Can Meringue Be Refrigerated? Make sure they are stored correctly

In 1720, a Swiss chef invented what would soon become one of the most famous French desserts in the whole world. The deliciousness of meringue is related to its simplicity, as it’s made of two main ingredients; egg whites and sugar. The heavenly lightweight dessert is enjoyed on its own or added on top of fruit, cake, cookies, or any other dessert.

But can meringue be refrigerated? How long can it last outside and inside the fridge? And most importantly, how do you know that your meringue is no longer safe to eat?

We’ll answer all the questions in our article, so keep reading.

Can Meringue Be Refrigerated?

Yes, meringue can be refrigerated, but determining how long it will last depends on its type. Moreover, you should remember that the fridge is humid, so you must store it correctly.

French Meringue

French meringue is best served fresh, especially if it’s uncooked. Using uncooked meringue immediately is recommended.

However, if you need to store it, you must keep it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Yet, the egg whites might deflate, and your meringue won’t look or taste the time.

You shouldn’t leave raw meringue outside the fridge, especially in warm weather, because it will spoil. In addition, raw eggs might cause a foodborne bacterial infection, with the symptoms usually appearing within one to three days after consuming the bad meringue.

Cooked French meringue can last up to two weeks at room temperature if stored in an airtight container. It can even last for three weeks in the fridge.

The process of baking meringue removes the moisture, so it becomes stable. Ideally, you should store cooked meringue to seal the container to prevent moisture from deflating it and affecting its crispiness.

Before putting the meringue in a container, let it cool off completely. Then, cover the container with plastic wrap to keep it in the best shape.

Italian and Swiss Meringue

Italian and Swiss meringue are different and are more stable than traditional French meringue, so they can last a little longer. In addition, Italian meringue uses hot sugar syrup instead of sugar, so the egg whites are slightly cooked and not totally raw.

As a result, Italian meringue is stiff because the syrup hardens when it becomes cold. Moreover, Italian meringue is fluffier and smoother because it doesn’t contain sugar grains.

Cooking swiss meringue involves combining sugar and egg whites to cook them in a double boiler. So it’s more stable and stiffer.

Both types can last in the fridge for up to five days before baking. However, if you bake your meringue, it can last for up to two weeks in the fridge. So again, it’s essential to ensure it stays dry and isn’t exposed to any moisture.

Store-Bought Meringue

Store-bought meringue contains food preservatives, so it will last a lot longer. If you keep it in a dry and sealed container, it will last for a year.

How Do You Know That Meringue Has Gone Bad?

The best way to determine that your meringue has gone rotten or spoiled is to look at it. If you see signs of mold in your uncooked meringue, it probably contains water that causes it to spoil. Deflated meringue that smells bad is definitely unsafe to consume.

Determining that hard and cooked meringue has gone bad can be more challenging. So, you might need to taste it to see if it’s still good.

The telltale sign of fresh meringue is its crispiness. So, if your meringue tastes stale, has a soft texture, or doesn’t smell nice, then you shouldn’t eat it. The spoiled meringue will taste rancid, bitter, or chewy and won’t have the delicious cloud-like texture that melts in your mouth.

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Wrap Up

Meringue can be refrigerated, but determining how long it lasts depends on the type of meringue you have. Uncooked French is the least stable type and can last only a day in the fridge. However, it’s best to consume it fresh because it will quickly deflate.

Cooked French, Italian, and Swiss meringue are more stable and can last longer. However, if your meringue shows mold, smells bad, or doesn’t taste fluffy and sweet, it’s time to discard it.