Here's the ultimate guide to storing muffins to stay fresh! Whether you want to know how to store muffins overnight, or for the week, read on to avoid getting sticky or stale muffins.
If you are new here my name is Danika. I'm certified in Holistic Nutrition and obsessed with making muffins for snack time! My favourite muffins are strawberry muffins and pineapple muffins with oatmeal!
Jump to:
- How long do muffins last?
- Cool the muffins
- How to store muffins at room temperature
- Which muffins should be refrigerated?
- How to store muffins in the fridge
- How long can you freeze muffins?
- Tops tips for the freshest tasting muffins
- How can you tell if muffins have gone bad?
- How long do store-bought muffins last?
- Muffin recipes to try
- Danika Vanderpyl, C.H.N
How long do muffins last?
Homemade muffins can stay fresh for up to 4 or 5 days if stored correctly. If muffins are frozen they will last much longer (3-4 months). Below I will explain how to store muffins so they will not dry out or become soggy.
The science: As muffins sit they release moisture, if they are in a plastic bag or container the moisture is trapped making soggy and even moldy muffins. However, if we let muffins sit on the counter they become dry and stale. Here's how to prevent muffins from going bad either way!!
Cool the muffins
The most important step in storing freshly baked muffins is cooling the muffins! Don't skip this step, it can make your muffins soggy and create a weird texture.
To cool down the muffins, remove them from the pan after 5-10 minutes (removing them from the pan immediately can cause the hot muffins to fall apart). Place the warm muffins on a cooling rack until they are fully cool. If you are using silicone cups I remove them now.
If you plan to eat the muffins within 24 hours you can leave the muffins on the counter and simply cover the muffins on the cooling rack with a large tea towel.
How to store muffins at room temperature
If you plan to enjoy your muffins over the next 4-5 days, place a paper towel (or a tea towel) in the bottom of the container (or a plastic bag), then place the muffins on top and seal with a lid. The paper towel will absorb any excess moisture that accumulates especially from muffins with fruit in them!
Which muffins should be refrigerated?
- Fruit Muffins: If you have muffins with large fruit chunks they will stay fresh longer in the fridge. What I like to do is keep them at room temperature for a day or two then, if I still have some left I place them in the fridge. They can be heated in the microwave (10-20 seconds) before eating, making them taste like they just came from the oven.
- Savoury muffins with meats or cheese, muffins with custard fillings, or muffins with a dairy-based frosting: These muffins need to be kept in the fridge until they are served and eaten to prevent spoilage.
- Muffins in a humid or hot place: Homemade muffins in a humid place will go bad quicker and you will want to store these muffins in the fridge. (I've learned this the hard way!)
How to store muffins in the fridge
Let the muffins cool completely. Line a container with a paper towel or a tea towel, and place the muffins as a single layer on top of the paper towel. Seal the container with a lid. Place the container in the fridge. Enjoy these muffins from the fridge within 4-5 days.
Muffins from the fridge are extra tasty if they are warmed up first. Warm the muffins in the microwave for 10-20 seconds or place them in a covered pan in the oven on warm for 10 minutes.
How long can you freeze muffins?
Muffins will stay the freshest in the freezer - even more than at room temperature or in the fridge! If you don't plan to eat the muffins within the next day freezing them is a great option, I like to freeze half a batch of the muffins for later in the week!
Cool, cover the muffins completely and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Here you can read a detailed version all about freezing muffins and reheating them!
Tops tips for the freshest tasting muffins
- Be sure to cool the muffins before placing them in a bag or container!
- Place a tea towel or paper towel in the bottom of a container to absorb any moisture.
- If you don't plan to eat them until the next day, freeze them until you plan to eat them, this keeps them the freshest!
- Write the date you made the muffins on the container you are storing them in!
How can you tell if muffins have gone bad?
Muffins will go bad in 4-7 days and even faster if they have a high moisture content. You can tell that muffins have gone bad by a bad taste, a poor smell, spots of fuzzy mold, or the texture may be off.
How long do store-bought muffins last?
Store-bought muffins will last 5-8 days. They last longer than homemade muffins as they have added preservatives. Be sure to remove the muffins from any clamshell plastic packaging and place them in a sealing container or bag lined with a paper towel to stay the most fresh.
Muffin recipes to try
Here at Beside the Mountain, we make healthy muffins for every day! Try our favorite easy recipes:
Danika Vanderpyl, C.H.N
I create snack recipes with healthy ingredients that are mostly already in your kitchen. I'm certified in Holistic Nutrition and I care about giving my kids real food. Let me share my nutrient-dense easy snacks with you.
SN says
I could not figure out why my meal prep apple muffins were mid-week...thank you for the extremely helpful flow chart and concise explanations! Now I know to refrigerate them!
Danika Vanderpyl says
Glad you found this helpful! I learned the hard way so I am happy to share!
Alisha says
This information is so wonderful!! Thanks for going into detail and helping us create a wonderfully happy food home. This is so helpful!
Danika Vanderpyl says
Glad to hear you found this helpful! Happy muffin baking!