How to Preserve Muffins (5 Simple Methods)

Whether you’re preparing nutritious muffins with whole grains, nuts, and dried fruits for breakfast or delightful sweet banana chocolate chip muffins for a snack or dessert, after they’re cooked, you’ll want to keep them as fresh as possible for as long as possible.

One of the issues with muffin storage is that they begin to age as soon as they are cooked and removed from the oven. And as muffins age, the moisture in your freshly made muffins begins to migrate from the center to the exterior. This results in a moist muffin that is squishy and mushy to eat after a day or two.

What you need are some foolproof ways for keeping muffins fresh for two to three days and delaying the aging process.

1. Cool Your Muffins the Right Way

Before you even get to the storing step, you must handle your muffins properly once they have finished baking. Wait 3 to 5 minutes after removing the muffins from the oven.

This allows the muffins to solidify and keep their form when removed from the pan.

When totally cool, take them from the muffin tray, whether it has a paper liner or you cooked them directly in the pan. Place them on a wire rack to cool completely.

You are now ready to save themor enjoy!

2. Store on the Counter

If you prepared muffins the night before and know they’ll be eaten the following day, utilize this simple approach to preserve them fresh overnight.

On your kitchen counter, place a clean tea towel. After the muffins have totally cooled, set the wire rack on top of the tea towel. Cover with a fresh tea towel.

This is an excellent method for keeping muffins fresh so you can enjoy them in the morning. Unless your family discovers you prepared muffins and they don’t last the following day!

3. Store Muffins in a Bread Box

In my kitchen, I have a lovely bread box that is great for keeping muffins fresh. At the bottom of a bread box, place a clean tea towel. Put the cooled muffins on top of the cloth, but do not pile them (consider a bread box with a shelf for extra storage space).

Then, put another tea towel over the top. Seal the bread box and the muffins will keep fresh for up to three days without drying out.

This is a terrific method to keep a smaller batch of 6 to 8 muffins that you’ve prepared. Make a dozen and your family will consume a few before you have time to think about preserving and keeping them fresh.

4. Store in a Lidded Container

When it comes to preserving muffins and keeping them fresh, Tupperware (or any container with a cover) will not suffice.

Placing muffins in a sealed container without anything to absorb the moisture will just trap the moisture inside and leave the muffin tops sticky and damp.

Fill the bottom of the container with a layer of paper towels. Place your muffins carefully on top and cover with another layer or two of paper towel.

You may now use the lid to close the container, allowing the paper towel to absorb any wet. Keep at room temperature for up to two or three days to keep your muffins lovely and fresh.

If you don’t have a big enough container, one or two zip-lock storage bags will suffice. Using the same method, gently arrange the muffins in the bag, seal, and store.

5. Freeze Your Muffins

Another option for keeping muffins fresh is to freeze them. Freezing muffins is a terrific method to always have some on hand. Just take one or two out of the freezer anytime you want some of your baking.

To freeze, put them in a plastic container on top of a couple of layers of paper towel, making sure they are in a single layer so they don’t crush. Cover with a couple additional paper towels, followed by the lid.

Put the whole container in the freezer. Muffins may be frozen for up to 3 months.

Muffin Storage Methods to Avoid

When it comes to muffins, there are a few storage strategies to avoid:

• Muffins should never be refrigerated. The chilly temperature of the refrigerator alters the texture of muffins, causing them to dry out quicker rather than keep them moist.
• Exception to the preceding rule If you’ve made savory muffins with cheese or meat, they’ll need to be refrigerated. Use the technique of keeping in a sealed container with paper towel in the fridge.
• Individual muffins should never be wrapped in plastic wrap. The cover will keep the moisture in, but it will make your muffins soggy!
• Never plate something and then wrap it in plastic wrap. It may seem to be a good idea to just arrange muffins on a pretty dish and wrap in plastic wrap till the following day. Nevertheless, much like individually wrapping them, the plastic wrap totally retains in the moisture, and with nothing to absorb the soaking dampness, you’ll end up with soft and soggy muffins.

Tip: Bake Muffins When You Need Them!

Muffins are a favorite of my family, and I make them at least twice a week. Date and bran muffins are our favorite muffins for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

I create a quantity of batter, doubling the amount, and keep it in the fridge in a firmly sealed container for up to a week.

Even on hectic mornings, it takes me less than a minute to spoon batter into muffin cups and bake only as many as we need for the day. This means we always have fresh muffins and I don’t have to worry about them spoiling!

These are the ways I use to refrigerate and keep my baked muffins fresh so that my family may enjoy them for a few days!