Quick Answer
It’s best not to refrigerate croissants. Keeping them at room temperature will help preserve their flaky texture. However, you can refrigerate croissants for 1-2 days if needed. Be sure to allow refrigerated croissants to come fully to room temperature before baking or eating to prevent doughiness.
The Effect of Refrigeration on Croissant Texture
The layered, flaky texture of a croissant comes from the process of lamination. This is where the dough is folded over itself multiple times to create dozens of paper-thin layers. When the croissant bakes, the moisture in between the layers turns to steam, causing them to separate and form the signature flaky layers.
Refrigerating croissants can negatively impact this delicate texture in a few ways:
- The cold temperature causes the butter to become firm and stiff. This prevents the dough layers from separating properly during baking.
- Condensation forms on the outside of refrigerated croissants. This makes the outer dough layers soggy.
- The yeast is less active at colder temperatures. This inhibits the croissant from rising fully when baked.
The result is a croissant with fewer crispy flakes and denser, doughy spots.
How Long Can Croissants Be Refrigerated?
Freshly baked croissants are best consumed within 12 hours while the interior is still soft and layers are crisp.
However, raw unbaked croissants can be kept refrigerated for 1-2 days before quality is impacted. Any longer than that and the texture tends to suffer.
Here are some guidelines for refrigerating croissants:
- Store croissants in an airtight container or bag to prevent drying out.
- Allow refrigerated croissants to come fully to room temperature before baking or eating.
- Refresh with a short bake (2-3 minutes) if croissants lose any crispness after refrigerating.
- Do not refrigerate croissants that have already been baked.
While you can extend the shelf life of raw croissants by refrigerating, it comes at the cost of some textural quality. For the best results, baked fresh and consume within a day.
Optimal Storage for Croissants
Instead of refrigerating croissants, the ideal storage is at room temperature. Here’s a look at how to best store croissants:
Unbaked Croissants
- Leave croissants loosely covered on the counter overnight after shaping.
- This allows them to slowly proof and develop flavor.
- After overnight proof, wrap tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap or place in an airtight container.
- Store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Baked Croissants
- Let baked croissants cool completely before storage.
- Place in an airtight container or bag.
- Store at room temperature and consume within 12 hours.
The bottom line is to avoid refrigeration if you want croissants with the perfect tender, flaky texture. Letting them proof slowly at room temperature makes all the difference.
Freezing Croissants
While refrigerating croissants isn’t ideal, properly freezing them can extend their shelf life without sacrificing too much quality. Here’s how to freeze croissants:
Unbaked Croissants
- Allow shaped, unbaked croissants to proof at room temperature for 1-2 hours first.
- Freeze croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper until solid, about 2 hours.
- Transfer frozen croissants to an airtight freezer bag or container.
- Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
Baked Croissants
- Allow baked croissants to cool fully, then place in freezer bags or airtight containers.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To serve, thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
- Refresh in oven for 2-3 minutes to recrisp if needed.
Freezing prevents the condensation issue caused by refrigerating, so it has less impact on texture. Thaw croissants fully before eating for best results.
How To Restore Refrigerated Croissants
If you do end up refrigerating croissants, don’t panic. There are a few tricks to reverse the damaging effects:
- Let come completely to room temperature. This allows the butter to soften and become pliable again before baking.
- Mist with water and rebake for 2-3 minutes. Adds moisture back to the dough’s outer layers and recrisps them.
- Bake directly from fridge. The initial blast of heat firms up the chilled butter layers before they completely thaw.
While refrigerated croissants won’t be quite as flaky, they can still taste delicious if revived properly before eating.
The Best Way to Thaw Croissants
If you went the recommended route and froze your croissants, thawing them correctly is important for preserving texture. Here are tips:
- For unbaked croissants, move frozen croissants to the refrigerator. Allow them to thaw slowly overnight before baking.
- For baked croissants, leave them wrapped at room temperature for 1-2 hours until thawed.
- Do not thaw croissants on the counter or in hot water. This leads to uneven thawing and condensation.
- Allow thawed croissants to fully come to room temperature before serving.
Gradual thawing helps prevent moisture loss and keeps the interior soft. Avoid quick thawing methods to get the best results.
Common Questions About Refrigerating Croissants
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about storing croissants in the fridge:
Can you refrigerate pre-made croissant dough?
Yes, storing prepared croissant dough in the refrigerator can extend the shelf life for 3-5 days. Make sure to allow refrigerated dough to rest at room temperature for 1-2 hours before shaping and baking. The butter needs time to warm up and become pliable again.
Should you refrigerate croissants after baking?
It’s best not to refrigerate croissants after they have already been baked, as this can cause them to lose their crispness. Baked croissants are best stored at room temperature and consumed within 12 hours for optimal freshness and texture.
How can you revive stale croissants?
If croissants go slightly stale from refrigeration or sitting out too long, you can revive them with a short bake. Mist the croissants lightly with water first, then bake at 350°F for 2-3 minutes until recrisped on the outside. Let cool before serving.
Can you freeze baked croissants?
Yes, fully baked and cooled croissants can be frozen in airtight bags or containers for up to 3 months. Thaw completely at room temperature before serving and refresh in the oven for a few minutes if needed. Freezing maintains texture better than refrigerating.
The Bottom Line
In most cases, refrigerating croissants is not the best idea if you want to preserve that signature flaky texture. Room temperature storage is ideal for both raw and baked croissants. Freezing allows you to extend shelf life without sacrificing as much quality.
If you do end up refrigerating your croissants, revive them fully at room temperature and use tricks like misting and rebaking to restore some crispness. With proper handling, refrigerated croissants can still taste delicious despite not being quite as flaky.