Frozen Crawfish Pie: Everything You Need to Know

There are many ways one can enjoy the delicacy that is crawfish. And making a pie with a crawfish filling is one of the tastiest and easiest options to try. A great thing about crawfish pies is that you can make them in advance and keep them in the freezer until you want to cook them. So, how to cook frozen crawfish pie?

You can preserve unbaked crawfish pie for up to 3 months by freezing them. Then you can directly cook them in an oven for 35-40 minutes at 350 °F. Take the pie out of the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Alternatively, you can freeze cooked crawfish pie, which you should try to consume within two days.

In this article, we will discuss exactly how you handle a frozen crawfish pie. We will discuss related topics such as thawing, reheating, refreezing, etc. Basically, here is everything you need to know.

Can You Freeze Crawfish Pie?

A great thing about crawfish pie is that you can assemble them in advance. Then you can store them in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to bake them.

You can freeze the entire pie after assembling it. Or, you can make the crawfish pie filling and store it for later use. You can even store the filling and crust separately if you prefer.

To store the pie properly, wrap the pie in plastic wrap tightly. Then place them inside a zipper bag or freezer bag. Now, place them inside the freezer, where the cold temperature will prevent the pie from degrading. You can keep this pie frozen for up to 3 months.

Since this crustacean has a lot of fat, it will go bad quickly. So, you have to move quickly to freeze it with its quality intact.

How to Cook Frozen Crawfish Pie?

You can cook frozen crawfish pies very much like you would cook fresh pies. Here is how:

Preheat your oven to 350 °F.
Place the pies on a baking tray lined with tin foil.
Brush the top of the pies with an egg wash. This will make the top of the pie crust very crispy and give it a nice, golden color.
Transfer the baking tray to the oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crust is visibly flaky and golden brown.
Take the pie out of the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

And there you have it, a nice batch of crawfish pie. You can serve this pie with homemade cornbread, some Collard greens, etc. Or, you can enjoy them as it is with a nice beverage on the side.

How Do You Reheat Frozen Crawfish Pie?

If you have any pie leftover after baking them, you can simply put them inside a freezer for a future day. You can then reheat the frozen crawfish pie in an oven or microwave. Here we are going to detail both methods:

Reheating in the Oven

This is the best way to reheat any pie, including leftover crawfish pie. Because it ensures that the flavors of the pie are intact and the crust remains flaky. And here is how you do it:

Preheat your oven to 350 °F.
Place the pies on a tray lined with foil and transfer them inside the oven.
Bake the pie for 5-10 minutes or until it is warm all the way through. You can test this by poking a toothpick or knife at the center and seeing if it is warm enough. If the pie still needs more heating, place them back inside the oven for an additional 1-2 minutes.

Reheating in the Microwave

The microwave offers a faster and easier way of reheating leftover pie. But this method can make your pie crust soggy.

Place the pie inside the microwave and turn it on at full power. Keep it inside the microwave for 4-5 minutes. Then test the pie to see if it is warm all the way through. If not, keep it in the microwave for another minute.

Do You Need to Thaw a Crawfish Pie Before Cooking?

You do not have to thaw the pie before cooking. You can directly place them on a tray and bake them in the oven.

Do You Need to Thaw a Crawfish Pie Before Reheating?

If you are reheating inside an oven, you do not necessarily have to thaw it beforehand. But you can thaw it by keeping it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before baking.

Can You Refreeze Crawfish Pie?

Crawfish have plenty of fat. So, it can go rancid easily. This makes refreezing it difficult. If you make a fresh batch of pie, you can refreeze it once without noticing any difference in taste.

But if you are refreezing it multiple times or refreezing already frozen cooked pies, you may notice a significant downgrade in the taste.

To conclude, crawfish pie is a great way of enjoying these freshwater crustaceans. And with modern freezing technology, you can make them in advance to save you a lot of the hassle.