Does Baklava Need To Be Refrigerated? 5 Interesting And Delicious Facts About Baklava

Last Updated on October 9, 2022

It is okay to sit and wonder ‘does baklava need to be refrigerated’ when you have a lot leftover! This delicious pastry and treat deserves to be cherished and enjoyed! The best part about this dish is how long it lasts. The flaky, thick, and crunchy texture stays for about 2-3 weeks.

By following this recipe post and informational blog, you will easily learn about the origins of Baklava and how to make it from the comfort of your home. Keep in mind that there are over a dozen variations as it is a common dish in Southern Europe and the Middle East.

What Is Baklava?

While most people think of Greece when you mention the word Baklava, this layered pastry has a long origin story with many countries and continents. Now, the most popularly known version is the Greek Baklava, which uses honey.

Baklava is a common dessert often enjoyed in the afternoons with either tea or coffee. It is a social snack that is made with various nuts as a filling including pistachio. With these nuts, there is a sweet honey glaze, although some countries use other sticky sauces in between.

It is not easy to describe Baklava because of its many versions. For example, in Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries, Baklava is made by rolling phyllo dough. Actually, the word ‘Baklava’ roughly translates to ‘packing’ or ‘wrapping’, which is done with the dough.

How To Make Baklava

Now that we have a better understanding of Baklava and its colorful origins, we can learn how to make it quickly at home. The process does not have to be complicated! First, you will need to find phyllo dough, which is the flaky pastry dough that is layered with this special dessert.

After you have this dough, cut a stack into identical squares in size. The filling is then made with a processor or blender. Simply add the desired nuts you would like as your filling, with a small amount of sugar! The sugar can be opted out too.

Now, onto the honey mixture used as a topping and as a filling. Bring a small pot to simmer on the stovetop. Then, add sugar, water, honey, orange peels, and cinnamon. Simmer and stir until the mixture is complete and there are no clumps.

After everything is prepared separately, in a glass container, you will need to  place the dough strips first. In thin layers, add the honey mixture as well as the nut filling, before gently pressing it and moving onto the next layer. End with a drizzle of sweet and cinnamon honey. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes.

Does Baklava Need To Be Refrigerated?

Now, onto an important question; Does baklava need to be refrigerated? While we are used to refrigerating all of our foods, the short answer to ‘Does baklava need to be refrigerated?’ is: no! This is actually not necessary! The honey sweet dessert is cooked thoroughly and made without the use of eggs. There is no risk when leaving it outside.

That being said though, while it is true that the answer to Does baklava need to be refrigerated, is no, that does not mean Baklava should not be protected. Using a Tupperware or glass container, with a lid, seal tightly the rest of the Baklava you have. You see, the fridge will add moisture to the flaky and crunchy Baklava, resulting in sogginess.

5 Interesting And Delicious Facts About Baklava

1. Has Origins In Persia

Although the debate is still ongoing about where this dish came from, we do know that there is a similar pastry in Persia! However, it is not exactly the same and similar pastry dishes are frequent throughout Europe and Asia.

2. The ancestor of a Strudel

Did you know that Baklava is the ancestry of a strudel? Yes, those delicious and favorite pastries filled with apples and fruits is closely related to Baklava. The flaky pastries have a lot in common!

3. November 17th is National Baklava Day

There are a lot of holidays to enjoy, worldwide, which is why I am happy to let you know that November 17th, every year, is national Baklava day. It is not the most well-known holiday, but the thought is appreciated. Who knows, maybe you will have luck and receive a free, fresh, and scrumptious Baklava at a bakery.

4. Every Other Country Uses Different Ingredients

Although Greece has popularized this sweet dessert, this does not mean that it is the only Baklava in existence. Actually, Greece is unique because there are 33 thin layers, which is related to a special number in Christianity with Christ and Jesus.

While this is the case, some countries don’t use the same method for layering. Instead, there are a few countries that make Baklava as a roll! The nuts and the ideas are the same, with cultural differences that make the dish unique to the area.

5. Origin is Technically Turkey?

There is a question mark on this fact because of how confusing it is! From what we know for sure, Turkey brought it to the Ottomans first. Then, this continued to spread throughout Europe and Asia. Turkey was the one to use the special dough though and sell it commonly. While this is true, there are many origins for this dessert.

Conclusion

Now that you know the answer to does baklava need to be refrigerated, we can make this dish on our own and preserve it as it should! Although it is easy and understandable to want to immediately add this sweet dessert in the fridge, it is actually unnecessary.

Instead, I recommend leaving Baklava in a storage container, closed and air tight, but outside. The colder temperatures inside of the fridge can cause the Baklava to become wet and soggy, which is not pleasant to eat. Have you learned the answer to: Does baklava need to be refrigerated? Got any comments for us?

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