Can You Freeze Turkey Pot Pie? The Ultimate Guide to Freezing and Reheating Leftover Pot Pie

Turkey pot pie is the perfect way to use up leftover turkey after the holidays With tender turkey, vegetables, and a creamy sauce tucked into a flaky pie crust, it’s a delicious and comforting meal. But can you safely freeze turkey pot pie to enjoy later? The answer is yes!

Freezing pot pie is an easy way to get more mileage out of your effort. Whether you prepare individual pot pies or a large casserole, the freezer can help this dish last for months Here is a complete guide to freezing and reheating turkey pot pie.

Is It Safe to Freeze Turkey Pot Pie?

Turkey pot pie is perfectly safe to freeze, both before and after baking. The turkey, vegetables, thickened cream sauce, and pie crust all hold up well in the freezer.

Freezing cooked turkey pot pie allows you to:

• Make ahead when you have time and bake later
• Prep individual portions to grab and reheat anytime
• Stock up on leftovers while turkey and produce are plentiful

Freezing unbaked pot pie lets you:

• Assemble pies in advance to bake as needed
• Customize fillings and crusts depending on who will eat what

Either way, frozen turkey pot pie makes for an easy, hearty meal down the road.

How to Freeze Unbaked Turkey Pot Pie

To freeze unbaked pot pie, first prepare the filling and pour it into your pie dish. Let cool completely, then top with your pie crust.

Next, follow these steps:

• Trim excess dough from the edges for a better fit.
• Seal the crust to the edge of the dish with the tines of a fork.
• Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.
• Wrap the entire pie dish tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. This prevents freezer burn.
• Label the package with contents and freeze date.
• Freeze for up to 3 months.

When ready to bake, unwrap the frozen pot pie and bake straight from the freezer. Add 15-20 extra minutes to the recommended baking time. Watch closely near the end to prevent overbrowning.

Let the baked pot pie rest 10 minutes before slicing to allow the filling to set. Enjoy your fresh, homemade pot pie!

How to Freeze Baked Turkey Pot Pie

Freezing fully cooked turkey pot pie helps you make multiple pies while you have the ingredients. Here’s how:

• Let baked pies cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Cut into individual portions if desired. This makes reheating easier.
• Place servings in freezer bags or airtight containers. Remove as much air as possible.
• Label with contents and freeze date.
• Freeze up to 3 months.

Frozen leftover turkey pot pie keeps well in the freezer. But for the best flavor and texture, enjoy within 1-2 months.

Tips for Freezing Turkey Pot Pie

Follow these tips for the best results freezing turkey pot pie:

• Use high-quality, fresh ingredients when preparing the filling. This gives you better flavor when reheating later.

• Underfill your pie crust slightly. Filling expands when frozen. Too much can cause overflow when baking.

• Cool pot pies completely before freezing. This prevents excess moisture that can compromise the crust.

• Double wrap pies in plastic and foil. This prevents freezer burn which can cause off-flavors.

• Portion into individual servings before freezing, if desired. This makes quick microwaved lunches or dinners easy.

• Avoid overbaking frozen pot pies. Watch them closely as they bake and cover with foil if browning too quickly.

How to Thaw Frozen Turkey Pot Pie

You have options when it comes to thawing your frozen turkey pot pie! Choose the method that fits your schedule:

• Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. This is the safest method and helps preserve texture. Place frozen pot pie on a tray to catch any drips as it thaws over 12-24 hours.

• Thaw in the microwave. Unwrap your frozen pot pie and microwave on 50% power, checking often. This takes around 15-20 minutes depending on your microwave. Be careful of hot spots.

• Thaw at room temperature. Allow 1-2 hours for smaller individual pot pies to thaw on the counter. Only thaw larger casserole dishes for 1 hour before transferring to the fridge to finish thawing.

• Bake frozen. For unbaked pot pies, you can skip thawing and bake straight from the freezer. Just extend cooking time.

Once thawed, baked turkey pot pie can be reheated in the oven or microwave until heated through.

How to Reheat Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

To reheat leftover frozen pot pie, follow these simple steps:

Oven:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place thawed pot pie leftovers in an oven-safe dish.
• Cover with foil. This helps retain moisture.
• Bake 20-25 minutes until hot and bubbly.
• Remove foil last 5 minutes if you want a browned, crispy top.

Microwave:

• Transfer thawed turkey pot pie to a microwave-safe dish.
• Cover with a damp paper towel or vented plastic wrap.
• Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until hot throughout.
• Take care not to overheat or drying will occur.
• Let rest 2 minutes before serving.

The great thing about leftover turkey pot pie is you can reheat just what you need. Bake or microwave single portions for quick meals anytime.

Alternative Methods for Freezing Turkey Pot Pie

In addition to freezing whole pies, you can also freeze pot pie fillings in handy ways:

• Portion fillings into muffin tins, top with dough rounds, freeze, pop out and store in a bag.
• Spoon filling into freezer bags, lay flat to freeze. Reheat in saucepan or bake into crust.
• Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full, top with second liner, freeze, remove and store.

These methods allow you to combine various fillings and crusts to please every diner. You can grab just what you need from the freezer for an instant meal.

Can You Refreeze Turkey Pot Pie?

It is not recommended to refreeze turkey pot pie after reheating. Refreezing can lead to food safety issues.

However, you can safely freeze reheated leftovers in the following cases:

• Unbaked, thawed pot pie can be baked, cooled, and frozen again.
• Cooked, thawed leftovers can be incorporated into a new pot pie or casserole and frozen.

The key is to not let the fillings sit at room temperature for extended periods between initial thaw, reheating, and refreeze.

Storing and Reheating Dos and Don’ts

Follow these dos and don’ts for safely freezing and reheating turkey pot pie:

Do:

• Cool pie completely before wrapping for freezer.
• Allow thawed pie to fully reheat before eating.
• Discard pie if left at room temperature over 2 hours once thawed.

Don’t:

• Leave unbaked or baked pot pie at room temperature over 2 hours before freezing.
• Freeze pie in just foil or plastic wrap alone. Use both to prevent freezer burn.
• Microwave frozen pot pie without unwrapping from foil. This can spark.
• Refreeze thawed turkey pie fillings more than once.

Enjoy Your Delicious Homemade Turkey Pot Pie!

With proper freezing techniques, you can enjoy flaky, savory turkey pot pie for months after preparing it. Freezing and reheating doesn’t need to be complicated.

Make multiple pot pies while you have leftover turkey from a holiday meal. Freeze them to bake when ready for a quick family dinner later. Or bake up a batch and freeze individual portions for fast lunches.

Either way, frozen turkey pot pie makes using up leftovers delicious. Follow these simple guidelines for safely freezing and reheating. Then relax knowing you have ready-to-eat, homemade pot pie waiting conveniently in your freezer.