The crème brulee fully assembled, with the caramel layer, can only be refrigerated for 1 or 2 days. Still, you can store it without the caramel layer for 2 or 3 days in the fridge or 1 or 2 months in the freezer.
Just keep reading if you want to know how to preserve crème brulee properly.
How to keep crème brulee in the fridge
Crème brulee goes through two types of cooking, first boiled on the stove, and then baked to obtain a creamier texture and not so liquid. The recipe culminates by sprinkling sugar over the baked cream to turn it into caramel. (How to store caramel sauce here)
When the crème brulee is fully assembled, the ideal would be to consume it the same day since the caramel will slowly melt due to the humidity of the cream. Therefore, you usually add caramel an hour before serving to cool completely.
Once the crème brulee is assembled and completely cold, wrap it with plastic film, with everything and container, then put it in an airtight container or bag.
Store it in the coldest part of the fridge, away from foods that emit a strong smell; that way, you can refrigerate the crème brulee for 1 or 2 days until the caramel melts.
Here, you have the step-by-step process to do it:
- Step 1: Wait for the crème brulee to cool.
Wait between 1 and 2 hours until the cream cools, but if it is hot shortly before reaching two hours, you can put it in the fridge and wait for it to cool. It may take two hours more.
- Step 2: Put the crème brulee in an airtight container.
Transfer it to an airtight container and put a layer of plastic wrap on top; this should touch the entire surface of the creme. But if you have already baked it, wrap it in its mold, put it in an airtight container or bag, and be careful not to stack it.
- Step 3: Store the brulee cream in the fridge.
Leave it in the cold part and away from foods with a pungent smell.
How long can creme brulee stay in fridge? The baked crème brulee can last 2 to 3 days in the fridge, while the liquid cream (without baking) will last between 1 and 2 days.
How to freeze crème brulee
Can crème brulee be frozen? You cannot freeze the fully assembled dessert because the caramel will melt completely when thawed.
- Step 1: Wait for the crème brulee to cool.
Whether you have just cooked or baked it, wait until the crème brulee cools completely. If it has not cooled to room temperature shortly before reaching two hours, you can cool it in the fridge for two more hours.
- Step 2: Put the crème brulee in a sturdy container.
Once cold, distribute it in several containers or at least two. If you use a mold to bake it, wrap it in plastic film before putting it in a sturdy container.
- Step 3: Write the storage date of the crème brulee.
Place a label or tape over the container and write the date on it, or write it directly.
- Step 4: Store the crème brulee in the freezer.
Baked crème brulee without sugar can be frozen for 1 or 2 months, while crème brulee without baking will last one month in the freezer. To thaw it, do it slowly, leaving it in the fridge overnight.
Then, you can bake the crème brulee as you usually would, while the baked crème brulee you can heat it in the oven at 190°C for 10 minutes to get consistency again.
How to tell if the crème brulee has gone bad
The crème brulee will become harmful when it emits a bad smell or acquires a horrible taste.
If the crème brulee developed mold, it was damaged. You will notice lint or black, green, or blue spots appear.
Also, if the crème brulee loses consistency, has a lot of liquid, and does not recover or get the consistency it should have, it will be better to discard it.
How long does the crème brulee last?
| Product | Duration |
| Creme brulee caramelized | 1 – 2 days |
| Unbaked creme brulee in the fridge | 1 – 2 days |
| Baked crème brulee, caramel-free in the fridge | 2 – 3 days |
| Unbaked crème brulee in the freezer | 1 month |
| Baked crème brulee, caramel-free in the freezer | 1 – 2 months |
What is the best way to preserve crème brulee?
The fully assembled crème brulee does not last too long; that is when the sugar has already caramelized, but you can refrigerate it for a couple of days. However, you can save the liquid or already baked cooked cream to which you have not yet put the caramel layer.
The liquid cream of the crème brulee is better kept in the fridge since it runs the risk of losing flavor in the freezer. Something similar happens with the cream already baked, which is better to keep refrigerated because it can lose consistency in the freezer.
To know how to preserve some other pastry recipes and others, here you have hundreds of topics that deal with this point and can be extremely helpful. You may also want to know that more topics are added regularly, and we keep the published information current.
