Can You Freeze Pie Crust Before Baking It?
Question: I love having fresh-baked pies for the holidays, but making the pie crust is so time consuming. Can I freeze pie crust ahead of time with good results?
Answer: Yes, you can freeze pie crust or pie dough in advance with very good results. In fact, it’s a great timesaving strategy for the hectic holiday season.
Your first option is to freeze the unbaked pie dough once you’ve prepared it. Wrap the pie dough tightly with plastic freezer wrap or heavy-duty aluminum foil or place the dough into a heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw the frozen pie dough in the refrigerator (thawing will take a few hours) and then roll it out as usual.
A second option is to roll out the dough and then freeze the unbaked pie crust directly in the pie plate. To freeze, wrap the unbaked pie crust tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place in a freezer bag and seal tightly. There’s no need to thaw the unbaked crust — you can bake it straight out of the freezer. You’ll need to add about three minutes to the usual baking time.
For best results, use the frozen pie dough or frozen pie crusts within 3 months. You can also refrigerate unbaked pie dough or unbaked pie crust for up to 3 days. Keep tightly covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
See Also:
Does Pumpkin Pie Have to be Refrigerated?
How Long Does Apple Pie Last, Baked or Unbaked?
10 Surprising Foods You Can Freeze
