Canned pumpkin, or pumpkin purée, is available year-round on grocery store shelves, but its time to shine is during the fall and early winter months — — with families gathering around the table for holiday desserts like pumpkin pie, pumpkin rolls, , and pumpkin cheesecake – . While some recipes call for an entire can, many do not, so you might be wondering how long you have to use up the rest before it can start to go bad. (It may be good for up to a week in the fridge, but you'll have to use your best judgment and check for signs of spoilage past the four-day mark.
) While you absolutely can keep it in the can for storage (perhaps with a bit of plastic wrap and a rubber band to hold it in place for a cover), removing it and placing it instead into a plastic or glass container with an airtight lid will help it keep its pumpkin-y flavor better. Can you freeze canned pumpkin? If you're about to hit day four and have no plans in sight for that canned pumpkin, freezing it for later is always an option. You will have to remove it from the can and place it in an airtight container, but if you're really thinking ahead, you can freeze it in perfectly portioned silicone molds, like , or .
This way, you don't have to defrost all of the canned pumpkin at once when you only need a little bit. Freezing canned pumpkin also gains you some extra fridge time; if you allow it to defrost in the refrigerator, it can be used for up to four days (but again, keep an eye out for signs of spoi.
