Tarts are a snack similar to a pie, but smaller to eat in one or two bites and can have a sweet or salty filling, so regardless of that, I will show you how to store tarts.
You must preserve the tarts cold, so if you decide to store them in the fridge, they will remain for a period of between 2 and 4 days (depending on the filling), and if you freeze them, they will last you two months.
But to learn how to preserve tarts better, you just have to read it.
How to store tarts in the fridge
As it is not advisable to leave the tarts for more than two hours at room temperature because the number of bacteria that could be able to develop would be harmful to health, if you are not going to eat them soon, you should keep them cold.
If you only want to keep them for a short time, you could store them in your refrigerator as follows:
- Step 1: Wait for the tarts to cool.
When removing the tarts from the oven, put them on a rack to cool quickly.
- Step 2: Wrap the tarts with plastic film.
Once the tarts are completely cold, wrap them with plastic film (be careful not to break them). But if they are too small, or the filling does not allow you to cover them, you could put them directly in an airtight container.
- Step 3: Place the tarts in an airtight container.
Put the tarts wrapped inside an airtight container, side by side, and avoid stacking them, so they do not get ruined. If the pastries are not wrapped, place wax paper at the bottom of the container, arrange them side by side without piling them up, and cover the container well.
- Step 4: Store the tarts in the fridge.
Place the container in a frigid area so the tarts can last 2 to 4 days inside the refrigerator.
How to freeze tarts
Can tarts be frozen? The answer depends on the filling, so you will first have to check if you can freeze it. In case you can do so, you will have to proceed as follows:
- Step 1: Wait for the tarts to cool.
Place the tarts freshly taken out of the oven on a rack to cool quickly.
- Step 2: Wrap the tarts with plastic film.
When the tarts are completely cold, carefully wrap them with plastic film, so you will avoid frost burns.
- Step 3: Place the tarts in an airtight container.
Now put the tarts inside an airtight container resistant to the freezer, adding an extra layer of protection to prevent the tarts from breaking in case something falls on it.
- Step 4: Write the storage date of the tarts.
Stick a label with that information on the container or write it on a piece of paper that you will stick to the container and cover with adhesive tape, or stick a good portion of the adhesive tape to the container and, with a marker, write down the date of storage.
- Step 5: Store the tarts in the freezer.
In this way, you can freeze the tarts for two months. Then, to defrost them, transfer them a day before to the refrigerator. And if you need to reheat it, I advise you to use the oven at 180°C (350°F) for 10 minutes, and you can even put it directly frozen.
Be careful with the number of tarts you will reheat since they can not be stored again, and those that you only thawed will only keep for two more days in the fridge.
How to preserve the base of tarts
Before starting this chapter, I encourage you to read my post about the storage guide for the shortcrust pastry, which goes more in-depth.
Sometimes you find it much more convenient to keep the different components of the tarts apart. That is the filling on one side and the base on the other.
Concerning the base of the tarts, you could keep them pre-baked and then finish cooking them with their filling. Or, if the filling doesn’t need cooking, you can store the fully baked base as follows:
- Step 1: Wait for them to cool.
Leave the pastries on a rack to cool. They will be damaged much faster if you store them while they are still hot.
- Step 2: Wrap the bases of the tarts with plastic film.
Cover each base with wraparound plastic or aluminum foil
- Step 3: Transfer them to an airtight container.
Add an extra layer of protection, aside from being safe to pile them up.
- Step 4: Set the storage date.
Remember the good practice: the storage date is essential.
- Step 5: Save the bases of the tarts.
You can store the bases of the tarts inside the fridge, and they can be kept for three weeks, but if you freeze them, they will last about three months.
You can even store the bases of the tarts in a dark, moisture-free, and cool place. This way, the tarts’ bases can last about three days at room temperature.
How do you know if the tarts are spoiled?
If you notice that the tarts smell bad, like rotten or stale, they are bad, and you should not eat them.
You should also not eat tarts if they have mold; otherwise, you could end up intoxicated. Mold can be identified as black, white, or green spots.
And if the tarts taste horrible, stale, or bitter, spit them out and throw them in the trash. You can do the same if they are very watery or viscous.
How long do tarts last?
| Product | Duration |
| Tarts in the fridge | 2 – 4 days |
| Tarts in the freezer | 1 – 2 months |
| Base of tarts at room temperature | 3 days |
| Base of tarts in the fridge | 3 weeks |
| Base of tarts in the freezer | 3 months |
What is the best way to preserve tarts?
The best way to preserve the tarts is to store them in the fridge.
But if you need to keep the tarts longer than the fridge can offer, then freezing them is a good alternative. However, it would be best to freeze only the bases of the tarts. Although they can be in the fridge for several weeks, they risk absorbing the smell of other foods.
The bases of the tarts, having no filling, you can store them at room temperature, although only for a few days, and can end up very dry and brittle.
If you are interested in learning how to preserve another recipe, you can check everything on this site since I have a long list of food preservation posts.
