ᐅ How to Store Puff Pastry (Raw, Baked, Stuffed) •【 2024 】

Puff pastry is a dough with several layers that is crispy and with a distinctive flavor. If you are a pastry lover, you will surely want to know how to preserve puff pastry and keep it fresh.

To preserve raw puff pastry, stuffed or baked, you can refrigerate it for 1-3 days. Also, you can choose to freeze it, where raw puff pastry lasts up to 6 months, and when it is baked for 3 months. And finally, if you have raw stuffed or baked puff pastry, you can freeze it for 3 months.

If you want to know each way to preserve puff pastry stay with us and continue reading.

How to store puff pastry dough in the fridge

One of the ways is to keep the dough in airtight containers in the fridge preventing damage to the consistency and structure of the puff pastry.

So, to keep the homemade puff pastry dough fresh in the fridge, you have to follow these simple steps and tips:

Step 1: Roll the dough on plastic film

Roll the puff pastry on plastic film. If you want to keep it fresh, make sure there is not much air inside the roll.

Step 2: Store the dough in a container

In an airtight container that is clean and dry, we must store the puff pastry that you have rolled on film paper.

Then make sure that the container is tightly closed to preserve the puff pastry better.

Step 3: Take the puff pastry dough to the fridge

Take the puff pastry dough to the fridge and place it away from other foods nearby so that it does not take the smells and flavors of these.

This preservation method works for raw puff pastry or baked, keeping its good quality for about three days.

Note: You can use the same steps to store the stuffed puff pastry. However, it will last 48 hours at maximum since the filling adds moisture, increasing the chances of spoilage.

How to freeze puff pastry dough

Freezing puff pastry is one of the ways to extend its shelf life, although you should follow some recommendations to avoid damage since one of the ingredients of this type of dough is butter, which deteriorates after being frozen for an extended period.

You can freeze raw puff pastry by following the key steps and tricks to keep it in better condition.

Step 1: Spread the puff pastry on the table

On a previously floured table, spread the puff pastry.

Step 2: Cut the puff pastry

Cut the puff pastry dough in the form of a rectangle of 12 x 15 in (40 x 30 cm) and 0.2 in (0.5 cm) thick. We place it on top of waxed or oven paper.

Step 3: Roll the puff pastry on the waxed paper

From one of the extremes of the dough, we take the waxed paper, and you roll it until we have our puff pastry entirely enrolled.

Step 4: Wrap the roll with plastic film

We add a second layer of protection by wrapping the roll with plastic film. On this opportunity, cover the upper and lower part of the roll (the extremes).

Step 5: Take the puff pastry to the freezer

Place the puff pastry at the bottom of the freezer, where the temperature is lower and remains constant.

This method of preserving frozen homemade puff pastry dough lasts up to 6 months in perfect condition. [1]

How to thaw the puff pastry

To thaw the puff pastry, you need to remove the portion you will use from the freezer and place it in the fridge. It would be best to leave it overnight to thaw, take it out of the refrigerator 10 minutes before to soften it a little, and you are ready to go.

Another recommendation is to separate one egg yolk and spread it across the bun using a pastry brush to get a golden coloration and a softer consistency.

Also, you must not refreeze the dough after you thaw it because the texture changes when it freezes.

Can you freeze stuffed puff pastry?

This is one of the most frequent when it comes to puff pastry, and the answer is a yes. You can freeze the stuffed puff pastry before or after baking. However, you need to consider if you can freeze the filling, and we will discuss that now.

In the case of high-fat dairy products such as cheese, creams, and others, don’t freeze them, as it will change their texture in the freezer. But those such as species, vegetables, fruits, and jams accept the freezing process very well.

Now, to freeze the dough, you have to follow the following tips and instructions.

Step 1: Insert the stuffed puff pastry into containers

You should carefully place the stuffed puff pastry inside an airtight container.

Step 2: Place a layer of waxed paper

Above the filled puff pastry dough, place a layer of waxed paper that covers them very well. Then check that the container is tightly closed.

Step 3: Store in the freezer

Take the containers with the filled puff pastries to the freezer.

Using this preservation technique to store the stuffed puff pastries can last frozen for up to 3 months.

How to preserve baked puff pastry

We have tips for maintaining the dough correctly if you baked the puff pastry and now have some leftovers. First, you shouldn’t let the puff pastry once baked at room temperature because it will spoil; that’s why you need to refrigerate it.

To keep those leftovers in perfect condition, follow the steps we give you.

Step 1: Let the puff pastry cool

It would be best if you don’t refrigerate the puff pastry still hot the steam will damage its texture and increase the chance of spoilage.

Step 2: Wrap the puff pastry in plastic film

Spread a layer of film paper on a table and place the baked puff pastry on it. You must wrap it, letting no space inside so the puff pastry does not dry out from the cold.

Step 3: Put in airtight containers

As soon as you find an airtight container, put the wrap inside and close tightly.

Step 4: Store in the fridge

If you follow all the steps, you can store the baked puff pastry for about 1-2 days in the fridge.

Can you freeze the baked puff pastry?

You can freeze the puff pastry using the same process to store it in the fridge, but with the advantage that it will last frozen for up to 3 months.

How do you know when puff pastry is bad?

Wrong storage conditions will lead to spoilage, and if you want to make sure to recognize when the puff pastry is in terrible conditions, check the bullet points.

Changes in color and appearance.
Sicky consistency indicates that it is deteriorating.

If it has mold, you will see a greenish or grayish coloration on its surface.
The puff pastry has a bad smell, like sour.

How long does puff pastry last?

The durability of puff pastry depends on its handling and storage, but it is considered a product with a short shelf life.

So how long does puff pastry last? In the following table, we have detailed the answer.

Conservation method	Duration time
Refrigerated puff pastry	3 days.
Refrigerated stuffed puff pastry	48 hours.
Frozen puff pastry	6 months.
Frozen stuffed puff pastry	3 months.
Refrigerated baked puff pastry	1-2 days.
Frozen baked puff pastry	3 months.

What is the best way to preserve puff pastry?

Whether the puff pastry is filled, raw, or baked, the best way to store it in the short term is using the fridge.

For the long term, you should freeze the puff pastry, which will extend the shelf life of the dough for 3 to 6 months, depending on if the dough is baked or filled.

I hope you liked the ways to preserve puff pastry; I also invite you to read other posts about conservation methods.