How to Store Muffins Correctly to Keep Them Fresher for Longer

Fresh, handmade muffins are a delicious snack at any time of day. If you ever bake too many muffins and are searching for a wonderful method to keep them, you’re in luck. Here are some step-by-step tips for keeping your muffins at room temperature for as long as possible!

• Cool the muffins completely on a cooling rack
• Place a paper towel on the bottom of an airtight container
• Place the muffins on the paper towel
• Make sure the muffins are not touching each other
• Place cut pieces of paper towel in between each muffin
• Place another paper towel on top of the muffins
• Seal the airtight container shut
• Store the container at room temperature

With these methods, you may keep your muffins for a short time and they will remain fresh and not become soggy. So, I began to think how else I might preserve my muffins to keep them fresh for a long time. In this essay, I will discuss all of the methods I discovered for correctly storing muffins for short and extended periods of time.

How Should Muffins Be Stored?

Muffins should be refrigerated at room temperature in an airtight container to keep them fresher for longer. To absorb any extra moisture, place a layer of paper towel between each muffin as well as the top and bottom of the muffins.

I normally make smaller quantities of muffins, but sometimes I need to prepare a few big batches for a family gathering or brunch with friends. When I make muffins that I want to consume within the following day or two, I normally store them in an airtight container.

If you need airtight storage containers, I suggest the Rubbermaid Brilliance Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers with Airtight Lids.

I’ve been using these containers for a few years and have successfully kept all of my food and baked products at room temperature, in the fridge, and in the freezer. I’ve even cooked with them in the microwave! These containers come in a variety of sets, so choose the best one for you. These containers are available on Amazon!

Because of a huge occasion or a party, I sometimes need to keep my muffins for a little longer. If my event is less than a week away, I generally store it in the refrigerator.

There are three ways to preserve muffins to make them last longer:

• Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature
• Store muffins in the refridgerator
• Store muffins in the freezer

Since I don’t advocate leaving muffins on the counter without a container, there are only three options. Muffins that are exposed to the elements for a lengthy amount of time tend to get quite sticky and mushy.

*As a side note, I just published an essay titled Why Why Muffins Turn Out Sticky & Soggy. This article discusses many methods for repairing and preventing sticky and soggy muffins. This article may be found here!

Continue reading to find out how long muffins will survive in each kind of storage!

How Long Do Muffins Stay at Room Temperature, Refrigeration, and Freezer?

Counter Top	Sealed Container	Refrigerator	Freezer
Can stay fresh for up to 12 hours	Can last for about 2 to 4 days	Can last for up to 1 week	Can last for up to 3 months

If they will be consumed within two days, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You might also put them in the refrigerator or freezer if they need to be kept fresh for an extended length of time.

I prefer to put my muffins in a plastic storage container before keeping them in the refrigerator.

This will prevent them from being crushed by other objects in my fridge and from absorbing the scents of other foods.

Another excellent tip is to cover the bottoms of your muffin cups with paper towels or baking paper. This helps to keep them fresh and prevents them from becoming mushy while in storage.

How long may muffins be stored in the refrigerator? Muffins may be preserved in the refrigerator for up to a week if properly stored. Let the muffins to cool fully before transferring them to an airtight container. Be careful to line the bottom and top of the muffins with paper towels.

If you need to keep your muffins for more than a week, the freezer option is your best choice.

While objects placed in the freezer are constantly at danger of acquiring freezer burn, you should take a few additional precautions before doing so.

How long can you keep muffins in the freezer? Muffins may be frozen for up to 3 months if properly preserved. Let the muffins to cool fully before covering each one separately in plastic wrap or freezer paper. Next, store them in an airtight container with plenty of room between them.

Although they may be stored for this long, I like to keep mine for no more than two months. If you keep them for much longer than that, you risk losing their freshness.

*Side Note: You may also be interested in how to prevent cupcake and muffin liners from folding in and sticking. I just published an essay on How To Keep The Liners Looking Excellent While Baking In Them, which you can read here!

What Is the Shelf Life of Muffins at Room Temperature?

Muffins will keep around 2 to 4 days at room temperature if properly kept in an airtight container. When muffins are left out on the counter without being stored, they get soggy and wet within the first 12 hours.

If you need to know how to keep muffins overnight, I believe room temperature is your best choice.

When you store baked products at room temperature rather than in the fridge or freezer, you don’t have to worry about thawing them or allowing them to warm up before serving.

Muffins that have been left out at room temperature for two days must be discarded or kept in the refrigerator or freezer.

If you want to keep the muffins fresh for as long as possible, you may store them in the fridge or freezer. But, you run the danger of freezer burn or absorbing the aromas of other items you store.

Although keeping muffins at room temperature may not keep them fresh as long, it is the ideal choice if you just want to keep them for a day or two.

As usual, I recommend keeping them in an airtight container to retain their quality and freshness, regardless of where you choose to store them.

*Side Note: You may also be interested in learning why your muffins didn’t rise properly. I just created a post on Techniques For Avoiding Flat Muffins, which you can read here!

How Long Can Muffins Be Stored In Containers?

Muffins may be stored in an airtight container for 2 days to 3 months, depending on the environment. Muffins will last far less time at room temperature than they would in the fridge or freezer. When muffins are kept in a cooler climate, they last longer.

Although some home chefs simply use food storage bags to keep their baked products, I like to utilize containers. When you keep muffins in bags, there is always the risk that they may be crushed or destroyed by other things in your kitchen.

Food storage containers provide the strong protection you want while keeping soft pastries and other food products!

*By the way, I’ve been trying for a long time for a method to keep my cookies without them breaking and losing their form. I just discovered a fantastic Set of Flat Storage Containers that were perfect for keeping my cookies flat in the fridge and freezer without shattering them! This Storage Set is available on Amazon!

Muffins will keep in a jar at room temperature for approximately three days. When stored in the fridge, they may be kept for up to a week. Keep in mind that storing them in the fridge for more than five or six days may result in some textural concerns.

Make sure they’re absolutely cold before storing them, since humidity might cause them to deteriorate considerably faster.

If I need to freeze my muffins, I wrap them individually in extra layer of protection, such as foil, before placing them in a container. If you want to keep them fresh for around three months, this is the best method to do it.

*Side Note: You may also be interested in learning why your muffins crack on top after baking. I just created a post on How to Repair and Avoid Dry Muffins, which you can read here!

Can I Keep Muffins in the Refrigerator?

Muffins may be kept in the fridge for up to a week to keep them fresh without becoming mushy. Line the bottom of an airtight container with a paper towel and top with the muffins. Close the cover and add extra paper towels between each muffin.

Keeping any food item for an extended period of time has dangers. Thankfully, by taking a few steps ahead of time, you may reduce your chances of having soggy, spoilt muffins.

Before begin, ensure that your muffins are absolutely cool. Although it may be tempting to store them right away so you can start cleaning, it is critical that they cool fully first.

Letting them to cool will release any extra contained moisture and keep your muffins from becoming mushy.

Another great way to keep your muffins from becoming soggy is to cover the bottom of your food storage container with absorbent paper towels.

Muffins get soggy when kept for more than a day or two because moisture begins to seep into the bottom of the container, resulting in a soggy mess. Paper towels are an excellent technique to keep muffins fresh without becoming soggy.

*As an aside, I just published an article on How to Store Frosted Cupcakes to Keep Them Fresh. This article discusses the proper technique to store frosted and unfrosted cupcakes in various storage locations. You can read the whole story here!

Can Muffins Be Freezed?

Fresh muffins may often be stored in the freezer. Nonetheless, measures must be taken to avoid freezer burn. Wrap each muffin in plastic wrap and store in a high-quality plastic food storage container intended to withstand very cold temperatures.

What Is The Best Way To Freeze Muffins?

Wrap muffins securely in plastic wrap or freezer paper to keep them safe in the freezer. After that, store the muffins in an airtight plastic food storage container. This will protect them from freezer burn. Muffins may be stored in the freezer for up to three months.

You can effectively freeze your muffins if you first take the necessary precautions! Individually wrapping your muffins before storing them in a bigger storage container may seem like a lot of effort, but it will help guarantee they keep their quality for up to two to three months.

To begin, cover each muffin separately in aluminum foil or a tiny freezer bag. Ensure sure your muffins are totally cold before storing them, since retained moisture may rapidly lead to quality difficulties.

Handle the muffins gently, making sure every part is covered and not exposed. After carefully wrapping each muffin, stack them in a single layer in a heavy-duty storage container that can resist freezing conditions.

If you properly store your muffins in the freezer, they should survive for around three months.

I usually don’t keep my muffins for more than two months, but if you’re cautious, they may survive up to three months without losing quality.

*By the way, I just published an essay titled Whether You Can Freeze Muffins in Liners. This article explains in detail how to properly freeze muffins. This article may be found here!

Do Muffins Destroy? Can They Go Wrong?

Muffins, in general, may go stale and degrade quickly if not kept properly. If muffins are kept at room temperature, they will go rotten in two days. If you put them in the fridge, it will take one week for them to deteriorate. They will deteriorate in three months if stored in the freezer.

Indeed, even if you carefully keep your handmade muffins, they will ultimately rot, as with other baked foods. You never want to risk your health, so toss away your muffins if they’ve gone slimy or if patches of mold are appearing on the tops or along the edges.

That’s typically a healthy sign of further internal development!

Your spoilt muffins may also develop discolored and seem darker or lighter in color. If you feel that your muffins were not properly preserved or if you have any concerns about their appearance, just discard them and make a fresh batch to enjoy. Don’t take any chances!

*By the way, I just published an article titled The 5 Best Ways to Properly Reheat Muffins. This post discusses the best methods I’ve discovered for warming up muffins without them drying up. This article may be found here!

FAQs:

What Are the Signs That Muffins Are Bad?

In general, rotten muffins have a strong stench and may begin to develop mold or slimy growths. They are often hard, dry, and stale, with a sour flavor. They may turn discolored and grow fuzz on the tops.

Can Muffins Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Muffins may be baked ahead of time in general. Wrap each one separately in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container. Place them in the refrigerator or freezer. Depending on the preservation technique, muffins may be produced up to 3 months ahead of time.

Last Thoughts

It is critical to keep muffins fresh in order to prevent squandering these delectable delights. I haven’t thrown away a single muffin since I began properly preserving them! That is rather impressive given how often I prepare muffins!

I hope this post has taught you how to correctly store muffins at room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in the freezer so that you never waste another muffin!