How long do blueberry muffins last in the fridge

Here’s all about the shelf life, storage, and going bad of muffins. Learn how long they last, when to toss them, and how to store them based on what type of muffins you have.

Baked or bought a bunch of muffins and not sure for how many days they retain quality? How long do muffins last?

Or maybe you want to know what’s the best way to store them. If you leave them on the counter as-is, they either dry out or get soggy, and eating either is a rather painful experience.

Want to learn more about handling homemade and store-bought muffins? Read on.

Info

There are a gazillion recipes for muffins out there. Because of that, it’s impossible to come up with exact storage times and practices that are ideal for muffins that you have on hand right now. Instead, I cover general principles so that you can work out what’s best for your leftovers.

  • Shelf life
  • Storage
  • Spoilage

How long do blueberry muffins last in the fridge

Muffins last for 2 to 7 days, depending on the ingredients and where you store them. Sweet muffins with fresh fruit keep for only a couple of days, while savory ones and those with mostly dry ingredients stay safe to eat longer. If you need more time than that, freezing is your best bet in most cases.

How long your muffins are good for depends entirely on the ingredients.

Popular muffins with fresh fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries, bananas, and a dozen other options, are often topped with fruit pieces. These muffins don’t last more than 1 to 2 days on the counter before the fruit grows mold.

If the fruity goodness is hidden inside, and the surface is dry, they tend to retain quality for like 3 to 4 days.

Tip

If you’re not sure about the shelf life or storage practices for your muffins, consult the recipe

How long do blueberry muffins last in the fridge
Muffin tin before baking

Then there are muffins with melted chocolate, nuts, oats, dried fruit, and the like. Those (usually) aren’t particularly moist and can last for up to a week.

Last but not least, there are savory muffins that often include cheese, meat, and chopped veggies. Those usually require refrigeration and tend to keep for 4 to 6 days.

All in all, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to the muffins shelf life question. Take the muffins you have on hand, and try to fit them into one of the mentioned categories. Or use the table below.

CounterFridgeFreezer
Sweet muffins topped with fresh ingredients 1 – 2 days 3+ months
Sweet muffins with fresh fruit inside 3 – 4 days 3+ months
Sweet muffins with mostly dry ingredients 5 to 7 days 3+ months
Savory muffins 4 – 6 days 3+ months

How long do blueberry muffins last in the fridge

How To Store Muffins To Keep Them Fresh

Main article: How to store muffins?

Sweet muffins retain the best flavor if you store them in an airtight container on the counter. Place a sheet of paper towel below them and top them with another one to catch any extra moisture. Savory muffins usually require refrigeration. Again, a plastic container and a couple of paper towels are all you need.

While many guides tell you that you should never refrigerate muffins, that’s not quite the case.

True, most popular recipes keep better quality if muffins sit on the counter (same goes for cupcakes, as I write in my How Long Do Cupcakes Last article), but some of the others (I’m looking at you, savory muffins) are better off in the fridge. Especially if you load your muffins with dairy or meat (e.g., ham, sausage, chorizo, and the like).

Tip

It’s best to check what the recipe’s author says about storage. And if you’re buying your muffins in the bakery, don’t hesitate to ask the clerk if you should refrigerate them.

How long do blueberry muffins last in the fridge

Before we get to storage tips, there’s one thing many aspiring bakers forget about, which is letting the muffins cool before you put them anywhere. If you don’t do that, muffins often end up with a wet base, and nobody likes soggy baked goods.

To avoid that, take the muffins out of the pan (and paper or silicone liners, if you use those) about 5 to 10 minutes after you finish baking. Place them in a single layer, possibly onto a wire rack, to allow the moisture to escape. This way, all the steam inside is released, and the muffins are moist, not wet or soggy.

Once cooled, transfer the muffins into a bread box or airtight container lined with a tea towel or paper towels. Top that layer of muffins with another towel to catch the moisture from the top.

Tip

If you don’t have a suitable container, use freezer bags. Again, make sure there are towels below and above the baked goods.

How long do blueberry muffins last in the fridge
Muffins ready for storage

How To Tell If a Muffin Is Bad?

Throw out muffins that:

  • Are moldy. If there’s any fuzz on the surface, it’s time to let them go.
  • Sit in storage for too long. If yours sits around for a couple of days past the recommended storage period, discard it for safety reasons. It might still be safe to eat, but you never know.
  • Smell or taste off. If either is the case, they’re done for.

Last but not least, consider the quality of that old muffin.

If it’s kind of stale and tastes so-so at best, it’s probably not worth keeping around or eating. If it’s your sweet (or savory) treat, make sure it’s one.

How long do blueberry muffins last in the fridge
Raspberry muffins closeup

Do homemade blueberry muffins need to be refrigerated?

It isn't necessary to refrigerate fresh muffins. With the exception of homemade muffins that contain meat or cheese, you'll almost never want to refrigerate muffins, since freshly baked muffins will get rapidly dried out in the cooler temperatures of your fridge.

How long are homemade muffins good for in fridge?

How long does a typical muffin last? If you keep your muffins in an airtight container, they should last for a week or two. If you keep them in the fridge, they'll last for four to five days. You can also freeze them for up to three months.

How do you store blueberry muffins in the fridge?

To store muffins up to 4 days, line an airtight container or zip-lock bag with paper towel and store the muffins in a single layer. Place another layer of paper towel on top of the muffins as well. They can be stored in a container without paper towel, but are more likely to become soggy the longer they're in there.

How do you store muffins for a week?

The Best Way to Store Muffins.
STEP ONE: Let the muffins cool completely on a wire rack..
STEP TWO: Line an airtight storage container with paper towels..
STEP THREE: Place muffins in the container, on top of the paper towels..
STEP FOUR: Place an additional paper towel layer on top of the muffins..