Name: How To Reheat Pumpkin Pie
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 slice pumpkin pie; 1 whole pumpkin pie

Table of Contents

Nothing feels more homely than wafts of nutmeg and creamy pumpkin mixed with flaky, buttery pastry.

If you’re a huge fan of pumpkin pie like I am, you may have found yourself wondering if it’s possible to store and reheat it later.

The answer is yes, and it reheats pretty well too – if you follow the right steps.

In this post, I’ll tell you all you need to know about warming up this delicious holiday treat.

I’ll also take you through how best to store the pumpkin pie.

A note on my experiment

After a particularly zealous baking session, I ended up with some leftover pumpkin pie.

I stored it for a few days in the fridge before conducting three reheating experiments to find the best method.

My goals were to retain a crispy pastry while keeping the filling soft and moist.

The methods I tried included:

In the oven (best for whole pies)
In the microwave (good if you’re in a rush for a single serving)
in the air fryer (can burn the pie if you’re not careful)
In a skillet (surprisingly good results)

The oven method was slow, but my pie tasted good, and the pastry still had some crunch to it.

The microwave didn’t do much for the pastry, but the filling was moist and fresh.

The skillet method delivered on both fronts, keeping the filling tender and crisping up the pastry’s base.

The air fryer worked OK, but close attention is needed to ensure you don’t burn or overcook the pie.

Reheating pumpkin pie in the oven

Bring your leftover pumpkin pie to room temperature while you preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Cover your pie loosely with foil, and pop it in the oven for 5-10 minutes (for a slice) or 10-15 minutes for a whole pie. Serve once pleasantly warm.

Covering your pie with foil seals in moisture and warmth and prevents your crust from burning.

How to reheat pumpkin pie in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
While the oven warms up, bring your pumpkin pie to room temperature.
Make sure your pie is in an oven-safe container, or put it on a baking tray.
Cover your slice of pie or whole pie loosely with foil. Not too tight, or the pastry will turn soggy.
Warm it up in the oven for 5-10 minutes (for a slice, whole pies will take longer).
Once heated to your satisfaction, serve immediately.

Allowing your pie to come to room temperature reduces the chance of cold spots when you reheat it.

To check if your pie is warmed through, insert the tip of a knife into the center (or use a cake tester) and feel how hot it is when you pull it out.

If the metal is warm to the touch, it’s ready.

You can jazz up your leftover pie by sprinkling on a little extra nutmeg or cinnamon and serving it with a dollop of whipped cream.

My verdict

If you have a whole pumpkin pie, the oven is definitely the way to go. It delivered on restoring that delicious pastry crunch and fixing any sogginess.

My pie was beautifully warm and tasted fresh.

It works well for slices too but is a little slow.

Reheating pumpkin pie in the microwave

To reheat pumpkin pie in the microwave, place a slice (maximum two) on a microwave-safe plate. Allow it a few minutes to come to room temperature. Then, heat it in 15-second intervals until warm to your satisfaction. Serve immediately.

If your pie is a little on the dry side, pop a small dish or ramekin of water into the microwave at the same time.

How to reheat pumpkin pie in the microwave:

Place a slice of pumpkin pie on a microwave-safe plate. Don’t microwave whole pies. They won’t heat evenly.
Heat your pie in 15-second intervals until warm.
Serve immediately.

The entire reheating process should only take between 30 seconds to a minute.

Remember – metal doesn’t belong in the microwave!

If your pumpkin pie is in a metal tray, don’t forget to transfer it to something microwave-safe.

My verdict

This method was quick and easy, so good for warming up a single slice in a hurry.

However, it’s not ideal if you want to reheat multiple portions at once. And the microwave doesn’t restore any flakiness or crunch to the pastry. Instead, it turns a bit soggy and chewy.

Reheating pumpkin pie in a skillet

Set a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat on your stove. Add a slice or two of (room temperature) pie and cover the pan with a lid. Allow five or so minutes for your pie to heat up. Check its progress at the halfway mark. Once warm, remove and serve immediately.

Add fun toppings like whipped cream, ice cream, or extra spice before serving.

How to reheat pumpkin pie in a skillet:

Place a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat on your stove.
Add a portion or two of pumpkin pie, taking care not to overcrowd the pan.
Cover the pan with a lid.
Allow five minutes for heating, checking at the halfway mark.
Once warm, serve immediately.

Covering your pan with a lid locks in moisture so your pie doesn’t dry out. If you don’t have a lid, you can use foil instead.

Keeping the heat medium-to-low will ensure the bottom of your pastry doesn’t burn.

My verdict

I really liked this method and would recommend it.

The pie filling was moist, and the pastry was hot and buttery. The bottom was nice and crisp, even though it had been a bit soggy coming out of the fridge.

It’s also a bit faster than the oven, although not ideal for multiple portions at once.

Reheating pumpkin pie in an air fryer

To reheat pumpkin pie in an air fryer, set the air fryer to300°F (150°C) and place a slice of pie into the basket. Heat the pumpkin pie for 3-5 minutes until warmed through. To test if it’s warm to the center, stick a knife into the pie and test how warm it is when you pull it out.

How to reheat pumpkin pie in an air fryer:

Set you air fryer to300°F (150°C).
Place a slice of pie into the air fryer basket.
Heat the pie for 3-5 minutes, or until warm.

The pie only needs to be warm, so there’s no need to leave it in the air fryer for long.

If you do, you may find the filling starts to burn.

My verdict

I found that because the pie filling is quite dense the outside of the pie started to overcook while the inside was still luke-warm.

But for a small slice, the air fryer will work fine.

Do you need to refrigerate pumpkin pie?

Pumpkin pie contains eggs, so it needs to be refrigerated.

The pie can stand for a maximum of two hours at room temperature before you need to transfer it to the fridge.

According to the USDA, you should store any baked goods containing a significant amount of egg products in a cool location.

How to store pumpkin pie

Pumpkin pie will last for 3-4 days in the fridge. To store pumpkin pie, let it cool to room temperature before wrapping or covering it with plastic wrap. You can keep the pie in the container you bought or baked it in, or you can transfer slices to airtight containers.

Always let the pumpkin pie cool down before sealing it.

If you don’t, you’ll end up with a buildup of condensation and soggy pastry.

What about just the filling?

You can keep leftover pumpkin pie filling in the fridge for up to a week.

Simply wait for it to cool and then transfer it to an airtight container or cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Don’t worry if a layer of water forms on top of your filling.

You can whisk it back together before using it.

Can you freeze pumpkin pie?

Whether you can successfully freeze pumpkin pie depends on its recipe. I’ve had some pumpkin pies that froze beautifully and some that ended up grainy and soggy. I recommend testing one slice first and checking how well it fares. Use any frozen pumpkin pie within one month.

How to freeze pumpkin pie:

Cool your baked pie to room temperature.
If your pie is in its baking dish, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil. Wrap any leftover slices individually.
Use the pumpkin pie within 1 month.

Cooling down your pie is the most important part of the freezing process.

If you don’t, you’ll end up trapping in condensation that will turn your crust soggy and unappetizing.

Top tip: baking and storing your pies in foil containers means you can pop them straight into the oven without having to transfer them into a new container.

How to thaw and reheat frozen pumpkin pie

The best way to thaw frozen pumpkin pie is overnight in the fridge. Once defrosted, you can reheat it in the oven, microwave, or even a skillet. Try to avoid thawing your pumpkin pie on the counter because this method is more likely to leave you with damp pastry.

If you need, you can reheat a pumpkin pie straight from frozen in the oven.

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and cover your pie with foil. This will stop the pastry’s edges from burning. Heat your pie for 30-40 minutes, but check on your pie’s progress at the halfway mark to be safe.