Flan, also known as crème caramel, caramel pudding, or caramel custard, is a creamy or gelatinous dessert prepared with eggs, sugar, and milk or condensed milk. Now to the business, do you want to know how to store flan? Here is how.
As you prepare flan with eggs and dairy, you should store it cold. If you keep the flan in the refrigerator, it will last 3 to 5 days, but it could last between 2 and 3 months if you freeze it.
Here is how to preserve flan the right way.
How to store flan in the fridge
In general, the flan is bathed in liquid caramel, which complicates its storage a bit, so when you unmold it, I recommend doing it in an airtight container or with a lid.
You can store flan as follows:
- Step 1: Wait for the flan to cool completely.
When preparing the flan, it is recommended to unmold it once it is cold, so it does not fall apart. So, leave it for a while at room temperature, but no more than two hours after cooking.
- Step 2: Unmold the flan.
Now proceed to unmold the flan into a deep container so that the lid does not touch the flan. If the container is not airtight, you will have to wrap it with a transparent film, as this will prevent it from absorbing the smell and taste of other foods.
- Step 3: Store the flan in the fridge.
Place the flan in the coldest place in the refrigerator, where it does not have to move much, and that is away from foods that give off a strong smell so that you can keep the flan in good condition for 3 to 5 days inside the refrigerator.
How to freeze flan
Can the flan be frozen? Of course, it’s not ideal, but you could freeze the flan.
- Step 1: Wait for the flan to cool.
When the creme caramel is ready, leave it at room temperature (no more than two hours) until the mold where you made the flan does not feel hot when touched.
- Step 2: Refrigerate the flan for 4 to 6 hours.
After a few hours inside the fridge, the flan acquires its final consistency. In addition, this step is crucial to prevent the flan from breaking when frozen. If you can leave it overnight in the fridge, it is much better.
- Step 3: Transfer the flan to a sturdy container.
Now that the flan is well refrigerated and settled, you can unmold it (if you have not done so) in an airtight container that can withstand the freezer.
I recommend you chop it and put each portion in a container. Then, place the containers in a freezer bag to prevent freezer burns, or you can wrap each container with plastic film.
- Step 4: Enter the storage date.
Place the date on the bag with a mark, or stick a date label on the containers.
- Step 5: Store the flan in the freezer.
This way, the flan can remain frozen for 2 or 3 months. Then, when you want to defrost it, I advise you to pass the flan to the fridge a day before so that it thaws slowly and evenly.
The thawed flan can last three more days in the fridge but cannot be re-frozen.
How to preserve flan boxes
In the market, you can also buy flan in two different ways: in a box where a powder comes to prepare the flan or the flan already prepared in a sealed plastic cup.
You can keep the powdered flan box at room temperature in a cool, dark, and dry place until the expiration date if it remains sealed.
Once opened, you can put it in an airtight container or bag in a dry, cool, dark place for a whole year. Once you have prepared the flan, you can store it in the same way as indicated above and for the same period.
In the case of flan cups, you have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If sealed, they will last as long as the expiration date indicates (usually in the fridge).
If you open it, put the leftovers inside an airtight container and place it in the fridge for five days, or freeze it for three months.
How do you know that the flan spoiled?
These are the signs that tell you that flan is already bad and you should discard it:
- Color change: if your flan no longer has that beautiful golden or cream color, its life span is expired. And if you get some lint or dark or green spots, it developed mold, and it’s not safe to eat.
- Changes in texture: when the flan becomes watery or viscous, it means that its time is over or it was poorly stored. In any case, please do not eat it.
- It does not smell or taste good: when the flan begins to give off an unpleasant or unusual smell, it is time to throw it away, the same if it has a sour taste.
How long does the flan last?
| Product | Duration |
| Flan in the fridge | 3 – 5 days |
| Flan in the freezer | 2 – 3 months |
| Defrosted and chilled flan | 3 days |
| Powdered flan at room temperature (unopened) | Until the expiration date |
| Powdered flan at room temperature (open) | 1 year |
| Store-bought flan in the fridge (sealed) | Until the expiration date |
| Store-bought flan in the fridge (open) | 5 days |
| Store-bought flan in the freezer | 3 months |
What is the best way to preserve the flan?
The best way to preserve the flan is to refrigerate it because there is no risk of its texture changing, although, unfortunately, this method only keeps it for a few days.
You can store the flan in the freezer, but I advise you to leave it in the fridge before, at least a few hours, so that it settles better and does not break when frozen.
The store-bought creme caramel, either the powder or already prepared, can last a long time if sealed. However, its shelf life is reduced once open, especially the flan that comes ready in a sealed container.
If you are interested in preserving another dessert, check the following posts.
