Throw Away Your Leftover Pie Immediately If You Notice This

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means we're all about to have a lot of leftover food and pie to deal with in the days to come. Whether you divide it up between your guests or send some home with whichever family has the most members, or maybe just keep it all for yourself, we all look forward to the turkey sandwiches for the first few days — but we all know leftovers can only last for so long before they start to go bad.

Some foods last longer than others — for example, your turkey might only have a few days in the fridge before it starts to become suspicious, while your stuffing might barely make it to the next day before the texture starts weirding everyone out. But, how long do the desserts last? And, at what point do you make the call to discard that pumpkin, or apple, or pecan pie slice that's just been sitting there for a few days after the festivities have ended? 

When it comes to pies, the first thing that will transform a delicious slice of pumpkin pie into a spine-tingling ruination of a dessert is the crust. A ruined crust takes away a lot of the crucial parts of the dessert — after all, you need that crispy layer on the bottom and sides to support the filling and give you some differentiation in texture. Obviously, the expiration date on a pie varies by the type you have, but a general rule of thumb, according to EatByDate, is this: Fruit pies will last about two to three days past their expiration dates while pumpkin pie will last two to four days past the best by date. Or, you can also freeze them for up to eight months.

According to EatByDate, "The first thing to go bad with the pie is usually the crust because the filling will begin to lose water and the crust will absorb that water and become soggy." If you notice the crust on your pie is soggy and gross, it's time to throw it away. To extend the lifespan, keep the dessert in the refrigerator as much as possible. And remember that uncut fruit pies can sit on the counter for about two days, but cut pies should always be refrigerated. It's as good a reason as any to indulge and eat all that pie so it won't go to waste!