How long does pumpkin pie last?
Baked: 3-4 days in the fridge, 1-2 months in the freezer for best quality and 2 hours in the pantry.
“ALL homemade and bakery pumpkin and pecan pies made with fresh ingredients should be refrigerated.” Extension
| State | Pantry | Fridge 40 °F | Freezer 0 °F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baked | 2 hours FoodKeeper Extension | 3-4 days FoodKeeper Extension Extension Sources disagree: 4 days Extension | 1-2 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension Extension Sources disagree: 2 months; 1-3 months ExtensionExtension |
Signs it has gone bad
- “inspect it visually and by smell. Discard if there is an off smell or appearance such as mold.” Extension
Sources compared
| Source | State | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018 | Baked | 2 hours | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
| Nebraska Extension | Baked | 2 hours | 3-4 days | 1-3 months |
| NDSU Extension | Baked | - | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
| Iowa State University Extension (AnswerLine) | Baked | - | 4 days | 2 months |
| Iowa State University Extension (AnswerLine) | Baked | - | - | 1-2 months |
A dash means that source gives no time for that place.
Handling and freezing notes
- “cool the pie completely, place in the refrigerator uncovered until chilled, and then loosely wrap in plastic or place in a pie cover.” Extension
- “If the pie needs to be held longer than two hours, place it on ice to keep it chilled.” Extension
- “In general, store-bought pies are safe 2-4 days after the sell-by date if they are refrigerated” Extension
- “In freezing, they lose some of their integrity; the filling may separate a bit and the crust may get soggy.” Extension
- “To freeze these pies, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil or place in an air-tight freezer bag.” Extension
What the sources say
FoodKeeper and the Nebraska Extension chart both limit baked pumpkin pie to 2 hours at room temperature.12
Iowa State University Extension explains why: pumpkin pie is an egg-rich pie, in the same group as pecan, custard and meringue pies, and all homemade and bakery pumpkin pies made with fresh ingredients should be refrigerated.5
In the fridge, both give pumpkin pie 3 to 4 days.12
The NDSU Extension food storage guide, which lists pumpkin and chiffon pies together, gives the same 3 to 4 days, and Iowa State says pies containing eggs keep well in the refrigerator for up to four days.34
For the freezer, FoodKeeper lists 1 to 2 months and the Nebraska chart 1 to 3 months.12
NDSU also lists 1 to 2 months, and Iowa State gives about 1 to 2 months of best quality, adding that the pie remains safe beyond that time if kept constantly frozen at 0 °F.35
The Nebraska chart describes its freezer times as quality times, because freezing at 0 °F keeps food safe indefinitely.2
Iowa State warns that frozen pumpkin and pecan pies lose some of their integrity, with a filling that may separate a bit and a crust that may get soggy.4
To freeze one, it suggests wrapping the pie tightly in plastic wrap and foil or an air-tight freezer bag, and thawing it in the refrigerator before using.4
To keep condensation from making the crust soggy, Iowa State advises cooling a homemade pumpkin pie completely, chilling it uncovered in the refrigerator, and only then wrapping it loosely in plastic or a pie cover.5
On a buffet, a pie that needs to be held longer than two hours can be placed on ice to keep it chilled.5
Store-bought pies sold unrefrigerated are the one exception Iowa State names, since they contain shelf-stable ingredients and anti-microbial preservatives; once refrigerated, they are in general safe 2 to 4 days after the sell-by date.5
To judge a pie, Iowa State suggests inspecting it visually and by smell, and discarding it if it has an off smell or appearance such as mold.5
Rules that apply here
Related foods
Sources
- USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 210: Pies, pumpkin. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Pies, pumpkin. Pantry: 2 Hours; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 3-4 Days; Freeze: 1-2 Months
- Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24.
Pie, pumpkin 2 hours
Pie, pumpkin 2 hours 3 to 4 days
Pie, pumpkin 2 hours 3 to 4 days 1 to 3 months
- 1 • FN579 • Food Storage GuideNDSU Extension. NDSU Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25.
Pumpkin or chiffon pies * 3 to 4 days 1 to 2 months
- Pie Storage • AnswerLine • Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Iowa State University Extension (AnswerLine). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25.
Pumpkin, Pecan and Other Pies Containing Eggs ... They keep well in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Both pumpkin and pecan pies can be frozen with some success for up to two months.
In freezing, they lose some of their integrity; the filling may separate a bit and the crust may get soggy.
To freeze these pies, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil or place in an air-tight freezer bag.
- Storing Pumpkin and Pecan Pie – Refrigerate or Not? • AnswerLine • Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Iowa State University Extension (AnswerLine). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25.
freeze pumpkin and pecan pie ... the pie will maintain at best quality for about 1 to 2 months
ALL homemade and bakery pumpkin and pecan pies made with fresh ingredients should be refrigerated.
cool the pie completely, place in the refrigerator uncovered until chilled, and then loosely wrap in plastic or place in a pie cover.
If the pie needs to be held longer than two hours, place it on ice to keep it chilled.
In general, store-bought pies are safe 2-4 days after the sell-by date if they are refrigerated
inspect it visually and by smell. Discard if there is an off smell or appearance such as mold.
- REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24.
Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.