Should You Thaw A Frozen Pie Before Baking?

Baking frozen food can be tricky sometimes. Do you have a frozen pie you want to put in the oven but don't know whether to thaw it out beforehand? Well, we've done some research and have the answer waiting for you. Let's get into it.

You don't want to thaw a frozen pie before baking it. It's better to take your pie out of the freezer, cut a few slits into the top, and place it into your oven once it is preheated.

Thawing a frozen pie before baking it can result in a soggy, lesser quality desert, so try not to leave yours out for too long before putting it into the oven.

As we begin, we will cover all things frozen pie and share the best ways to bake one. Whether you regularly bake frozen goods or haven't tried before, we're here to offer some help. With that said, let's dive right into this topic!

How Do I Bake A Frozen Pie?

This won't be too difficult for those wanting to prepare a frozen pie themselves. To start:

1. Place a cookie sheet inside your oven.
2. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Once the oven is heated, place your frozen pie on top of the cookie sheet.
4. Bake your pie at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes and then at 350 for the remaining time.
5. Once your pie is done, take it out of the oven, let it cool, and place it into your refrigerator.

Frozen pies will take about 20 minutes longer than unfrozen ones, so make sure to set your timer accordingly.

How Long Do You Bake Frozen Pies For?

Typically, you can expect to bake a frozen pie for around 30-35 minutes. Although this depends on your pie's thickness, you shouldn't need to have yours in the oven for more than a half-hour.

Like we mentioned above, frozen pies take about 15-20 minutes longer than unfrozen pies to bake, so you may end up waiting closer to 45 minutes for a thicker fruit pie. Regardless, it's best to keep your oven at 425 degrees for the first 15 minutes of baking and then at 350 until your pie is done.

Why Shouldn't You Thaw A Frozen Pie Before Baking?

It's usually not a good idea to thaw a frozen pie before baking it because this affects its quality and consistency. Thawing a frozen pie before baking it can cause its crust to become soggy, even leading to water build-up at the bottom of its pan.

Thawing your pie before placing it into the oven might also cause it to lose some flavor, so we don't recommend it.

Will A Frozen Pie Taste Good?

Yes! A frozen pie shouldn't taste any different than the one you make from scratch. Of course, this comes down to what type of pie you purchase and whether it has good ingredients, but in general, a frozen pie will taste good.

That said, if you want to make a frozen pie taste more homemade, try sprinkling some sugar over it and even crushed cookies or graham crackers. Another idea to improve a frozen pie's flavor is to melt butter over its crust, so there are a few ways to do this.

How Long Do You Cook A Thawed Pie?

Expect a slightly shorter cook time for those who want to thaw their pie before baking. Generally, a thawed pie will take around 30 minutes to bake at 400 degrees and about 45 minutes if your oven is only set to 350 degrees.

Again, the oven temperature will depend on how quickly you want your pie to bake, but try not to set it above 425 degrees.

Can You Refreeze A Thawed Pie?

It's not usually a good idea to refreeze a thawed pie. Doing this can lead to flavor and quality loss, as well as bacteria developing in your food.

When you freeze an item that has already thawed, you essentially destroy its cellular structure, which opens up the opportunity for pathogens to grow and multiply, which can make you sick. It's also not great to do this because of how your pie tastes, so avoid refreezing them.

How Do You Quickly Defrost A Pie Crust?

If you need to defrost your pie crust quickly, there are ways to do this. The easiest method for defrosting is placing your crust into the microwave and turning it on for about three minutes.

Before you do this, make sure to wrap your crust in a paper towel, so it doesn't lose its flavor or consistency. You can also try letting your frozen pie crust defrost on your kitchen counter, although this could take between 30 and 60 minutes.

How Do You Bake Frozen Pie Crust Before Filling?

This won't be too hard for anybody baking their pie crust before filling it. To start:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Remove your pie crust from its packaging.
3. Let your pie crust thaw on the counter for 15 minutes.
4. Prick the bottom and sides of your crust to prevent shrinkage/bubbling.
5. Place your pie crust on a baking sheet on your oven's middle rack.
6. Cook your crust for about 15 minutes or until it has a golden brown color.
7. Remove your pie crust from the oven, let it cool, and you're ready for filling!

How Do You Bake A Frozen Pie Without An Oven?

When baking a frozen pie without an oven, using the microwave is your best bet. In general, you won't need to set your microwave to more than four minutes to cook a frozen pie, although this can vary.

Especially if you have a higher power appliance, your pie may only need about three minutes inside the microwave, so keep that in mind. Regardless, it's best to check on your pie every minute or so and turn it in your microwave to prevent uneven cooking.

Can You Cook Frozen Pie In An Air Fryer?

Although it sounds crazy, yes, you can cook a frozen pie in an air fryer. To do this, you want to wait until your fryer has heated up to about 320 degrees.

Next, place your pie inside and let it bake for 18-23 minutes. You should see your pie's crust turn golden brown by the time it's done, so make sure to wait until this happens.

Can You Freeze A Pumpkin Pie?

You can certainly freeze a pumpkin pie. Unlike custard or cream options, pumpkin pies react well to being frozen and won't turn soggy or lose their flavor once you freeze them.

As long as you keep it around zero degrees, you may even see your pumpkin pie last six months in the freezer, which is perfect for those who like to do their holiday baking ahead of time.

Do Fruit Pies Do Well Frozen?

Yes, fruit pies are also excellent choices when it comes to freezing. Although they won't taste super fresh if you freeze them for too long, fruit pies tend to maintain their quality and consistency in the freezer better than most options, which makes storing them pretty simple.

It's also better to freeze both fruit and pumpkin pies before baking them to avoid quality loss, so keep that in mind.

What Is The Best Type Of Pie To Freeze?

Unbaked pumpkin, pecan, and fresh fruit pies tend to freeze the best. Although this can depend on how well you store them, a pie will usually do well in the freezer for months on end.

For pies that we don't recommend freezing, try to avoid custard, meringue, and cream as they won't age well in your freezer.

How Long Can A Frozen Pie Last In The Freezer?

You can expect a frozen pie to last between six months to over a year in the freezer. That said, the longer you let a pie sit in the freezer, the less flavor it will have, so try not to wait more than 12 months before eating yours.

It's also a good idea to keep your freezer around two-thirds full while freezing food long-term, which helps it maintain its temperature and keep your food better longer.

To Wrap It Up

Whether you love to bake from scratch or prefer frozen options, it's essential to know how to prepare a pie. From what we found, you want to avoid thawing a frozen pie before putting it into the oven to avoid compromising its quality.

It's also a good idea to cut a few slits into the top of your pie so that it can expand freely in your oven. When it comes to bake-time, expect to cook a frozen pie for around 30 minutes, although you may need to wait closer to 45.

Regardless, make sure to store your frozen pie well, and don't forget to check its crust for a golden brown color before taking it out of the oven.

Made it to the end? Check out these helpful related kitchen posts below!

How To Put Dough In A Pie Pan [A Complete Guide]

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How Deep Is A Pie Pan? [Inc. Deep Dish]