Do People Eat Lemon Meringue Pie Hot or Cold?
Lemon meringue pie is a dessert that doesn’t depend on the temperature. Since you will enjoy it regardless of the temperature, the one thing to keep an eye on is keeping its texture. So, do people eat lemon meringue pie hot or cold?
People rather eat cooled lemon meringue pie than warm, but it depends on the taste. Never eat it hot because serving the lemon meringue pie while it’s hot will not only burn your tongue but will also make the cutting almost impossible. Lemon meringue pie tastes terrific at room temperature, as well as cold.
If you serve the pie the wrong way, whether at the wrong temperature or using the wrong cutting techniques, your pie will lose its essence. In my pursuit to have and serve the best possible lemon meringue pie, I have discovered a thing or two that would have saved me a lot of grief had I known them earlier and will share it with you in the following paragraphs.
Is Lemon Meringue Pie Supposed to Be Served Hot, Cold, or at Room Temperature?
The short answer would be, as you like it best. However, to know how you want your lemon meringue pie, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Whether you serve it hot, cold, or at room temperature, you must consider the pros and cons.
First of all, serving your lemon meringue pie hot isn’t an option. It will burn your tongue, but in addition to that, it will ruin the pie’s structure and consistency. After baking your pie, it is essential that you let it set.
If you serve your pie hot, you won’t cut it properly. The meringue and the lemon custard will smear all over your knife, and the crust may crack too.
To properly cut your pie, you have to let it set and cool naturally, after which you cut it with a wet knife. You should wipe the knife with a wet towel after each cut.
On the other hand, whether you serve your lemon meringue pie at room temperature or cold is totally up to you and your guests. If you decide to serve it at room temperature, you will have to leave your pie chill naturally, meaning you will have to give It at least an hour. Don’t forget to cover your pie with a cloth.
If you decide that you want to serve your pie cold, you will have to refrigerate it for some time, about 2-3 hours. It would be best to let your pie cool naturally before popping it in the fridge, which means that you will serve it about 4-5 hours after making it.
Remember to cover your pie with aluminum foil and place it on the top shelf of the fridge if you plan to keep it there for more than 3 hours.
Essentially, whether you serve your lemon meringue pie at room temperature or cold won’t change its taste and richness. However, the freshness of the pie is much more expressed when served cold. Therefore, more people prefer a cold lemon meringue pie rather than room temperature.
How to Cool Lemon Meringue Pie?
The most important thing to do when cooling your lemon meringue pie is to let it cool at room temperature after taking it out of the oven. If you refrigerate your pie while hot, it will become soggy, runny, and watery since you haven’t given it time to set.
Another thing to do is to put it on the top shelf. The higher the pie is, the less fridge moisture it will absorb. If you plan to keep it in the fridge for more than 3 hours, cover your pie with aluminum foil once it reaches three hours of fridge time.
Can You Reheat Lemon Meringue Pie?
Reheating your lemon meringue pie isn’t the best thing to do, nor is it necessary. However, there are two situations where you can reheat it- while making it and if you want it warm after it has cooled.
When you make the pie, your lemon custard should be hot when you top it with the meringue. Therefore it is best to have the meringue ready a little before you are done with the custard, or at least have them both ready at the same time. Still, if this isn’t possible, and your custard has cooled before you top it with the meringue, reheat the pie.
You should start reheating the pie at a low temperature and increase it gradually for 10 to 15 minutes. Preheat the oven and start at 212 °F for 5 minutes, then at 266 °F for another 5 minutes and 302 °F for another 5 minutes.
Please don’t cover the pie in the oven, as it will become watery.
The other situation is if your pie has already been in the fridge and you want it warm. In this case, take the pie out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour. Pop it in the oven for 10 minutes at a low temperature.
Preheat the oven for 5-10 minutes before putting the pie in. Heat at a constant temperature of 212 °F, for 10 minutes. Don’t cover the pie while in the oven. However, cover it with a cloth after you take it out. This will soften the crust and rehydrate the pie.
Are You Supposed to Refrigerate Lemon Meringue Pie? How to Store It?
Since lemon meringue pie is more commonly served cold, it is ok to refrigerate it. Your pie is safe in the fridge for about three days, but not more. Remember to cover it with aluminum foil and place it on the top shelf, and it will be ok.
If you are confident that you will have the entire pie in one day, you don’t have to refrigerate it, as it won’t go bad at room temperature for a day.
If you want to freeze your lemon meringue pie, that is a terrible idea. Fruit pies don’t do well in the freezer when covered with meringue. However, if you freeze your pie without topping it with the meringue, you can store it in the freezer for three months.
How Long Does Lemon Meringue Pie Last?
Because it contains butter and eggs, lemon meringue pie doesn’t last long. In the fridge, it can last for three days. At room temperature, it is ok for one day, after which you have to refrigerate it.
If you pop it in the freezer, it will last for about three months. Don’t top it with the meringue, but freeze the custard-filled crust, and top it with the meringue after taking it out from the freezer. Pop it in the oven for a few minutes, and it will be almost as good as freshly made.
