This Is How Long Homemade Pumpkin Pie Takes To Go Bad

It's officially pumpkin season. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, and of course, pumpkin pie are all making a resurgence in kitchens, especially in the coming weeks. Pumpkin spice's popularity come the fall has to do with nostalgia. After years of associating the smell and taste of pumpkin spice with the Thanksgiving season, we have grown a fond familiarity with it (via NPR). While it might seem to some like a fad to have pumpkin-flavored everything, people have been cooking with pumpkins for centuries, and the pie has been around for almost as long.

According to History, pumpkins were one of the first fruits European travelers brought back from the New World and quickly became a pie ingredient. However, pumpkin pies of the 1600s looked very different from the sweet and spicy treat that's popular today. Old recipes varied, but some included ingredients that we don't associate with the pie today, such as apple and thyme. Gaining popularity during the movement to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in the 1800s, once the holiday was instated in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln, the pie became a staple at Thanksgiving feasts. Although it has a long history, pumpkin pie doesn't have a long shelf life.

It's a good thing that pie can be enjoyed fresh out of the oven or right out of the fridge because according to Real Simple, pumpkin pie doesn't have a long counter life and can only sit at room temperature for a couple of hours before going bad. Between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, bacteria grows quickly, so the custard pie full of milk and eggs has to be refrigerated soon. When kept in cooler temperatures, pumpkin pie lasts a little longer and will last up to three or four days in the fridge. Just cover it with foil or plastic wrap. If you're unsure about the state of your pie, keep an eye out for any mold growth or rancid smells, and throw it out immediately if you notice this.

While there's no shortage of pumpkin pie recipes, this fall perhaps you'll be interested in trying out a pumpkin pie recipe with an unexpected ingredient to strengthen your pie-making skills. And who knows, it might be the most unique pumpkin treat in a sea of desserts at your Thanksgiving Day feast.