How to Reheat Frozen Pie: The Best Reheating Instructions for Success

I love pie. All kinds of pie. Fruit pie such as apple, savory pie such as chicken pot pie and impossibly easy pies, both sweet and savory, are particular favorites.

I’m also a lifetime Weight Watcher who has learned that the best way to lasting weight loss success is avoiding unnecessary temptation. The best bet is to learn to manage your leftovers, especially leftover pies, so you don’t overindulge.

Pie slices, individually wrapped and tucked away in the freezer, are much less likely to get you into trouble than homemade pies staring back at you from the counter or refrigerator. They are a great way to avoid eating diving into an entire pie since thawing and reheating will take a little bit of planning.

That’s where this article comes in. It explores the different methods for reheating leftover frozen pie.

Keep in mind that the quality of your reheated baked frozen pie will depend on how well you prepared it for the freezer. The best freezer wrappings are moisture proof and vapor proof. Air is the great enemy of frozen food. Exposure to air during freezing may cause an off flavor, loss of moisture and color or freezer burn.

It’s easiest to wrap pie slices in flexible wrapping like foil, plastic or freezer wrap. Heavy duty foil provides excellent protection and is easy to use. It can be pressed to fit the shape of your slice, being careful not to damage any fragile crust. Single weight foil used in multiple layers and plastic wrap are also good.

I like to wrap individual pie slices in heavy duty aluminum foil and then place them in zipper close plastic freezer bags, pressing out excess air, for double protection. Be sure to label your package with contents and date so you can easily identify them when needed. You can keep it frozen for 1-3 months.

Tips for Freezing Pie

Let the pie completely cool to room temperature before freezing to reduce the chance of ice crystals developing.
Wrap your whole pie or individual slices really well in foil or plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn.
Place your well wrapped pie in a heavy-duty resealable freezer bag or a sturdy freezer-safe container for double protection.
Label the container with a description of the contents and the date.
Place the pie upright in the freezer in an area where it won’t be crushed by other items.
Cream Pies and Custard Pies such as baked pumpkin pies DO NOT FREEZE well. Their texture can become watery and/or grainy and the crust overly soggy when defrosted. It’s best to share leftover cream options with friends and family as soon as possible.
Frozen apple pie, frozen peach pie, other frozen fruit pie and even frozen meat pie can last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Quality may suffer when left in the freezer for a longer time.
A baked pie that has been frozen can be served without reheating; thaw it in its wrapping in the refrigerator.

For best results defrost your leftover frozen baked pie in the fridge before reheating.

How to Defrost Frozen Pie?

The best way to thaw frozen pie is in the refrigerator overnight. When it’s no longer frozen, remove it from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to remove the chill.

How to reheat a slice of fruit pie such as apple pie in the oven?

The best way to reheat leftover apple pie (or any frozen cooked pie) is in the oven. It’s the best method for ensuring a crispy crust and an evenly warmed filling. For best results defrost your leftover frozen baked pie in the fridge before reheating.

To reheat a single slice of leftover defrosted frozen pie preheat your oven to 350 Degrees F. Place the pie on a baking tray / cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or foil. Lightly cover with foil and bake until warmed to your liking. This should take about 15-20 minutes for a 9-inch pie, 12-15 minutes for a 5-inch pie and 5-7 minutes for a single slice.

If you don’t want to heat up the whole oven for one pie slice you can use the oven method with your toaster oven set at 350ºF. Just remember to check on it frequently, as the heat is more concentrated in a smaller oven.

How to reheat a slice of fruit pie such as apple pie or frozen pecan pie in the microwave?

While the oven is by far the best kitchen appliance to reheat a slice of apple pie (or any pie), sometimes you are in a hurry. That’s where the microwave oven comes in. You can reheat a slice of pie in much less time, particularly if you don’t mind a somewhat soggy crust.

To reheat your pie in the microwave, transfer your slice to a microwave-safe dish. I like to cover it with a paper towel to prevent splattering. Microwave it on medium power in 30-second intervals until heated to your liking.

Exact time will depend upon many factors including the size of your slice of pie and the power/wattage of your microwave oven.

How to reheat frozen pie in the air fryer?

If you want to reheat just one or two slices of precooked pie, the air fryer is the best option for maintaining quality while not heating up your entire oven.

Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF. Wrap your slice of defrosted frozen pie in foil if if isn’t already. Then, air fry until until the filling is warmed through, around 4-6 minutes.

How to reheat pot pies in the air fryer?

Set your air fryer to 300°F (150°C). Place a portion of pot pie in a small baking dish. Stick to smaller portions to avoid the risk of burning the pastry crust before the middle is hot.

If applicable, cover the cut edges of the pie with foil to prevent the filling from oozing out. Place the oven-safe dish in your fryer basket. Heat for 4-6 minutes or until the filling is warmed in the center.

Before serving your pot pie, test the internal temperature of the filling with a knife or toothpick. The pastry will heat up quickly and feel hot to the touch almost immediately but the filling may still be cool.

Can You Freeze Impossible Cheeseburger Pie?

Yes, you can freeze Impossible Cheeseburger Pie, Impossible Taco Pie, Impossibly Easy Ham & Swiss Pie. Simply bake the recipe first as in the directions and let cool. Portion it out and wrap it up and place pie in freezer for up to 3 months.

Freezing and Reheating leftover Frozen Impossible Pies

We have these at least a couple of times a month. Follow the instructions above for freezing, thawing and reheating your Impossibly Easy Pies as you would any other pie.

Can you Freeze Crustless Quiche?

Crustless quiche, like pie and Impossible pie, freezes very well. One of the advantages of not having a pie crust is that you don’t have to worry about the crust breaking in the freezer.

When cool, wrap the crustless quiche tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. With a permanent maker write on the foil the contents and the date made. For more detailed guidance, check out the instructions for freezing, thawing and reheating pie discussed above.

Lighter Healthier Pie Recipes for Weight Watchers

Low Fat Crustless Impossible Pumpkin Pie
Bisquick Impossibly Easy Chicken Pot Pie Made Lighter
Impossibly Easy Sausage Pie
Light & Healthy Apple Pie Parfait
Skinny No Bake Strawberry Lemon Pie

 

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