out of the freezer.

Key lime pie can also be served frozen. It is recommended that you let the pie thaw for a few hours in the fridge, or out on the counter for 30 mins, just so it will soften slightly, and make it easier to cut!

Can You Refreeze Key Lime Pie?

If you have kept your pie chilled after defrosting, you can put it back into the freezer. However, we do not recommend thawing and refreezing multiple times as this will have an effect on the pie’s texture and taste. 

Do Key Lime Pie Freeze Well?

Yes, key lime pie is a great dessert to freeze. One of the really nice things about key lime pie is you can store it in the freezer right away if you prefer. It can be served frozen and most people probably won’t really notice.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing key lime pie in general, then these may help: