How to store muffins, and why the fridge makes them stale
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 3-7 days
Keep homemade or packaged muffins in the pantry and eat them within 3 to 7 days.
Watch out Don't refrigerate muffins, because they quickly dry out and become stale.
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Freezer
Keeps for 2-3 months
Freeze muffins for 2 to 3 months if they're homemade, or 3 months if they're commercially packaged.
Muffins last 3 to 7 days in the pantry, homemade or packaged. In the freezer, homemade muffins keep 2 to 3 months and packaged muffins 3 months. USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend the fridge, because muffins quickly dry out and become stale there.
Buying muffins this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
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Muffins keep 3 to 7 days in the pantry and 2 to 3 months in the freezer, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Skip the fridge, because a refrigerated muffin will quickly dry out and become stale.
How to store muffins
Store muffins in the pantry if you’ll eat them within 3 to 7 days, and freeze the ones you won’t. That goes for homemade muffins and for commercially packaged ones.
Do muffins need to be refrigerated?
No, USDA FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend refrigerating muffins. In the fridge, a muffin will quickly dry out and become stale.
One broader FoodKeeper line, for commercial cakes and muffins, lists 7 to 10 days in the refrigerator after opening. The muffin lines themselves still advise against the fridge.
How to store homemade muffins
Store homemade muffins in the pantry for 3 to 7 days, or freeze them for 2 to 3 months. FoodKeeper’s homemade line names bran, blueberry, banana, corn, and chocolate chip muffins, so banana muffins follow the same times.
How long do muffins last?
Muffins last 3 to 7 days in the pantry, homemade or packaged. In the freezer, homemade muffins keep 2 to 3 months and commercially packaged muffins 3 months.
| Muffins | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homemade | 3 to 7 days | Not recommended | 2 to 3 months |
| Commercially packaged | 3 to 7 days | Not recommended | 3 months |
| Commercial cakes and muffins | 3 to 7 days from purchase | 7 to 10 days after opening | 6 months from purchase |
How long does muffin mix last?
A dry, commercially packaged muffin mix keeps 9 months in the pantry, according to USDA FoodKeeper. That’s far longer than baked muffins, which keep 3 to 7 days.
Can you freeze muffins?
Yes, homemade muffins keep 2 to 3 months in the freezer and commercially packaged muffins keep 3 months. Blueberry, banana, and the other homemade kinds all share the 2 to 3 months.
Those are quality times. Food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only its quality suffers with long freezer storage.
Freezer burn doesn’t make muffins unsafe, only dry in spots. It shows up as grayish-brown leathery spots where air reached the surface, and you can cut those parts away.
How to thaw frozen muffins
Thaw frozen muffins slowly in the refrigerator, which the USDA calls the safest way to thaw frozen food. Small items may thaw overnight, so move a muffin to the fridge the evening before you want it.
The USDA’s guide to safe defrosting methods also says never to thaw food on the counter.
When to throw muffins out
Throw muffins out if you see mold on them. Moldy bread and baked goods should be thrown out, says the USDA’s page on molds on food. Porous foods like these can be contaminated below the surface.
Frequently asked questions
Can you freeze blueberry muffins?
Yes, homemade blueberry muffins keep 2 to 3 months in the freezer, the same as bran, banana, corn, and chocolate chip muffins.
How long do muffins last in the fridge?
USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend refrigerating muffins, because they quickly dry out and become stale. Its line for commercial cakes and muffins gives 7 to 10 days in the fridge after opening.
How long do store-bought muffins last?
Commercially packaged muffins keep 3 to 7 days in the pantry and 3 months in the freezer, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
Are frozen muffins safe after 3 months?
Yes, muffins kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stay safe, because freezer times are for quality. Only their quality suffers with longer storage.
Can you cut the mold off a muffin?
No, throw the muffin out. The USDA says moldy baked goods should be thrown out, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface.
