How Long Is Banana Pudding Good For?
As good as banana pudding is, it is also one of the most filling desserts which means that one can easily overestimate its quantity and end up with leftovers.
Many enjoy leftover and adequately chilled banana pudding the next day, but unfortunately, not everyone knows the proper way to store it or the appropriate storage time before it goes bad.
How long is banana pudding good for? Banana pudding should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Ideally, it should be consumed within 2-3 days and can be stored for up to 2 weeks in the freezer but there are a few factors that you should keep in mind before storing banana pudding.
Read below to learn more about how you can store banana pudding and the best ways to get the most out of leftovers!
Making Banana Pudding At Home
The storage duration of banana pudding can greatly vary depending on what ingredients you use.
For example, a simple banana pudding can last for up to 3-4 days in the fridge but with more complex and fatty ingredients like whole cream, condensed milk, and biscuits, the storage time can shorten to just 48 hours.
Of course, banana pudding won’t go bad after just 48 hours but it will begin to lose its flavor and structure. In the end, you might have an overly runny and less intense dessert!
There are many ways to make banana pudding and depending on where you live, you can use any recipe and ingredient to make this dessert just the way you like it.
But because there are so many ways to make banana pudding, there isn’t a set expiry for all the variations.
This is why we highly recommend that you keep the storage duration under 48 hours for the best experience.
Banana pudding can also be frozen but you may have to protect it from freezer burn if you want it to taste as good as the day it was made.
Here is a quick go-to recipe for making banana pudding at home:
Ingredients
- Cream ¾ cup
- Cream cheese 140g
- Condensed milk 1 cup or to taste
- Vanilla pudding mix 1 packet
- Whole milk cold 1 + ½ Cups
- Cream 200 ml
- Sugar, powdered 2 tbs or to taste
- Banana, slices as required
- Biscuits, as required (optional)
Directions
- Whisk and aerate cream in a large bowl for 2 minutes.
- Immediately add cream cheese and continue to whisk it.
- While whisking, add condensed milk and mix everything until fully incorporated.
- Add the vanilla pudding mix (or any other vanilla product of your choice) and mix until everything is combined.
- Now add cold milk and whisk for 2 minutes.
- Add the prepared mixture to a large saucepan and heat it until it reduces and thickens. Occasionally whisk the pot as it heats and set the flame on low to prevent the mixture from burning on the sides.
- In a separate bowl, add cream and whisk it for 2 minutes or until aerated.
- Add powdered sugar to the cream and continue mixing until fully incorporated.
- Take any deep serving dish and add sliced bananas and biscuits (optional) to the base. Now spread the prepared pudding mixture evenly and then add another layer of the whisked cream and sugar mixture.
- Let it cool in the fridge until chilled then garnish with more banana slices and brown sugar and serve!
How To Store Leftovers
Now that you’ve got some delicious banana pudding, let’s take a look at some key ways to store this delicious dessert!
Refrigeration
The leftovers can be stored in multiple ways. We recommend shifting the pudding to a smaller airtight container.
Keep the container at the back of the fridge at a temperature of 40°F. The container must remain cool throughout the storage duration!
Bananas are notorious for oxidizing so it’s better if you consume the pudding within 2-3 days.
For the best results, if you made the pudding the night before, then the best time to consume the leftovers would be the very next day.
Eating it within 48 hours will ensure that the pudding remains fresh and the bananas and biscuits don’t lose their texture or flavor.
Another way to store the pudding would be to first remove the garnish banana slices from the top and store the pudding as it is in the fridge. You can always use fresh banana slices to redecorate or garnish the pudding before serving.
The banana slices at the bottom will remain fresh for slightly longer as they won’t oxidize as fast as the ones on top but you should still aim to consume all of it within 3 days.
Freezing
Banana pudding can last way longer if it is frozen. Freezing the pudding is the best way to preserve its flavor and to make sure that the texture of the banana slices and biscuits remains fresh and firm.
To freeze a portion of banana pudding simply move the leftovers into an airtight container (we’d recommend this one).
Store the container in the freezer at 0°F for up to 14 days. For the best results, we recommend keeping the container for not more than 7 days to avoid freezer burn.
The pudding may be able to last longer than 14 days in optimal storage conditions but it may lose a lot of its flavor over time.
You can also apply the same strategy of removing the banana slices from the top and then re-adding fresh ones when you wish to serve the frozen pudding.
Thawing Frozen Pudding
To thaw the frozen pudding, simply shift the container from the freezer to the fridge. Let it thaw in the fridge for about 8-12 hours. We recommend that you keep it overnight for the best results.
Another way to thaw the pudding would be to defrost it in the microwave using the defrost setting until it becomes slightly runny. This method can come in handy when you want to immediately serve the pudding.
Allow the thawed pudding to cool down in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes or until sufficiently cool, then garnish with fresh banana slices and serve!
Here’s a quick overview of the storage times:
Aspect | Frozen | Refrigerated |
---|---|---|
Storage Duration | Up to 14 days | 2-3 days. |
Indications | Remove banana slices or let them freeze with the pudding as required | Remove banana slices from the top layer before storage. Add fresh bananas when serving |
Storage Method | Airtight, food-safe plastic container | Any serving bowl |
Signs Of Spoilage
Banana pudding is as delicious to humans as it is to bacteria.
It is perhaps the perfect breeding ground for mold and other harmful organisms. This is why you should always inspect the pudding before consuming it.
Visual Inspection
There are a few visual cues that you can use to identify whether the pudding has gone bad or not.
The first step is to inspect the top layer of the pudding. If the pudding has been chilling in the fridge for more than 5 days then you MUST inspect it for spoilage.
See if you can find any green growths or lumps in the top layer of the pudding. Continue to search for these signs by moving the pudding around using a spoon.
If there are any lumps or mold, then you should discard the pudding as it is.
Checking For Foul Odors
Once the pudding has passed visual inspection, you can continue with the next step.
Carefully smell the pudding for any foul odor. The banana pudding should either not smell like anything, or it may smell naturally sweet with hints of vanilla.
These same tests can be done for frozen banana pudding as well. Always thaw and then inspect frozen pudding before consumption to rule out spoilage.
Finally, if all else fails, you should be able to tell if the pudding has spoiled by tasting it.
This is the final and most definitive test that should only be done if the pudding has passed the visual test and when it smells fine. If you notice any sourness or bitterness then immediately rinse your mouth and discard the pudding.
Related Questions
Banana pudding can be stored in different ways and can be even better when it is fully chilled the next day! Now that you know how long banana pudding can last in storage, here are a few related questions!
Can banana pudding be stored for up to several months?
Banana pudding can last up to 2-3 months only if it is freeze-dried using a dedicated freeze-drying machine. This method will remove all the moisture from the dessert and will extend its life by several months!
However, the most you can store frozen banana pudding using conventional methods for is 20-25 days, provided that the pudding was stored under optimal storage conditions at 0°F the entire time.
Can you leave chilled banana pudding at room temperature?
Banana pudding should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, regardless of it being frozen or chilled.
Bacterial growth can begin after two hours and the bacterial population can grow exponentially every 20 minutes. This is why it is recommended that you keep the dessert chilled in the refrigerator, especially during a hot day.
Banana Pudding
This banana pudding is a super delicious, rich, and creamy dessert that'll have your guests asking for more!
Ingredients
- Cream ¾ cup
- Cream cheese 140g
- Condensed milk 1 cup or to taste
- Vanilla pudding mix 1 packet
- Whole milk cold 1 + ½ Cups
- Cream 200 ml
- Sugar, powdered 2 tbs or to taste
- Banana, slices as required
- Biscuits, as required (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk and aerate cream in a large bowl for 2 minutes.
- Immediately add cream cheese and continue to whisk it.
- While whisking, add condensed milk and mix everything until fully incorporated.
- Add the vanilla pudding mix (or any other vanilla product of your choice) and mix until everything is combined.
- Now add cold milk and whisk for 2 minutes.
- Add the prepared mixture to a large saucepan and heat it until it reduces and thickens. Occasionally whisk the pot as it heats and set the flame on low to prevent the mixture from burning on the sides.
- In a separate bowl, add cream and whisk it for 2 minutes or until aerated.
- Add powdered sugar to the cream and continue mixing until fully incorporated.
- Take any deep serving dish and add sliced bananas and biscuits (optional) to the base. Now spread the prepared pudding mixture evenly and then add another layer of the whisked cream and sugar mixture.
- Let it cool in the fridge until chilled then garnish with more banana slices and brown sugar and serve!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 907Total Fat: 57gSaturated Fat: 35gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 172mgSodium: 69mgCarbohydrates: 90gFiber: 1gSugar: 80gProtein: 13g
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