How To Store Macarons – The Ultimate Guide

Macarons really are a delectable treat – gorgeous crisp rounds of light meringue cookies sandwiched together with a delicious buttercream filling.

Whether you’re a fan of a simple homemade macaron or just can’t resist the colorful versions lining the shelves of your favorite bakery, it is hard not to like these gluten-free goodies.

So, what is the best way to store macarons? Macarons can be stored overnight in an airtight container at room temperature, or larger batches will keep fresh for longer periods in the refrigerator or freezer. Using the freezer to store macarons is a great way to keep them crisp and fresh.

Maybe you’ve mastered baking macarons and want to prepare some in advance for a party, or simply just couldn’t resist buying a box from the bakery. In either case, storing your macarons correctly is essential to keep them fresh and tasty.

Keep reading for our ultimate guide to storing macarons and you will never have a soggy or stale macaron again!

How to Prepare Home-Made Macarons for Storage

Perfecting the art of making macarons can take some time, but is one of those things which is definitely worth the effort!

Macarons make a great centerpiece for a party, and they will keep well if stored correctly – meaning no last-minute baking.

When making your macarons in advance, it is essential to allow them to cool completely on the baking tray when you take them out of the oven.

Taking them off the pan too soon will cause the macarons to crack and fall apart.

If they are not completely cool when removed from the pan your macarons may also be too soft – the residual warmth of the pan creates that lovely crisp outer layer.

Home-made macarons can be stored after they’ve been filled, or you can store the macaron shells and fill them at a later date.

Follow these steps to prepare your homemade macarons for storage:

1. Check that your storage container has an airtight lid, and that it is clean and completely dry.
2. Place a layer of parchment paper in the container, covering the bottom and folding up the sides.
3. Place your macarons in a single layer on the parchment paper, making sure that they are not touching each other.
4. Fold the parchment paper from the sides gently over the edges of the macarons.
5. Place another layer of parchment paper over the top of the macarons.
6. Put the lid tightly onto the container, ensuring that no air can get in. Your macarons can now be stored using any of the methods below!

We recommended that you store your macarons in a single layer to keep them in perfect condition.

However, if you are making a large batch for a party then this can be difficult, so you can gently stack layers of macarons in your container.

Make sure that there is a good layer of parchment paper between each macaron – it may be helpful to use a layer of plastic wrap as well to prevent the macaron layers from sticking together.

Best Containers for Storing Macarons

Macarons have two enemies – air and moisture! Both of these will cause your macarons to become stale and soggy, so choosing the right container to store your macarons is essential.

Use a container that is airtight, clean, and dry to store your macarons. Even the tiniest amount of moisture will turn your macarons soggy, so check the corners and lid to make sure they are completely dry.

Ideally, macarons should be stored in a single layer, so a shallow container is best. The type of containers made for storing sandwiches or pasta sheets are the perfect depth to store your macarons.

Alternatively, you can purchase purpose-made boxes to hold macarons from specialty baking and homeware stores.

These boxes contain indentations to hold each individual macaron, keeping them in the perfect conditions for storage and transportation.

How to Store Macarons at Room Temperature

Home-made macarons can be safely stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature and will still be fresh and crisp if stored correctly.

This is extremely helpful if you are making a large batch for a party, as they can be made the day before without taking up huge amounts of refrigerator space.

If you have filled your macarons remember to check if the filling is suitable to be stored at room temperature as well.

To store your macarons at room temperature, ensure that they have cooled completely.

Place them in a suitable airtight container and place the container into a cool, dark cupboard. Your macarons will still be fresh and crisp the following day but may deteriorate quickly after this.

If your macarons have come from a store or bakery, they may have different storage instructions.

Store-bought macarons will normally already be in the perfect container to store them in at room temperature, so there may be no need to transfer them to a new container.

Make sure you read the instructions of your store-bought macarons carefully to see how long they can be stored at room temperature.

How to Store Macarons in the Refrigerator

Home-baked macarons will stay crisp and fresh for up to 3 days in the refrigerator if stored correctly.

They can be stored in the fridge either as empty shells or filled, but remember to bear in mind how long your filling can be safely stored for.

To store your macarons in the refrigerator, ensure that they have cooled completely.

Place them in a suitable airtight container and place the container on the center shelf of the fridge.

Using the center shelf gives the most consistent temperature in the refrigerator – the temperature may fluctuate if the top or bottom shelf or fridge door is used.

Empty macaron shells will usually stay fresh in the fridge for 4-6 days after they are made.

Filled macaron shells will not stay fresh for as long, as the moisture content of the filling may cause them to go soggy.

Filled macarons should remain fresh and crisp for up to 2-4 days, however for best results assemble and fill your macarons the day before serving.

Macarons are best served at room temperature, so ensure that they are taken out of the fridge at least 20 minutes before you are due to serve them. Keep them in their container until just before serving.

If your macarons have come from a store or bakery, they may have different storage instructions.

Store-bought macarons will normally already be in the perfect container to store them in the fridge, so there may be no need to transfer them to a new container.

Make sure you read the instructions carefully to see how long they can be stored in the refrigerator.

How to Store Macarons in the Freezer

Freezing is a great way to store macarons for longer periods without losing any of their texture or flavor.

Macarons can be stored in the freezer either as empty shells or after filling. If you have mastered the art of making macarons, storing them in the freezer means you always have a delicious ready-made treat or gift!

The delicate texture of macarons means that they are highly susceptible to freezer burn, so preparing them correctly is essential.

Freezer burn is caused by excessive air around the macaron, so make sure they are well wrapped with parchment paper inside your airtight container.

An extra layer of aluminum foil around the outside of the parchment paper can also help to prevent freezer burn.

Freezing filled macarons:

1. Choose your filling carefully! This method is perfect for fillings that can be thawed without releasing too much moisture, such as buttercream.
2. Bake the macarons as normal and allow them to cool completely on the oven tray.
3. Fill the macaron with your filling of choice. Store on parchment paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 24 hours to allow the filled macaron to mature.
4. Ensure that your filled macarons are packaged correctly to prevent freezer burn. They can then be frozen for up to 1 month.
5. Filled macarons should be removed from the freezer the day before serving. Defrost in the refrigerator in their container.

Freezing macaron shells:

1. This method is great for macarons that need to be assembled on the day they are served or for macarons with fillings that don’t freeze well.
2. Bake the macarons as normal and allow them to cool completely on the oven tray.
3. Place your macaron shells in an airtight plastic container lined with parchment paper. They can either be laid flat in single layers or placed carefully on their side.
4. Ensure that your macaron shells are packaged correctly to prevent freezer burn. They can then be frozen for up to 3 months.
5. Macaron shells should be removed from the freezer on the day of assembly. Defrost in the refrigerator in their container.

Freezer-stored macarons take a few hours to defrost in the refrigerator. If your frozen macarons were freshly baked they will store for 2-4 days after defrosting, depending on the filling.

If you only need a few macarons, take out what you need from the freezer and transfer to a smaller air-tight container to defrost.

If your macarons have come from a store or bakery, they may have different storage instructions and it may not be advisable to store them in the freezer.

Many store-bought macarons will have been previously stored in the freezer and it is not recommended that they are frozen again.

Make sure you read the instructions for your store-bought macarons carefully to check if they can be frozen.

Related Questions

Now that we’ve gone over the best ways to store macarons and what to keep in mind when doing so, let’s go over a few more questions we thought you might’ve had on the topic!

Which macaron fillings freeze well?

If you want to store your filled macarons in the freezer, the best fillings to choose are ones that do not release excess moisture when they are defrosted such as buttercream and chocolate ganache.

Avoid freezing fillings that release moisture back into the macaron shells, such as jams and jellies. Other fillings such as curds may separate in the freezer.

Why do macarons go soft and stale?

It can be so disheartening when you make the perfect crisp macaron, and then a few hours later it is soft and stale! Unfortunately, even the most exquisite macaron will deteriorate if it is not stored correctly.

Air and moisture are the two biggest enemies of the perfect macaron, and they must be protected from both. Exposure to water droplets and excessive air will quickly cause macarons to become soft and stale.

To prevent your macarons from becoming soft and stale, make sure they are kept covered at all times once they are cool. Do not be tempted to leave them uncovered, especially in the fridge.

Uncovered macarons left in the fridge will not only become soft but will also absorb smells and flavors from other food in the fridge.

Macarons also deteriorate over time. These meringue-based treats will lose their shape after about 3 days, becoming crumbly and stale.

This is because the egg white only holds the delicate meringue structure for a short period of time.  All the more reason to eat your macarons as soon as possible!

Should macarons be decorated before or after freezing?

Many decorations used on macarons are suitable for freezing, but care must be taken to avoid smudging your artwork.

Ensure the macarons are not stacked on top of each other and lay the parchment paper carefully over your decorated macarons.

If in doubt, try freezing and defrosting one decorated macaron as a test run before freezing the whole batch.

The following decorations are all suitable for applying to macarons before they are frozen:

• Edible markers
• Sugarcraft decorations
• Fondant (glued on with edible glue)
• Buttercream decorations
• Sprinkles (baked in or glued on with edible glue)
• Thick royal icing
• Shimmer powder

How do I transport macarons?

If you’ve put hours of effort into making, filling, and decorating macarons for a party or celebration, you’ll want to make sure that they get there safely! 

For transportation, your filled macarons should be stored in a clean, dry, airtight container, nestled snugly into a layer of parchment paper.

Make sure that the macarons are thoroughly chilled in the refrigerator, or if they are frozen they can be removed from the freezer just before departure. Leave the filled macarons in these containers for transportation.

Place your containers of chilled macarons into a larger box, ensuring that they are packed carefully together to prevent them from sliding about.

If it is a warm day place some ice packs or cold bottles of water around the containers to keep them cool.

A cool bag or icebox can also be a great option for keeping your macarons chilled during transportation.

How do I tell if my macarons have gone bad?

It is very simple to tell if a macaron has gone bad – just take a look at the shape of it. A macaron that is not fit to eat will have collapsed, losing the characteristic domed cookie shape.

You may also notice moisture, mold, and a musty odor if your macaron has gone bad.

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