Can key lime pie be frozen? - The complete guide

Desserts are what make the world go round. Whether you enjoy dessert directly after a meal or as a snack, or even skip lunch and go for the dessert plate, it’s safe to say that most of us love desserts.

Key lime pie is one of those desserts. It’s the perfect blend of tangy sweetness that makes your mouth water and draws you in.

There’s something about key lime pie that makes it irresistible. Even if you’re not a big fan of limes, you might still like key lime pie!

Can key lime pie be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze key lime pie. For best results, we recommend freezing the tart first. After pre-freezing, wrap the tart in plastic to preserve it. Key lime pie is best used within 2-3 months of freezing. 

In this guide, we will share with you all the tips and processes you need to know to successfully freeze your key lime pie. It is very easy and we are sure that you will not have any problem with the process. Today we have a lot of information to share about key lime pie.

Read on to find out how to freeze key lime pie and much more.

The Complete Guide to Freezing Key Lime Pie

Key lime pie can be made in many different ways, but overall the concept remains the same. This tart is made with lime juice, egg yolks, and mostly sweetened condensed milk. Of course, the recipes vary and you can also find a cake that uses real limes.

Key lime pie crust is usually graham cracker type, but can vary as well. Most key lime tarts are finished with a layer of whipped cream or some sort of creamy frosting that is spiralized around the edge of the tart. This is another factor that can vary from one side to another.

Key lime pie is made with limes , which are not exactly the same as regular limes. This lime is a hybrid citrus.

When the key lime is fully mature, it is actually yellow in color. However, it is usually harvested when the fruit is still green.

This file is smaller than traditional files. It has a higher acidity content and a stronger aroma, but also a thinner skin.

How to make key lime pie

To give you a good reference point of what we’re working with, we thought it would be a good idea to share with you a basic overview of how key lime pie is made. This will give you a good example of the types of ingredients that go into key lime pie.

Understanding the ingredients can go a long way in helping you understand the freezing process and why it works the way it does.

Keep in mind that you can buy the key lime pie filling already made if you wish.

You can also buy a frozen key lime pie at most grocery stores. That’s already a good indication that key lime pie freezes really well.

Here’s a rundown of our no-bake key lime pie recipe :

• This recipe consists of 3 parts. First up, there’s a graham cracker crust, a lime filling, and a whipped cream topping.
  • You will need graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, melted butter, lime juice, lime zest, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.

• Start with the crust.

  • Mix the cookie crumbs, sugar and melted butter in a bowl.
  • Press the crumb mixture into your tart pan.
  • Bake it at 375 for about 7 minutes to set up the crust. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before adding the filling.

• To make the lime filling, beat the eggs, sugar, lime juice, and lime zest.

  • Once the pie crust has cooled, spoon the whipped filling mixture into the pie crust.
  • Cook the mixture of eggs and sugar in a bain-marie before adding the other ingredients.
  • Chill the tart for a minimum of 3 hours.

• Now prepare the whipped topping.

  • Beat the heavy cream and powdered sugar with a mixer. Beat until stiff peaks form. Next, beat the vanilla.
  • Add the whipped topping to the top of the cake in any way you prefer. We recommend putting small drops on the edges, close to the crust.

Proper Storing and Freezing Key Key Pie

Key lime pie is best served cold. You should store it in the fridge or freezer, except when you serve it.

It is best to keep the key lime pie covered in some way while it is being stored. In the fridge, you can cover it lightly with plastic wrap or even aluminum foil.

Key lime pie keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days if you keep it covered and chilled.

One of the great things about key lime pie is that you can freeze it right away if you prefer. It can be served frozen and most people probably wouldn’t notice. The freezer does not make it harder to chew or cut. 

How to freeze key lime pie

1. Freeze the pie by placing the finished pie in the freezer for about 2-4 hours uncovered. Make sure the sides and top of the pie are not touching anything in the freezer.
2. Once the tart is frozen, take it out and wrap it with a plastic wrap. Turn the cake over and wrap it with another 1-2 layers of plastic wrap. For the best protection, we recommend putting 2-4 layers of plastic around the key lime pie.
3. Label and date your cake.
4. Put it in the freezer for up to 3 months for the best results.

Once the key lime pie is frozen, it is very easy to work with.  It should be fine indefinitely, but the integrity of your whipped topping can be worsened if you leave your pie in the freezer too long.

You don’t have to worry about any special steps when you take the cake out of the freezer.

You can serve the key lime pie frozen or you can let it thaw . We recommend that you let it defrost for a few hours in the fridge so that it softens a bit. Keep in mind, however, that the ingredients won’t be hard to cut or chew even when frozen, but they will be firm.

You can also take the tart out of the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes to soften slightly.

You shouldn’t have to worry about any texture or ingredient looking weird or falling apart after the pie has frozen.

The exception would be if you use a meringue topping. This type of topping should be added just before serving for best results.

If you keep the key lime pie cold, you can pop it back in the freezer. However, for the best quality, we do not recommend thawing and refreezing multiple times.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide to freezing key lime pie useful. It’s really easy to do and we think you’ll find it works well with little effort.

We invite you to review the following Q&A section for some additional details that you may also find useful.

How many limes do you need to squeeze your own juice?

You need to get about 1/2 cup of lime juice. This can take 6-8 files to achieve. Before squeezing the limes, make sure you also get the zest from at least one lime.

Can I use normal files?

The flavor will not be the same if you use regular limes instead of lime. The best thing to do if you can’t find limes or lime juice would be to mix lime juice and lemon juice in equal amounts to create your own lime juice.

Can you get salmonella from key lime pie?

Be sure to follow the cooking instructions in any recipe that uses egg yolks for key lime pie, as undercooking risks salmonella. However, if everything is followed properly or if you substitute another ingredient for the egg yolks, it shouldn’t be a problem.