Does Peach Cobbler Need to Be Refrigerated? Storing Tips
Peach cobbler is a dessert pastry known and loved in many cultures worldwide. It is very easy to make, isn’t time-consuming at all, and it tastes heavenly. Since peach cobbler doesn’t contain typical perishables, many wonder whether to refrigerate it after baking. However, refrigeration is not used so much as a preservation method but as a part of the making process. So, does peach cobbler need to be refrigerated?
Peach cobbler needs refrigeration after baking, but it can do without it in terms of making. However, when it comes to storing for over two days, it needs to be refrigerated.
Peach cobbler is a delicious dessert, and since it is so easy to make, you can get carried away easily and make too much of it or make it too frequently. So, when you have peach cobbler leftovers, it would be a shame not to know some simple tips on how to make your peach cobbler last longer. Therefore, in the following paragraphs, I will share some helpful info about refrigerating peach cobbler.
Does Peach Cobbler Need to Be Refrigerated After Baking?
You shouldn’t refrigerate your peach cobbler right after baking. Once you take it out of the oven, you should leave your peach cobbler on the counter to cool down and set. This usually doesn’t take over 30 minutes.
If you refrigerate your peach cobbler while it is still hot, the steam will circulate in the fridge, making it runny and overly soft. In addition, the peach cobbler steam may penetrate the other foods you have in your fridge and impact them adversely.
After it has cooled down, cover the peach cobbler with plastic foil, pop it in the fridge, and let it set additionally. This way of refrigeration is more of a part of the making process than it is for preservation purposes, as the peach cobbler doesn’t run any risks of spoiling right after making.
The refrigeration allows the peach cobbler ingredients to set and balance out the included flavors. Fruit desserts share the same characteristic- they tend to be runnier than no-fruit desserts. The baked peaches will be very soft with the juices running out, making the peach cobbler seem similar to meringue pie.
Although you don’t have to refrigerate your peach cobbler after baking, it is a recommended final step of the making process. Moreover, it tastes better when properly chilled, so it is a win-win situation.
Regardless of the reason why you want to refrigerate your peach cobbler, make sure it is properly chilled and remember to cover it so that its crust doesn’t dry out.
How Long Does Peach Cobbler Last in the Fridge?
Peach cobbler won’t last for too long in the fridge. Although it doesn’t usually contain traditional perishables that might spoil it sooner, fruit isn’t a long-lasting food.
Leaving fresh peaches in the fridge is one thing, but leaving baked peaches mixed with dough is an entirely different issue. Your peach cobbler will be safe and sound in the fridge for two to three days, but not longer.
Three days in the fridge will not cause your peach cobbler to spoil, but it won’t be the safest option. The peaches will start reacting with the baked dough.
After three days in the fridge, you should either eat the peach cobbler or freeze it, as discarding it would be just sad.
How to Store Peach Cobbler to Keep It Fresh?
The most important thing about keeping your peach cobbler fresh is to keep it properly covered. Peach cobbler is a very fragile dessert and is quite sensitive to external elements, such as too moist or dry air or the temperature in its environment.
If you plan on eating it soon after baking, whereby you don’t want to refrigerate it for it to set further, cover the peach cobbler with a plastic foil sheet, but only after it has cooled.
You can also cover it with paper or a cotton kitchen towel, but don’t cover it while it is hot, as it will get overly moist.
Suppose you want to keep your peach cobbler fresh while in the fridge; use a dessert cover or plastic foil. The paper and cotton towel won’t do here, as they will absorb the moisture from the fridge, transferring it onto your peach cobbler.
Keeping your peach cobbler fresh in the freezer is trickier, as it doesn’t do very well in the freezer. Freezing unbaked peach cobbler is the better option. Still, if you want to freeze your baked peach cobbler, do so in airtight containers that are large enough to fit a little more than the quantity you freeze.
How Long Does Peach Cobbler Last?
Peach cobbler doesn’t have a long shelf life. On the counter, it will be good for up to a day, and not a 24-hour day, but until the end of the day, you made it, so up to ten, maybe 12 hours.
In the fridge, your peach cobbler will be safe for up to three days, and in the freezer, it lasts for up to three months. After these three months, the peach cobbler will still be safe, but it won’t taste good.
Freezing baked cobbler doesn’t give the best results, as thawing it will turn it into a moist mush. If you want to freeze peach cobbler, do so before baking it, as it will be fresh and at its most delicious when you bake it afterward.
How to Store Peach Cobbler After Baking?
When it comes to storing peach cobbler after baking, you have three options: leaving it on the counter, refrigerating it, and freezing it.
If you leave your peach cobbler on the counter, don’t leave it there for more than 12 hours. You need to cover the peach cobbler with paper, a cotton kitchen towel, tin, or plastic foil.
Furthermore, before you store your peach cobbler, you need to let it cool and set it for about 30 minutes. Never store your peach cobbler right after baking, as the steam will get locked inside it and make it overly moist and gooey.
If you decide to use the fridge as your peach cobbler storage area, choose a suitable airtight container, and don’t stuff the peach cobbler inside. Ensure your container is big enough, so the pieces don’t push onto each other.
If you refrigerate the peach cobbler on a plate, wrap it tightly with plastic foil and ensure you don’t put anything on it. Also, putting the peach cobbler on the top shelf is a good idea so that it doesn’t absorb any moisture or smells in the fridge.
If you use the freezer, you must divide the peach cobbler into portions beforehand. If you want to defrost only one piece and you have frozen the entire thing, you will have to defrost the entire peach cobbler. Defrosting the entire peach cobbler is not supposed to be a problem; the problem arises when you have to refreeze the rest of the peach cobbler after eating the piece you want.
Therefore, you must portion and freeze it in separate containers or freezer bags. Airtight containers work best, but if you don’t have them handy, use freezer bags, making sure you don’t place anything on top of them.
The crucial thing to remember is to let the peach cobbler cool before storing it.
How Long Can Peach Cobbler Sit Out?
Peach cobbler can sit on the counter for up to 12 hours, after which you have to store it in some manner.
