Does Bread Pudding Need To Be Refrigerated?

Bread pudding is a rich, sweet dessert that warms you up and has a comforting vibe. It comes in different flavors; you can jazz it up with a whiskey sauce or mix in various additions like raisins and chocolate chips.

You don’t want any to go to waste, so should you store bread pudding in the refrigerator?

You need to store bread pudding in the refrigerator to avoid mold growth. Bread pudding contains milk, eggs, and other ingredients that make it a moist dessert.

If you keep these ingredients at room temperature, it creates optimal conditions for bacteria to develop. So, store bread pudding in the fridge and warm it when ready to eat.

Bread pudding tastes amazing, but not if it’s starting to develop dangerous mold and bacteria. Proper storage is essential to maintain the freshness and quality of this yummy dessert.

Bread pudding contains a lot of eggs and milk, so you need to store it in the fridge. Look at it this way; you wouldn’t keep your eggs and milk out on your kitchen counter, right?

If you leave bread pudding out for a prolonged period, it’s a recipe for disaster.

The combination of eggs, milk, and sugar sitting at room temperature creates an ideal environment for mold. Neglecting to put bread pudding in the fridge increases the chance for bacteria to develop.

Instead of enjoying your leftover bread pudding, you’ll end up tossing it in the trash.

To ensure your bread pudding stays fresh and delicious, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. With proper storage, bread pudding will last for about 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Also, make sure the pudding cools entirely before placing it in the fridge.

How well you store the bread pudding will determine how long it lasts. If you don’t have an appropriate container, wrap and cover the dessert tightly with plastic wrap.

Label the container or wrapping with the date you put it in the fridge to help you keep tabs on it.

It’s also a good idea to store your topping separately, or even better, make it before you serve the pudding. Following this tidbit will make it easy to serve up delicious bread pudding every time.

It also makes it easier to make bread pudding ahead of time so you can work around your schedule.

It’s understandable that you don’t want any bit of your bread pudding to go to waste. If you know you won’t be eating all of it within a few days, you can freeze the bread pudding.

Storing bread pudding in the freezer has a few more considerations. Bread pudding is really moist (that’s part of what makes it so incredibly delicious).

However, the excess moisture also increases the chances of freezer burn.

Therefore, it’s critical to wrap it well. It’s best to portion it out and wrap each piece separately in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Then, place the wrapped pieces inside a freezer-safe container or plastic bag.

Make sure to label the bag with the date you placed it in the freezer. You can expect the bread pudding to last between one and two months when it’s frozen.

When you’re ready to eat it, thaw it in the fridge for the best results.

Depending on how much there is, it will take anywhere from four to over 12 hours for bread pudding to thaw. You could also place it in the fridge the night before you plan to serve it.

Then, the next day, simply remove it from the fridge, reheat it, and enjoy.

Bread pudding can sit out at room temperature for about two hours and be safe to eat. So, if you’re having a party, make sure to put your bread pudding in the fridge if it’s almost at the two-hour mark.

Keep in mind this is two hours total, not after it’s cooled. So, ensure you can cool the bread pudding in enough time to store it in the fridge before two hours pass.

However, if the temperature is above room temp or you’re outside, and it’s above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, two hours is too long. In this increased heat, it’s better to get bread pudding in the fridge after no more than an hour.

Bread pudding is safe to eat the next day as long as you store it properly in the fridge or freezer. Depending on your schedule, you might prefer to make bread pudding the day before you plan to eat or serve it.

Cook it thoroughly. (A food thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees Fahrenheit.) You can also use the knife test.

Insert a metal knife into the center of the bread pudding, and it should come out clean.

Once you cook the bread pudding, let it cool. Then, store it in the fridge overnight, and take it out the next day to reheat.

Store any toppings separately. For example, keep ice cream in the freezer and add it when you’re ready to eat the bread pudding.

Whipped cream should also go on top right before you eat the dessert, so it keeps its fluffy shape.

Custards and whiskey-based sauces are okay to leave on top of bread pudding. But these moist toppings can make the dessert soggy.

For best results, store it separately and add it right before it’s time to enjoy the bread pudding.

As sad as it is, if you forget the bread pudding on the counter overnight, you need to toss it. Despite popular belief, heating the bread pudding first won’t kill off the bacteria or mold.

So, eating it isn’t worth the potential risk of getting sick.

Ingesting moldy or spoiled food can lead to uncomfortable issues like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Therefore, if you suspect bread pudding is bad, even after proper storage, throw it out.

Eating bread pudding warm or cold is a matter of personal preference. Eating it warm is the most popular way (and it’s so good). But many people also love to nosh on leftover cold bread pudding.

To each their own. But if you do plan to reheat your bread pudding, you can do so in the microwave or oven.

If using the oven, cover the bread pudding with foil, preheat the oven to 350, and warm for 10 to 15 minutes. The oven is ideal if you’re trying to reheat a large portion of bread pudding.

For a quicker reheat, put the bread pudding on a microwave-safe plate and heat it for 30 seconds. Then, continue to reheat in 10- to 15-second spurts until it reaches the desired temperature.

To avoid drying out the bread pudding, use a lower power setting and heat it a bit longer. You can also sprinkle some water on the bread pudding or place a glass of water in the micro while you reheat it.

Bread pudding is a favorite dessert for many, whether you want to enjoy it hot or cold. But if you leave it sitting out on the counter for more than an hour or two, you’ll need to throw it in the trash.

So, make sure to store bread pudding in the fridge in an airtight container.

Bread pudding will last in the refrigerator for four to five days. If you can’t eat it within that time, freeze it for one to two months.

Freeze it in individual portions, wrapped in plastic wrap, and inside a freezer-safe bag or container.

Add your toppings of choice before you eat the bread pudding for best results instead of storing it on the pudding. If you’re unsure about the state of your bread pudding, err on the side of caution.

Spoiled food needs to go in the trash, no matter how much is left, how hard it is to make, or how much it costs you. No food is worth getting sick over (no matter how delicious).