What’s the only thing worse than a soggy apple crisp?
Umm, nothing!
After all, there’s a reason it’s called an apple “crisp”. The idea is to keep that recipe you’ve worked so hard to make as crispy as possible and have it last as long as you can.
If that’s of interest to you, then you’re in the right place because by the time you’re done reading this article, I can guarantee you one thing – your apple crisp will still be tasty!
If properly stored, you can expect your apple crisp to last for a couple of days after cooking but before refrigeration. With refrigeration, your apple crisp should be good for up to five days. Even though refrigeration can extend the shelf life of apple crisp, for the best results, try to eat your apple crisp without refrigeration within a day or so of making it.
We’ve got lots more to say on this topic, along with some tips and ticks that are guaranteed to help you get the most enjoyment out of your dessert.
No matter what, we promise it’ll be as crispy and fruity as the day you made it!
Does Apple Crisp Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes, if you don’t plan on eating (or serving) your apple crisp within a couple of days of making it, then you should toss it in the fridge to help extend the shelf life.
However, before doing so, allow your dessert to completely cool (roughly at room temperature) prior to placing it in the refrigerator. If you place a warm apple crisp in the fridge, there’s a good chance the crust will get soggy.
There’s some ways to help prevent that which we’ll talk about later, but just keep in mind that you’ll get the best result from refrigerating your apple crisp after it’s cooled down a little.
How Long Is Apple Crisp Good for in the Refrigerator?
If stored properly, your apple crisp will keep in the fridge for about five days or so. If you need to keep your dessert longer than that, it’s best to freeze it instead.
| Does Apple Crisp Need to Be Refrigerated? | How Long Is Apple Crisp Good for in the Refrigerator? | |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | Yes, if not eating within a couple of days | About 5 days if stored properly |
| Note | Allow to cool before refrigerating to avoid soggy crust | Freeze if keeping longer than 5 days |
How Do You Store Apple Crisp After Baking?
There are a couple of ways you can store your apple crisp after making it, assuming you plan on eating it within five days of making it. If you don’t, then freezing your apple crisp is a better choice in your situation.
Freezing aside, you may (or may not) want to refrigerate your apple crisp depending on when you plan on eating it.
Up to 2 Days: No Refrigeration (or Refrigeration Optional)
If you’re finishing your dessert in this time frame, then you just need to follow a couple of steps to help keep it as fresh and crunchy as possible.
1. For this step, you’ll need paper towels (enough to cover the surface of the crisp) and plastic wrap (enough to tightly wrap the baking dish).
2. Allow the dessert to reach room temperature first so that it’s cool throughout.
If wrapped when it’s still warm, you’ll risk trapping heat beneath the crust. If you do, the heat will rise and transfer moisture to the one place you don’t want it – the crust!
When you’re sure it’s fully cooled, first completely cover the crust in a layer of paper towel to help wick any moisture away from the crust and into the paper towel.
Next, fully wrap the entire baking dish and ensure that it’s tightly sealed.
Days 3-5: Refrigeration Needed
If you know that it’s going to be a few days before you finish your crisp, it’s best to go ahead and refrigerate it.
The good news is that you don’t need anything else if you’ve followed the previous steps. Just ensure that the plastic wrap remains tight prior to refrigeration. If you’ve been using the same plastic wrap for a couple of days, it might be a good idea to switch it out prior to refrigeration.
While it’s not necessary, sometimes plastic wrap can stretch and fatigue, so to be doubly sure of an airtight seal, a fresh layer of plastic wrap isn’t a bad idea.
This will have the added benefit of reducing the impact of any unwanted odors in your fridge affecting your dessert!
| Days | Refrigeration Needed | Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2 | No (Optional) | Allow dessert to cool to room temperature, cover crust with paper towel, tightly wrap in plastic wrap |
| 3-5 | Yes | Ensure plastic wrap is tightly sealed and consider using a fresh layer before refrigerating |
Tips and Tricks for Storing Your Apple Crisp to Keep It as Crispy as Possible
While the items we discuss below aren’t required to keep your apple crisp as long as possible, every little thing you can do to make it crispy and delicious will make a big difference as the days continue.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to use one (or more) of these tips and keep your crisp, well, crispy and delicious just as fresh as when you made it!
Pick Perfect Apples (Or Nearly Perfect)
Use the best apples you can find, preferably Granny Smith, if possible.
Granny Smith apples are a fantastic option for a crisp. In addition to having an ideal flavor profile (right balance of sweet to tart), they’re also considered a cooking apple. Cooking apples are different than the kind of apple you’d wash and eat. Those are known as dessert apples since they’re sweet enough to be eaten on their own.
What makes Granny Smith perfect for the job is their sturdiness and their ability to handle the addition of sugar without becoming overly sweet.
Try to Keep Your Apples the Same Size When Slicing
This can be a little tricky, but the more uniform you can cut your fruit, the more consistent the filling of your crisp will be. Whether you like slices thick or thin doesn’t matter as much as keeping them (roughly) the same size.
Don’t Use Ice Cold Apples
This tip dovetails from the previous one in that you’ll find it easier to work with apples that are room temperature versus grabbing them straight from the fridge.
Just allow your apples plenty of time to warm up and you’ll be fine.
Use Butter (Instead of Margarine) And Toss Your Topping in the Fridge (Prior to Baking)
These two tips go hand-in-hand, which is why they’re combined instead of separately.
For starters, you need to use real butter, since margarine won’t get cold enough for this to work and really, butter is better anyway.
Don’t you agree?
After you’ve made the topping (with the real butter), place it in the fridge and let it get nice and cold.
The reason?
The butter will harden nicely, binding the topping as it does. When it cooks, the butter will melt and cook, resulting in a crispy crunch the likes of which you’ve never experienced.
Trust me on this one, you won’t regret it!
| Tips | Description |
|---|---|
| Pick Perfect Apples | Use the best apples you can find, Granny Smith is the best option for a crisp. They have an ideal flavor profile and sturdiness to handle the addition of sugar. |
| Keep Apples the Same Size | Cut the fruit in a way that they are uniform in size, this will make the filling of your crisp consistent. |
| Don’t Use Ice Cold Apples | Allow the apples to reach room temperature before using them, it will be easier to work with them. |
| Use Butter and Toss Topping in Fridge | Use real butter instead of margarine for the topping, place it in the fridge before baking to make it crispy. |
Is Apple Crisp Good the Next Day?
Absolutely! In fact, in some cases you might find your apple crisp tastes even better the day after you’ve made it.
The important thing to remember is that if you don’t plan on refrigerating it right away, just be sure and keep it covered using the tips we mentioned earlier.
But by all means, enjoy a huge helping of day old apple crisp and don’t forget the ice cream!
Can Apple Crisp Be Stored at Room Temperature?
Yes, as long as you’ve taken care to wrap your apple crisp prior to leaving it out, you can comfortably store it for a couple of days without needing any refrigeration to preserve it.
If you plan on going any longer than a couple of days, be sure and follow our tips for refrigerating it so you don’t risk it spoiling.
Can I Leave Apple Crisp Out Overnight?
As long as you’ve taken the necessary steps to cover and protect your dessert, you can definitely leave your apple crisp out overnight.
If you’re anything like me, day old apple crisp is even better than freshly baked but whatever your preference, you can rest assured that you won’t have any issues leaving it out.
Hi, I’m Jenny. I have many interests and, some would say, eclectic passions. A few words that best describe me? Hmm, well… Amateur surfer, professional traveler, food lover and writer extraordinaire. Oh, and lover of all furry, four-legged creatures!
