We all love muffins. Soft, with an airy texture, and extremely delicious, this dessert belongs to the most popular sweets.
Since cupcakes are mostly made of white flour, they tend to spoil pretty fast and people often wonder how to keep muffins fresh.
Today, we will explain what to do to extend the lifespan of your favorite treat and will share the handy muffin storage tips!
How Long Do Muffins Last?
When it comes to food storage, we are all concerned about its lifespan and durability.
As for muffins, since they are mostly made of the white flour with some eggs and butter, they have a rather moist and airy texture which makes this dessert predisposed to fast hardening if it is stored improperly.
How long are muffins good for?
It hangs upon where we keep our cupcakes and how we pack them.
| Freshly baked muffins (including bran, banana, chocolate, and blueberry cupcakes) | |
|---|---|
| Pantry | Cupcakes will last for 1-2 weeks |
| Fridge | Chilled cupcakes will stay fresh for seven days refrigerated. This is the optimal way how to keep cupcakes fresh for a week |
| Freezer | When exposed to frost, muffins will be edible even after ninety days of storage |
Of course, these are not all questions that occur.
How long do homemade muffins last? We perfectly know that homemade foodstuff tends to spoil faster since it doesn’t contain all those preservatives that the store-bought products have.
Well, if we leave out homemade cupcakes unrefrigerated, they won’t last more than two days but if we chill them, then it will be possible to enjoy this dessert within a whole week!
How long do store-bought muffins last? Normally, their lifespan doesn’t cover more than seven days but we bet that, if they are packed properly, they can be edible a bit past the expiry date.
If muffins can remain fresh for quite a long time, why do they sometimes become dry after a day or two of storage? That’s all because of the mistakes we do when keeping them.
That is why it is so important to know how to store muffins to keep them fresh.
How to Store Muffins
You don’t have to learn for years to become a storage guru! Storing muffins is in fact very simple and requires just a few easy steps to take.
No matter whether we’re talking about the homemade or store-bought foodstuff, a muffin stays fresher longer if it’s tightly packed.
Air is the worst enemy of this dessert making it harden and dry.
Proper storage is a must when it comes to muffins since it is a guarantee of their long shelf life and good quality. However, not everyone is aware of how exactly we shall keep them to make these delicious baked goods last longer.
This is why we would like to introduce you to the step-by-step guide regarding muffin storage. With it in mind, you will know exactly what and how to do to keep them fresh like on the day they were baked.
Start with letting your muffins cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack after you take them out of the oven. This will prevent condensation and sogginess.
- Take an airtight container and line it with a paper towel.
- lace your cooled muffins in the container, on top of paper towels in a single layer.
- Place an extra layer of paper towels on top of muffins.
- Seal the lid and store at room temperature.
We would not recommend you refrigerate homemade muffins unless it’s the only option you have because, when refrigerated, they will have their texture and flavor altered.
To protect cupcakes, do the following:
- Cover your homemade muffins with a plastic wrap or foil
- For the store-bought ones, remove them to the packet and seal tightly
- Should muffins be refrigerated, put them into a packet lined with a paper napkin, and always place them in one layer covered with another paper napkin. A plastic tank with a tight lid will also work well.
Another question that rises up when it comes to storage is how to keep muffins fresh overnight.
If you are going to consume them the next day or the day after, then just wrap the cupcakes tightly in a plastic wrap/foil and leave on the counter. It will allow keeping cupcakes fresh overnight.
As for where to store cupcakes overnight, your kitchen counter is fine but, if you want to be 100% sure that muffins will survive the night, toss them to the fridge.
Storage Options to Avoid
Muffins are very tender and delicate, which is why you need to be especially careful when choosing a storage option for them! No matter whether they are made by yourself or bought in the local grocery store, these puffy yummies require proper storage conditions in order to remain soft and delicious longer.
But what do many of us usually do instead?! We buy (or make) muffins, and then we just leave them on the counter exposed to light and air from all around! Sometimes we don’t even cover them and still hope that our cupcakes will remain fresh after a couple of days. So naive!
This is why, to help you to avoid a scenario when freshly made muffins become hard like a stone because of improper storage, we suggest you avoid the following storage methods (or shall we say mistakes?).
If you do your best and never do the following things to your muffins, these delicious bits will surely remain fresh much longer.
- Never leave your muffins, homemade or store-bought, uncovered. They will harden because of the exposure to air.
- Avoid leaving muffins in direct sunlight or close to the heating objects since they will get dry very fast.
- Don’t put your muffins that have just been taken out of the oven into the fridge. Let them cool down, otherwise, they will get soggy.
- Avoid wrapping them in plastic wrap since it can’t absorb the excess moisture from the muffin thus making it turn soggy.
- Never store muffins in a deep freezer! It will ruin their texture and taste.
- Never seal your muffins in airtight containers without putting paper towels there as well.
These simple rules will help you to avoid the most common and silly mistakes that we tend to make when storing muffins at home. If you adhere to these recommendations, be sure to always enjoy the softest and the most delicious muffins one ever tasted!
How Long Do Homemade Muffins Stay Fresh?
When we buy muffins in a store, we have no questions regarding their shelf life since everything we need to know is indicated on the package.
However, if you prefer enjoying homemade baked goodies, you might want to make muffins yourself! But then, here is the question: how long will such muffins remain fresh? Because now there is no best-by date!
Relax and don’t fuss! In fact, it is rather simple to figure out how much time your homemade yummies will stay soft and tasty. And since there are several storage options and thus several options for the storage time, we suggest you check out the chart below:
| Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homemade Muffins | 1-2 days | 7 days | 2-3 months |
As you can see, it is best to keep your home baked muffins frozen, but that’s only if you really made a lot! And again, consider that they will last the indicated period of time only if you follow the basic storage recommendations!
How to Freeze Muffins
For those who are planning to store muffins much longer, the best way is to freeze muffins. Fortunately, they are easily exposed to frost.
Just wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or place into the frost-resistant packet and preserve.
How long can you freeze muffins? Normally, the dessert will still be edible after two months and even longer.
What Do Muffins Look Like When They Are Bad?
Unfortunately, muffins get spoiled easily and it is important to know what to do to define the spoilage.
- mold
- hard texture
- dryness
- slimy fruit fillings
These are all the signs of spoilage that show the muffins must be discarded. Be reasonable and keep an eye on your products. The second you notice any of these symptoms, throw the spoiled foodstuff away.
How to Keep Muffins Moist
Most people meet the frequent problem with muffins and it’s the attempt to keep them moist longer.
Indeed, cupcakes tend to dry fast enough, and if your goal is to have soggy muffins, we advise you to do the following:
- always store them tightly closed in a packet or a tank to prevent any air exposure
- never poot muffins in two or more layers on top of each other since it will make the moist condensate and mold will appear faster
- try to lay a paper napkin into the storage tank. Like this, the excess moisture will be absorbed by the paper and muffins will stay soft longer
Keep the packet or tank with the cupcakes in a bread box or cupboard, and remember that any sources of heat must be removed from this place.
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