How To Store Apple Crisp & Keep It From Getting Soggy [Pics] (2024)

Apple crisp is super easy to cook in batches, so it’s not uncommon to have leftovers.

But what’s the best thing to do with your leftover apple crisp?

This article will answer your burning questions (or settle your debates) such as: should you store your apple crisp in the refrigerator or on the side?

Plus, I let you in on my secret formula to ensure a CRISP apple crisp every time.

All the suggestions in this article will work for apple crisp pie as well.

How to store apple crisp

Allow the apple crisp to cool, then cover it with a paper towel and wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap. You can leave the apple crisp at room temperature for two days, or you can refrigerate it for up to five days. For longer-term storage, you can freeze the apple crisp.

Make sure the apple crisp is at room temperature all the way through before adding any sort of covering. If you cover the crisp prematurely, it won’t stay crispy for long.

Heat will rise from the dessert, get trapped by the covering, and re-enter the dessert in the form of moisture.

The result? A soggy apple crisp (yuk).

Even once the apple crisp has cooled to room temperature, there’s still a chance that moisture could ruin the topping. That’s where the paper towels come in. They’ll absorb any excess moisture and stop it from sogging up your crumble topping.

Do I have to cover the apple crisp?

I always cover my apple crisp, because where I live, ants are a problem. They’d be all over my apple crisp in a flash.

If you aren’t worried about pests getting into your apple crisp then it’s okay to leave it uncovered. Exposing the topping to air will mean you can be 100% sure it won’t go soggy.

If you do leave the crisp uncovered, I would suggest pressing plastic wrap (or aluminum foil) up against any cut edges where the filling is exposed. The fruit filling will become dry pretty quickly if you don’t cover it.

Another option is to cover the apple crisp, but put a few holes in the covering. This allows air and moisture to escape, while still providing a decent level of protection.

Does apple crisp need to be refrigerated?

According to the USDA, fruit fillings that have been prepared with sugar can be safely left out at room temperature for up to two days. Apple crisp falls into this category, so it doesn’t need to be refrigerated if you’re going to eat it within that time period.

However, if you won’t finish the apple crisp within two days, you should refrigerate it as soon as possible. This extends its shelf life and keeps it fresher for longer.

Apple crisp will last 5 days in the refrigerator.

If you live somewhere warm and humid, I highly recommend refrigerating the apple crisp. Warm weather and high moisture levels will cause the apple crisp to mold faster than it usually would.

Related: Do Cannolis Need To Be Refrigerated

Can you make apple crisp ahead of time?

Yes, apple crisp is a perfect candidate for making ahead of time. To store pre-prepared apple crisp, keep the topping and the filling separate. Cook the individual parts separately, then store the apple mixture in the fridge and the topping in an airtight container at room temperature.

One reason the apple crisp goes soggy is that over time it absorbs juices from the apples. By storing the two parts of the crisp separately, you prevent this from happening.

If you live somewhere super humid, keep the topping in the fridge as well. Otherwise, the excess moisture in the air will ruin it.

To reheat, assemble the apple crisp and heat in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. The layers will come together and the topping will get an extra bit of crunch. No one will be any the wiser you made the crisp a few days ago!

I always cook the apple crisp before storing it because if you leave the uncooked apple mixture for too long, the apples will start to break down and become mushy.

Other tricks to keep your apple crisp crunchy

Now for the secret tips I promised.

These tricks will have everyone begging you for your apple crisp recipe.

Add extra crunch to the topping

A great way of ensuring your apple crisp stays crisp is to make the topping extra crunchy in the first place. Nuts, Graham snacks or granola are some great additions.

They’ll provide an extra bite to your crisp that will hold up even after storage.

Simply crush the nuts or crackers up, and add mix them into your topping before baking.

Related: How Long Does Homemade Granola Last

Macerate your fruit

The juicier your fruit is, the more chance there is that your topping will go soggy.

Macerating your fruit is a way to reduce the liquid in your fruit filling without sacrificing any flavor.

Chop and peel your apples, then mix them with the specified amount of sugar, salt, and spices in your recipe. You should also mix in some lemon juice to stop the apples from turning brown.

Put the apples in a sandwich bag, or leave them covered in a bowl and let them sit at least an hour (two is better).

The sugar and salt will draw most of the moisture out of the apples. This process is known as maceration.

After an hour, you can strain the apples. But don’t throw away the liquid! Take the liquid and boil it until it reduces to a syrup-like texture.

Then pour the syrup back over the apples just before you add the topping. The final result will be deliciously sweet apples that don’t leak liquid everywhere.

You concentrate the apple flavor AND get a crispy topping

Win-win.

Macerating the apples is particularly important for apple crisp pies. If you skip this step, you’re virtually guaranteed to have a soggy bottom.

How to reheat apple crisp

You can reheat apple crisp in the microwave or the oven. The microwave is best for individual portions. Simply place the apple crisp on a plate and microwave it for 30-60 seconds. For a whole apple crisp, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and heat for 15-20 minutes.

The topping might go a bit soggy in the microwave, but you can fix this by heating it in the toaster oven for a few minutes. Or putting it under the broiler.

In the oven, you can have the opposite problem. The crust can go a bit dry. To avoid this either keep foil over the crisp until the last 5 minutes of reheating, or sprinkle some melted butter over the top of the apple crisp.

Update: I’ve recently written an entire article testing various apple crisp reheating methods. It includes detailed instructions on getting that freshly baked aroma (even a few days later).

Check it out here: Exactly How To Reheat An Apple Crisp – I Test 3 Methods

How to restore a soggy apple crisp

If your apple crisp topping is still soggy even after reheating it in the oven here’s a quick fix.

Scoop the topping off the apples and spread it thinly on a baking tray. Put the baking tray in the oven and heat it for 5 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the topping is spread thinly, it will crisp up a lot quicker than when it’s piled on top of an apple base.

How to freeze apple crisp

You can freeze baked or unbaked apple crisp. For both types, wrap the apple crisp in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. This double protection ensures your apple crisp isn’t affected by freezer burn. The apple crisp will last up to 3 months in the freezer.

You can cook/reheat it straight from frozen. Or you can thaw it in the fridge overnight and then cook/reheat it.

See timing for each option below:

I prefer to let mine thaw before cooking or reheating because it is much quicker and I feel the long times in the oven can dry the apple crisp out a little.

If you’re heating it from frozen I suggestcovering it with foil for the first half of the bake. This will protect the top of the crisp from burning or drying out.