Scones are a welcome treat any time of day, whether you’re enjoying them first thing in the morning or as an afternoon snack. But we can’t always bake them immediately before eating, and they can quickly become dry and stale. So how long do scones last? And how can you enjoy a fresh scone days later?
How long do scones last?
Unfortunately, not very long! Scones are best the day they’re baked. As days go by, they quickly dry out, becoming stale, crumbly, and tough. That’s why proper storage is key to extending their shelf life; stored correctly, they’ll last for several days. And if they do start to go stale, you can take a few minutes to get them back to something close to fresh baked.
How to store scones
First, make sure your scones are completely cool. Wrapping them while warm can trap steam, causing the exterior to soften unpleasantly. Once cool, wrap them tightly and store at room temperature for up to several days. (These Bee’s Wrap reusable wraps are a great sustainable solution if you’re looking to avoid single-use plastic wrap.) For extra insurance, you can place the wrapped scones in an airtight container or a zip-top bag. (If your scones have a glaze on them, the same advice applies.)
Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Liz Neily
How to reheat scones
If you want to restore days-old scones to their fresh-baked glory, a quick reheat does the trick:To reheat scones, bake them for 5 to 10 minutes in a preheated 350°F oven. Tent them with aluminum foil to prevent them from browning too much.
You can also reheat them very briefly in the microwave. Microwave in 15-secondbursts until they are warm and soft. Note, they won’t regain their crispy, just-baked exterior, but this step restores some tenderness.
Want to make scones ahead of time? Chill or freeze them.
If you want to make scones ahead (but don’t want them to become stale), we suggest prepping your scone dough ahead of time and then either chilling it in the fridge or freezing it, depending on when you plan to bake them.
If you plan to bake scones within three days:Shape the scone dough into a 3/4"-thick disk, wrap in plastic or a reusable wrap, and refrigerate until ready to cut and bake.Cut into desired shapes and bake according to the recipe instructions.
Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Liz Neily
If you plan to bake scones more than three days later:Simply mix your dough, then shape it according to the recipe instructions — squares, circles, triangles, drop scones, all will work here. Place the shaped scones on a parchment-lined baking sheet; they can be close together but shouldn’t be touching. Let freeze until firm. Once they’ve frozen solid, you can place in an airtight, freezer-safe container and store them for future baking. Make sure to label and date them so you don’t lose track! They’ll keep, frozen, for up to three weeks.
Once ready to bake, place the frozen scones on a baking sheet and bake directly from the freezer, adding 5 to 10 extra minutesto the bake time listed in the recipe.Learn more here: How to freeze scones and bake them later.
Home-made scones generally last 1-2 days stored in an airtight container and placed in a kitchen cupboard or larder. Any longer and they can become a bit dry. If storing scones in the fridge they will last for about a week.
Home-made scones generally last 1-2 days stored in an airtight container and placed in a kitchen cupboard or larder. Any longer and they can become a bit dry. If storing scones in the fridge they will last for about a week.
Fresh scones are excellent, but they can be kind of a pain to store properly. If you throw them in the refrigerator, they usually get really mushy and won't taste very good when you reheat them. This is because the moisture in the scones can't escape, which causes the scones to get thick and doughy.
Scones need to go into a preheated oven. The baking time is short and they need to start baking immediately. 6. When you take your scones out of the oven, transfer them to a cooling rack to prevent 'soggy bottoms'.
What's the best way to re-heat scones? If you want to eat them warm place in an oven preheated to 150c/300F for 5 to 10 minutes. You can also reheat them in a microwave if you prefer. Once defrosted put them in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds on high.
Remove and set aside to cool. Scones are best served fresh from the oven, just a touch warm, but these also last quite well, they'll be soft for 2-3 days after baking. Just make sure they're stored in an airtight container. To serve you just need two things clotted cream and jam.
Don't overbake! If you bake scones too long, they'll dry out, so keep an eye on them through the oven window. (Don't open the oven to look — it'll let out the heat.) “Bake your scones until they are just golden brown,” Bethany recommends.
Scones really are best when they are fresh and warm from the oven. Follow this tip: Bake scones right before you plan to enjoy them. If you'd like to get ahead, you can make and shape the dough into scones ahead of time and leave them in the fridge overnight.
But now we've found that resting the dough overnight has another benefit: It makes for more symmetrical and attractive pastries. Rested dough is far easier to shape cleanly than unrefrigerated dough is, and it bakes up noticeably taller, smoother, and with crispier edges.
Proper storage ensures your scones maintain their soft texture and delicious flavor. For fresh-baked scones, allow them to cool completely at room temperature. Then, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container. This prevents staleness and preserves freshness for up to 1-2 days.
What is the best way to reheat scones? Put the scones in the microwave with a small glass of water, as the water will put moisture back into the scones without leaving them dry.
Once cool, wrap them tightly and store at room temperature for up to several days. (These Bee's Wrap reusable wraps are a great sustainable solution if you're looking to avoid single-use plastic wrap.) For extra insurance, you can place the wrapped scones in an airtight container or a zip-top bag.
The best way to keep scones fresh is to put them in the fridge; they'll keep for 2-3 months. But as you're asking for a way without using the fridge, you can simply store the scones in the pantry, covered in foil or plastic wrap so they won't dry out. It'll only last for about 2 days though.
Allow them to cool to room temperature. (Freezing warm scones will affect the texture.) Place them in a single layer in an airtight container and freeze. Note that if the scones are touching in the bag or container they will stick together when frozen.
Without this leavening agent, scones can become dense and heavy. However, you can opt for plain flour and add the appropriate amount of baking powder to your mix. This method allows you to control the amount of lift in your scones without compromising flavour, resulting in a well-balanced and delicious final product.
Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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