How to Make and Store All Your Thanksgiving Pies Ahead of Time

Making your Thanksgiving pies ahead of time can be a lifesaver when it’s crunch time in the moments leading up to the holiday dinner, but there’s a right and a wrong way to do it. Whether you’re making an apple pie or pumpkin pie, there’s a few things you can do to ensure they’re as delicious as possible on Thanksgiving day. Here’s exactly what you need to know to prep and store your holidays pie in advance.

Fruit pies, like apple or pear, can be made ahead and stored a few different ways. You can either freeze them unbaked or baked for up to three months. Here are the details:

Want to avoid the freezer all together? You can bake a fruit-based pie a few days in advance as long as it’s stored properly.

The make-ahead rule for freezing custard or nut-based pies are a bit more strict. This includes pies like pumpkin, sweet potato, and pecan. Avoid freezing custard or nut-based pies unbaked because the uncooked egg filling can curdle when it’s thawed. These pies freeze successfully after they’ve been baked — but for no more than one month.

You can skip the freezer and bake your custard pie a couple of days in advance. Loosely covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, you can store your pie in the fridge for up to four days.