Freezing pie fillings is a convenient way to preserve the flavors of summer fruits and berries, allowing you to enjoy homemade pies all year round. Whether you have leftover filling from a recent baking session or want to prepare ahead for future pies, freezing is a simple and effective method to extend the shelf life of your culinary creations.
Benefits of Freezing Pie Fillings
- Preserve Freshness: Freezing pie fillings helps retain their peak flavor and nutritional value, ensuring that your pies taste just as delicious as if they were made with fresh fruit.
- Convenience: Frozen pie fillings save time and effort when baking. Simply thaw and pour into your pie crust, eliminating the need for peeling, slicing, and measuring fresh fruit.
- Year-Round Availability: Freezing allows you to enjoy your favorite pie fillings even when fresh fruit is out of season.
How to Freeze Pie Fillings
1. Prepare the Filling:
- Prepare your pie filling according to your preferred recipe.
- Allow the filling to cool completely before freezing.
2. Choose the Right Containers:
- For small batches, freezer-safe bags are a convenient option.
- For larger quantities, use freezer-safe containers or pie pans.
3. Freeze the Filling:
- Place the cooled filling into the chosen containers.
- Leave about 1/2 inch of headspace at the top to allow for expansion during freezing.
- Seal the containers tightly to prevent freezer burn.
Freezing Unbaked Pie Dough
In addition to freezing pie fillings, you can also freeze unbaked pie dough for future use.
- Roll out the Dough: Roll out the pie dough into circles or desired shapes.
- Freeze Flat: Place the rolled-out dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Freeze until solid.
- Store in Freezer Bags: Once frozen, transfer the dough circles to freezer-safe bags.
Thawing Frozen Pie Fillings and Dough
- Thaw in Refrigerator: For best results, thaw frozen pie fillings and dough in the refrigerator overnight.
- Thaw at Room Temperature: If time is limited, you can thaw the filling or dough at room temperature for several hours.
- Microwave Thawing: Microwave thawing is not recommended as it can result in uneven thawing and loss of texture.
Tips for Freezing Pie Fillings
- Use Ascorbic Acid: Adding ascorbic acid or a commercial color preserver to light-colored fillings, such as peach or pear, helps maintain their vibrant color during freezing.
- Prevent Boiling Over: For juicy fillings, add an extra tablespoon of flour, tapioca, or cornstarch to prevent boiling over during baking.
- Use Modified Food Starch: Fillings thickened with tapioca or modified food starch, such as Instant ClearJel® or ThermFlo®, maintain their consistency better during freezing and thawing.
- Avoid Regular ClearJel®: Regular ClearJel® is not suitable for frozen pies and is best used for canned pie fillings.
Creative Uses for Frozen Pie Fillings
Beyond traditional pies, frozen pie fillings offer versatility in the kitchen:
- Cheesecake Toppings: Thawed pie fillings make delicious toppings for cheesecakes.
- Crepe Fillings: Use thawed pie fillings as fillings for sweet or savory crepes.
- Fruit Crisps and Cobblers: Adapt pie fillings into fruit crisps by topping with a crumb mixture or into cobblers by adding a biscuit topper.
Freezing pie fillings is a practical and convenient way to preserve the flavors of summer and enjoy homemade pies throughout the year. By following these simple steps and tips, you can ensure that your frozen pie fillings retain their freshness and taste as if they were freshly made.
Using Your Frozen Pie Filling
When pie time comes, line a pie pan with your preferred homemade pie crust. I’m not judging. You could even use some frozen pie dough that you bought from the store and thaw it out. “Yes, homemade dough would be best, but I’d rather you make your own pie with store-bought dough, than to not make your pie at all,” is how Alton Brown, I believe, puts it best in that particular Good Eats episode. ” Wise words, Alton! :-).
This is where it gets really interesting: the pie filling doesn’t have to be thawed before using it. Simply place the frozen pie filling disc onto the pie pan’s dough. Using another roll of pie dough, cover the top in a second layer. You can use latticed strips or one large piece, depending on your preference. You’re ready to bake when you brush the top with an egg wash (one egg yolk whisked with a tiny bit of water).
For one hour and fifteen minutes, bake your pie at 325 degrees. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a minimum of one and a half hours. That’s 90 minutes of NO. TOUCHING. ALLOWED. This period of cooling and resting gives the pie filling its scrumptious, gooey texture. Cutting into it too soon will only make your heart feel mushy and soupy. Nobody wants to experience that!.
Frozen Blueberry Pie Filling
Ingredients:
- 20 ounces fresh blueberries, divided
- 5 Tbsp tapioca flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp orange zest, freshly grated
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp orange juice
Directions:
First, spread out half of your blueberries on a sheet tray and reserve the remaining half for later use. Use a flat-bottomed object, such as a square cake pan or bread loaf pan, to press down on the blueberries on the sheet pan. The blueberries are crushed but not destroyed by the uniform pressure of a level surface. Additionally, crushing the blueberries releases their natural pectin, which helps the pie filling gel after baking and prevents a soupy pie.
Combine the tapioca flour, sugar, orange zest, and salt in a sizable bowl.
Next, include the tablespoon of orange juice in the bowl along with the blueberries, both whole and crushed. Stir until thoroughly combined, then set aside to rest for approximately fifteen minutes.
Line a 9-inch pie plate with aluminum foil and set aside while the filling cools. Once the rest time has passed, transfer the filling into the lined pie plate and freeze it for a minimum of six hours or overnight. ).
Once the filling has frozen completely, remove the foil from the pie pan and carefully peel it off the frozen filling. Your frozen pie filling disc can be kept in the freezer for up to six months if you place it in a freezer bag.
How to make Apple Pie filling for freezer
FAQ
Can you freeze fresh pie filling?
Do you thaw frozen pie filling before baking?
Can you freeze leftover canned pie filling?
Can you freeze creamy pie filling?
Can you freeze pie filling?
Line a metal pie pan with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil, then add the filling. Place the pan on a baking sheet to stabilize it, then freeze until the filling is a solid. Only after the filling is frozen, fold the foil over and around it and pop the filling from the pan.
Do you need to thaw frozen pie filling?
You don’t have to thaw frozen filling to use it in your apple pie. You can actually bake it from frozen. The biggest issue is that you run the risk of ending up with a soggy pie crust due to the added moisture. You can combat this by sprinkling a few teaspoons of cornstarch or flour onto the frozen apple pie before baking it.
Can You Freeze Fruit pies?
Preserve sweet summer fruit pies to brighten dreary winter days by freezing the fruit filling in the shape of the pan. If you’ve purchased a peck of peaches or see cherries on sale for pennies on the dollar, you can put them to good use in pie. Prepare the filling for your favorite fruit pie, adding seasonings, starches, and sugar.
Can you freeze unbaked pies?
Penn State Extension. Freezing Unbaked Pies Unbaked pies have a fresher fruit flavor than ones baked before freezing. Freeze the filling and crust separately to prevent fruit juice from penetrating and softening the lower crust during freezing.