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.
Ready to bake scones? Findour favorite scone recipes andour best scone mixes.
Cover photo (Chocolate Chunk Scones) by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Liz Neily.
