How to Store Macarons - The Ultimate Guide

The macarons are truly a delight - gorgeous crispy rounds of light meringue cookies held together by a delicious buttercream filling.

Whether you love homemade macarons or just can’t resist the colorful versions on the shelves of your favorite bakery, it’s hard not to love these gluten-free treats.

So what is the best way to preserve macarons? The macarons can be stored overnight in an airtight container at room temperature, or larger batches will stay fresh longer in the fridge or freezer. Using the freezer to store macarons is a great way to keep them crisp and fresh.

Maybe you’ve mastered the art of macaron baking and want to make some ahead of time for a party, or you just couldn’t resist picking up a box at the bakery. In either case, storing your macarons correctly is essential to keeping them fresh and tasty.

Read on for our ultimate guide to storing macarons and you’ll never have a soggy or stale macaron again.

How to prepare homemade macarons for preservation

Perfecting the art of making macarons can take some time, but it’s one of those things that’s definitely worth it.

Macarons make a great centerpiece for a party, and they keep well if stored correctly, which means there’s no need to bake them at the last minute.

If you make the macarons ahead of time, it’s essential to let them cool completely on the tray when you take them out of the oven.

If you take them off the tray too soon, the macarons will crack and fall apart.

If they aren’t completely cool when you remove them from the pan, the macarons may also be too soft, as the residual heat from the pan creates that lovely crispy outer layer.

Homemade macarons can be saved after you’ve filled them, or you can save the macaron shells for filling later.

Follow these steps to prepare your homemade macarons for storage:

1. Check that your storage container has a tight lid, and that it is clean and completely dry.
2. Place a layer of parchment paper in the bowl, covering the bottom and folding up the sides.
3. Arrange the macarons in a single layer on the parchment paper, making sure they are not touching each other.
4. Fold the parchment paper on the sides gently over the edges of the macarons.
5. Place another layer of parchment paper over the top of the macarons.
6. Place the lid firmly on the container, making sure no air can get in. You can now save your macarons using any of the methods below.

We recommend that you store your macarons in a single layer to keep them in perfect condition.

However, if you’re making a large batch for a party, this can be difficult, so you can gently layer the macarons in your container.

Make sure there is a good layer of parchment paper between each macaron ; it may be helpful to also use a layer of plastic wrap to prevent the macaron layers from sticking together.

The best containers to store macarons

Macarons have two enemies: air and humidity. Both will make your macarons stale and soggy, so choosing the right container to store your macarons in is essential .

Use a clean, dry, airtight container to store your macarons. The slightest bit of moisture will make your macarons soggy, so check the corners and top to make sure they’re completely dry.

Ideally, macarons should be stored in a single layer, so a shallow container is best. The kind of containers made to hold sandwiches or pasta sheets are the perfect depth to hold your macarons.

You can also buy purpose-built boxes for storing macarons at specialty bakery and homeware stores.

These boxes contain slits to hold each individual macaron, keeping them in perfect condition for storage and transport.

How to store macarons at room temperature

Homemade macarons can be safely stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature and will remain fresh and crisp if stored correctly.

This is very useful if you are making a large batch for a party, as they can be made the day before without taking up much space in the fridge.

If you have filled your macarons, remember to check if the filling is suitable to store at room temperature as well.

To store your macarons at room temperature, make sure they have cooled down completely.

Place them in a suitable airtight container and put it in a cool, dark cupboard. Your macarons will still be fresh and crisp the next day, but they can go bad quickly afterwards.

If your macarons come from a store or bakery, they may have different storage instructions.

Store-bought macarons will usually already be in the perfect container for storage at room temperature, so transferring them to a new container may not be necessary.

Be sure to carefully read the instructions for store-bought macarons to find out how long they can keep at room temperature.

How to store macarons in the fridge

Home-baked macarons stay crisp and fresh for up to 3 days in the fridge if stored correctly.

They can be kept in the fridge as empty or stuffed shells, but remember to keep in mind how long the stuffing can be stored safely for.

To store the macarons in the fridge, make sure they have cooled down completely.

Place them in a suitable airtight container and put it on the middle shelf of the fridge.

Using the center shelf provides the most consistent temperature in the fridge; the temperature may fluctuate if the upper or lower shelf or the refrigerator door is used.

Empty macaron shells usually stay fresh in the fridge for 4-6 days after making.

Filled macarons won’t stay fresh as long, as the moisture content of the filling can cause them to become soggy.

Filled macarons should stay fresh and crisp for up to 2-4 days , but for best results, assemble and fill macarons the day before serving.

Macarons are best served at room temperature, so be sure to take them out of the fridge at least 20 minutes before serving. Store them in their container until just before serving.

If your macarons come from a store or bakery, they may have different storage instructions.

Store-bought macarons will usually already be in the perfect container to store in the fridge, so transferring to a new container may not be necessary.

Be sure to read the instructions carefully to find out how long they can be kept in the fridge.

How to store macarons in the freezer

Freezing is a great way to keep macarons longer without losing any of their texture or flavor.

Macarons can be stored in the freezer as empty shells or after filling. If you’ve mastered the art of making macarons, storing them in the freezer means you’ll always have a delicious treat or treat ready.

The delicate texture of macarons makes them very susceptible to freezer burn, so preparing them correctly is essential.

Freezer burn is caused by excess air around the macaron, so make sure they are well wrapped with parchment paper inside your airtight container.

An extra layer of aluminum foil around the outside of the parchment paper can also help prevent freezer burn.

Freeze the filled macarons:

1. Choose the filling well! This method is perfect for fillings that can thaw without releasing too much moisture, such as buttercream.
2. Bake the macarons as usual and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet.
3. Fill the macarons with the filling of your choice. Store on parchment paper in an airtight container in the fridge for 24 hours to allow the filled macaron to mature.
4. Make sure the filled macarons are properly packaged to prevent freezer burn. Then they can be frozen for up to 1 month .
5. Filled macarons should be taken out of the freezer the day before serving. Thaw them in the fridge inside their packaging.

Freeze the macaron shells:

1. This method is great for macarons that need to be assembled the same day they are served, or for macarons with fillings that don’t freeze well.
2. Bake the macarons as usual and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet.
3. Place the macaron shells in an airtight plastic container lined with parchment paper. They can be laid horizontally in a single layer or neatly placed on their side.
4. Make sure the macaron shells are properly packed to prevent freezer burn. They can be frozen up to 3 months.
5. The macaron shells should be taken out of the freezer on the day of assembly. Thaw them in the fridge in their container.

Macarons stored in the freezer take a few hours to thaw in the fridge. If your frozen macarons were freshly baked, they will keep for 2-4 days after thawing, depending on the filling.

If you only need a few macarons, take the ones you need out of the freezer and transfer them to a smaller airtight container to thaw.

If your macarons come from a store or bakery, they may have different storage instructions and it is not advisable to store them in the freezer.

Many store-bought macarons will have been previously stored in the freezer and refreezing is not recommended.

Be sure to carefully read the instructions for store-bought macarons to see if they can be frozen.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over the best ways to store macarons and what to keep in mind when doing so, let’s go over a few more questions we thought you might have on the subject!

What macaron fillings freeze well?

If you want to store your filled macarons in the freezer, the best fillings to choose are ones that don’t release excess moisture when thawed , such as buttercream and chocolate ganache .

Avoid freezing fillings that release moisture into the macaron shell, such as jams and jellies. Other fillings, like curds, can separate in the freezer.

Why do macarons get soggy and stale?

It can be very daunting when you make the perfect, crispy macaron, and a few hours later it’s mushy and stale. Unfortunately, even the most exquisite macaron deteriorates if not stored correctly.

Air and humidity are the two biggest enemies of the perfect macaron, and must be protected from both. Exposure to water droplets and excessive air will quickly make macarons mushy and stale.

To prevent your macarons from getting soggy and stale, be sure to keep them covered at all times once they’ve cooled . Don’t be tempted to leave them uncovered, especially in the fridge.

Uncovered macarons left in the fridge will not only soften, but will absorb the odors and flavors of other foods in the fridge.

Macarons also deteriorate over time. These meringue-based treats will lose their shape after about 3 days, becoming crumbly and stale.

This is because the egg white only maintains the delicate structure of the meringue for a short period of time. All the more reason to eat the macarons ASAP.

Should macarons be decorated before or after freezing?

Many of the decorations used on the macarons are suitable for freezing, but care must be taken to avoid staining the artwork.

Make sure the macarons are not stacked on top of each other and carefully place the parchment paper over your decorated macarons.

If in doubt, try freezing and thawing a decorated macaron as a test before freezing the whole batch.

The following decorations are all suitable to apply to macarons before freezing:

• edible markers
• sugar decorations
• Fondant (glued with edible glue)
• Buttercream Decorations
• Sprinkled (baked or glued with edible glue)
• thick royal rubber
• glitter powder

How can I transport the macarons?

If you’ve put hours of effort into making, filling, and decorating macarons for a party or celebration, you’ll want to make sure they arrive safely.

For transport, your filled macarons should be stored in a clean, dry, airtight container, nestled in a layer of parchment paper.

Make sure the macarons are very cold in the fridge , or if they are frozen they can be taken out of the freezer just before leaving. Leave the filled macarons in these containers for transport.

Place the containers with the cold macarons in a larger box, making sure they are packed carefully to prevent them from slipping.

If it’s a hot day, place some ice packs or cold water bottles around the containers to keep them cool.

A cool bag or cooler can also be a good option to keep the macarons cold during transport.

How can I tell if my macarons have gone bad?

It is very easy to know if a macaron has gone bad: just look at its shape. A macaron that is not fit to be eaten will have collapsed, losing the characteristic domed biscuit shape.

You may also notice moisture, mold, and a musty smell if your macaron has gone bad.