Can You Freeze Pudding? 

Last updated on October 8th, 2022 at 08:56 am

When one of your favorite recipes calls for pudding, it may not use all the pudding that you have made. Whether you like your cake filled with a layer of creamy pudding or pudding in a pie, you will usually end up with leftovers. 

You typically won’t want to eat pudding for dessert since you just made a delicious cake or pie, so what should you do with the leftover pudding? 

Are you able to take the leftover pudding and freeze it for another date? Is it better to put any leftover pudding in the fridge and eat it in the next few days? Does all this extra pudding go to waste? 

You can freeze pudding to use at a later date. If you have added other ingredients to your pudding, like cookies, the cookies might not freeze well. It is best to add any toppings or add-ins to your pudding when you are ready to eat the pudding. 

You can freeze pudding in one larger container or in a portion-sized one. If you plan on using some of the pudding for baking, you can freeze it already portioned out. This way you can avoid thawing a whole batch of pudding that you may not be ready for. 

The best way to freeze pudding is in an air-tight container. Frozen pudding can last in the freezer for up to six weeks. 

Pudding holds up better in the freezer than in the fridge. In the fridge, your pudding will get a crust layer on the top, whereas in the freezer your pudding will be fine. You can also eat frozen pudding much like ice cream.

How Do You Thaw Frozen Pudding? 

Have you ever had a friend drop by unannounced? You start to panic and go through your cabinets, fridge, and freezer to see if you have anything to offer them. You may have a few items that you can give them, but nothing really feels “good” enough. 

Then you remember that you have some pudding frozen from baking that cake the other day. This is a perfect snack to have with a friend; however, they are coming and you don’t have time to let it thaw overnight in the fridge. 

Is there a better (or faster) way to defrost pudding? 

You can place the pudding on the counter or in the fridge for a few hours to thaw it.  If you don’t have enough time to thaw the pudding, you can also eat the pudding frozen. Since pudding is a creamy dessert, when it’s frozen it stays creamy like ice cream but is a bit thicker. You can enjoy the pudding frozen or thawed out. 

If you have used pudding in a pie or cake, the best way to let your dessert thaw is in the fridge overnight. The fridge is the best option for dethawing especially with a pudding pie as the crust might become soggy if it thaws on the counter. 

Can You Freeze Banana Pudding? 

We’ve all been there, you bought bananas with great intentions of finishing them all before they went bad. However, as the week went on, the bananas sat there becoming more and more ripe until they eventually became rotten. 

There are a few different things that you can do with bananas that are close to being rotten. You can use them in baking and other various dishes. One dish you can make is banana pudding. If you use all your bananas to make banana pudding, can you freeze the banana pudding to enjoy later? 

Does banana pudding freeze well? 

Banana pudding has high water content, so it can be tricky to freeze. If you are freezing homemade banana pudding, there is a step that you could take to ensure your banana pudding will last in the freezer. Dip the banana pieces in lemon juice to help them last in the freezer. 

If you plan on using a portion of the banana pudding for baking, be sure to set aside the portion and freeze separately from the rest. Once the pudding is ready to be frozen, you can place it in an airtight container. 

Since there is so much moisture in banana pudding, it is best to add a piece of plastic wrap over the container and then place the lid on for an extra layer of sealed protection. 

Can You Freeze Pudding Snack Packs? 

Pudding snack packs are a great addition to any lunch. As a kid, if you had a snack pack, your lunch was the envy of the lunchroom. Now, as an adult, eating a snack pack can take you right back to your childhood. 

Snack packs are also a great way to have dessert and stay on a calorie deficit if you are trying to lose weight. You can get sugar-free snack packs and have an already portioned dessert ready for after dinner. 

If you find a great deal on pudding snack packs or just like to stock up, can you store your snack packs in the freezer? 

Pudding snack packs can be frozen. You can enjoy the snack pack frozen for an ice cream-like treat or you can place the pudding in the fridge the night before to enjoy it as a dessert the next day. 

If you have a leftover snack pack pudding that you started but didn’t end up finishing, it is best to store it in the fridge and eat it the next day instead of placing it in the freezer. 

Does Pudding Go Bad? 

Store-bought pudding seems like it can last in your pantry for a long time and not go bad. Homemade pudding seems like it can last a while in your fridge and freezer too. Is there a way to know that pudding has gone bad? 

Does pudding go bad? Can pudding be in your pantry for a few weeks and still be okay to eat? 

Store-bought pudding will last 3-4 weeks after the best by date that is printed on the package while dry pudding mix will last 3-4 weeks after the best by date. You can likely still use the pudding after that time but it will lose some of its taste and texture. 

The best way to know whether store-bought or homemade pudding that has already been made has gone bad is by the smell and by looking at it. Homemade pudding will spoil before store-bought due to the ingredient differences like milk and eggs. 

For both store-bought and homemade pudding, there will start to be a separation and liquid pockets will form. When these pockets form, this means the pudding is going bad. 

Another way to know if pudding has gone bad is if there are different colored spots throughout the pudding, this is the start of mold. 

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for an easy dessert to always have on hand, you can keep pudding in the freezer. Whether you prefer to use the pudding in baking or eat it by itself, storing it in the freezer is a great way to keep pudding in the house for a while.