Quiche Freshness Tips for At-Home Cooks

Almost since its introduction, quiche has long been a popular dish and for good reason!

A healthy slice makes for a perfect breakfast or an elegant addition to a bunch menu. And don’t forget parties or special occasions where bite-sized quiche is a wonderful finger food.

Not only can they be served in a variety of settings, but the combination of ingredients you can use in quiche is almost unlimited. Almost any kind of meat and cheese are suitable for this one-of-a-kind French contribution to the world.

However, as wonderful as quiche is, it tends to be perishable fairly quickly at room temperature, so that’s really the most important factor in determining how long a quiche will last.

When a quiche is freshly baked, it will last about three hours at room temperature. This can be extended by several more hours if your oven has a warming drawer or if you’re able to keep its internal temperature between 160 – 165 degrees.

To extend the shelf life of your quiche further, allow it to reach room temperature before refrigerating it. You will be able to keep it in the fridge for an additional three to five days.

Freezing your quiche is also an option.

Most of what we’ll be discussing applies equally to store bought as well as homemade quiche, so if we don’t mention a difference specifically, assume that the storage methods recommended work for both types.

With that said, let’s dig a little deeper into why quiche can be delicate dish both on the palate as well as its shelf life.

Understanding Eggs in Quiche

Any discussion about the shelf life of quiche revolves around its primary ingredient – eggs.

As delicious and nutritious as they are, eggs are perishable similar to other fresh protein sources like beef, poultry and fish, in that they have a short shelf life.

This is not only true for raw eggs but also cooked eggs which, as previously mentioned, are one of the main ingredients in most types of quiche, whether it’s homemade or store bought.

Aside from eggs, many quiche recipes also include meats and cheeses.

The addition of these other ingredients makes quiche one of the more perishable dishes you can prepare. It’s nothing to be worried about. The key is awareness so that you can reduce the chances of it going bad and spreading food borne illness.

These problems really only become an issue if the quiche sits at room temperature for long periods of time, usually more than a few hours. If you are planning on eating the quiche right away, you won’t have any problems. The challenge comes in when you plan on serving quiche in a party setting where you can’t know for sure how long it will be before it’s eaten.

There are ways to keep the internal temperature of quiche high enough so it remains safe to eat, and we’ll be discussing that in this article, but in general, the sooner quiche is eaten, the better.

Of course, you don’t serve a quiche as soon as it pops out of the oven. It needs time to rest so that it can be sliced and served appropriately. However, even though you might not serve your quiche immediately, the clock is running as soon as it’s finished cooking, so be mindful of how long it’s been out of the oven. 

Should Quiche Be Refrigerated?

Yes, if you’re not planning on eating your quiche soon after you’ve baked it, it should be refrigerated to reduce the risk of spoilage and to maintain freshness.

You should allow your quiche to reach room temperature prior to any refrigeration.

If properly stored, you can expect your quiche to keep for up to five days without any risk of spoilage or undesirable changes in its taste or texture.

Can You Refrigerate Uncooked Quiche?

Sort of.

While you can refrigerate uncooked quiche, it’s almost guaranteed that the crust will get soggy sitting in the fridge overnight.

However, if you were to bake the crust ahead of time, which is known as blind baking, then you could wrap and store it in the fridge along with the quiche filling.

The next day, transfer the filling to the crust prior to baking.

So yes, it can be done but with an extra couple of steps along the way.

One last thing to note is that if you plan on refrigerating uncooked quiche, it’s best to limit the time in the fridge to twenty-four hours or less because of the perishable nature of the ingredients used.

How Do You Keep Leftover Quiche?

Keeping leftover quiche is as simple as wrapping the baking dish you used in plastic wrap prior to placing it in the fridge.

To ensure maximum freshness, ensure that the plastic wrap is as tight as you can make it. This is important to reduce the chances that unwanted odors from surrounding items in your refrigerator will affect the taste of your quiche.

If you’re concerned that you won’t be able to seal the quiche adequately, another option would be to portion the quiche into slices and then store them in an airtight plastic container.

Can I Reheat Quiche Twice?

Quiche is a delicate dish and will not respond well to frequent refrigeration and reheating, so it’s best to only reheat your quiche once.

Since you probably don’t want to reheat the entire quiche, it’s best to store it with the idea of how you plan to eat it later.

This can be done easily by refrigerating individual slices of your quiche when you store it, as opposed to refrigerating the entire quiche. While it might mean a little more prep time, in the long run you can get maximum enjoyment from it since you are only reheating what you want to eat (or serve).

This works out even better if you’re the type of person who enjoys eating cold quiche, though it’s not something we recommend.

How to Tell if Quiche Is Bad

Determining if your quiche is bad can be a little tricky, but we’ve got some tips that can make it easier for you. If you notice one or more of any the telltale signs below, it’s probably best to dispose of your quiche.

Discoloration

When it comes to determining if your quiche is bad, what you see will often be the best indicator. When eggs go bad, they typically darken and it’s possible that might even notice the beginnings of mold along the edges of the quiche.

Foul Odor

When eggs go bad, they give off a very distinctive, sulphur like smell. Should you detect any odors like this, throw the quiche out immediately.

Changes in Texture

Aside from changes in the color of the quiche, another good indicator that it’s started to turn will be changes to the structure of the quiche.

For example, you might notice that it’s started to separate and take on a runny texture, as opposed its characteristic firmness. In this case, you will almost always see that the crust has also turned soggy as the quiche has absorbed too much moisture.

Signs of spoilage	Action	Explanation
Discoloration	Dispose	If eggs are spoiled, they emit a strong, sulfur-like smell. If you detect any such odors, it is a clear indication that they have gone bad and should not be consumed. This is a clear indication that the eggs have spoiled and it is not safe to consume.
Foul Odor	Dispose	Eggs that have gone bad usually have a dark appearance and it’s possible to see signs of mold on the edges of the quiche. It is important to throw the quiche out immediately to prevent any foodborne illness.
Changes in Texture	Dispose	Changes in texture of the quiche is another good indicator that it’s started to turn bad. For instance, if the quiche appears to have separated and become runny instead of maintaining its typical firm texture, or if the crust has become mushy, it is likely that it is no longer safe to eat. It is important to throw it away immediately.