Why You Should Be Freezing Your Pop-Tarts

There are a lot of sweets that many people insist must be stored in the freezer, from Reese’s peanut butter cups to Oreos. I also insist that Girl Scout cookies should always be kept frozen. It just makes them better. These treats are not intended to be kept in the freezer—experimental customers have just decided that they should be.

But there is one sweet treat that actually is designed to be kept in the freezer. It’s one that you probably don’t expect: The Pop-Tart.

Should You Freeze Your Pop-Tarts?

If there is anything that belongs in a toaster, it’s a Pop-Tart. They were literally invented to go in a toaster and pop out as a ready-to-go, delicious breakfast pastry in only a couple of minutes. Warm, toasty goodness is what makes a Pop-Tart a Pop-Tart. Right?

Don’t be so sure. Not only do many fans of the treat choose to enjoy the treat frozen, but Kellogg’s itself lists freezing Pop-Tarts as one of the recommended methods of preparation.

Check the side of a Pop-Tart box, and, along with instructions for how to toast or microwave Pop-Tarts, you also will find instructions on how to prep them for frosty enjoyment. Information on the three recommended ways to eat a Pop-Tart is also on the Pop-Tarts website. The company’s recommendation is to place your Pop-Tarts in the freezer for 20 minutes before enjoying them. This time frame is likely to keep the Pop-Tarts from getting too hard to eat, but just cold enough that the filling inside gets a little chilly.

While 20 minutes might be the ideal time frame for frozen Pop-Tarts, the biggest advantage to storing them in the freezer is that you don’t have to put in any extra prep time when you are running out the door. While a toasted Pop-Tart is perfection, especially when you add a little bit of butter, sometimes there isn’t the time. Or maybe you are just looking for a way to switch up how you enjoy the nostalgic treat. Regardless of your reasoning, an overnight freeze might be the answer. 

Which Pop-Tarts Flavors Are Best Frozen?

The recommendation to freeze Pop-Tarts has been on the side of the box all along without most of us noticing. While this is confirmation that the treat can be eaten frozen, we still don’t have any guidelines from the company on which flavors are best frozen. Looks like this is something we are going to need to figure out on our own. 

Fans of the treat on Reddit, however, have tossed around some recommendations about which Pop-Tarts are best kept cold. For one user, the S’mores flavor is “heaven” when frozen and eaten on a hot day. Others recommend the fruit flavors because they get “jammy and chewy” while the “sugary sweetness” is dulled a little bit. 

A Pop-Tart is a Pop-Tart, so while I can bet some flavors freeze better than others, the treat will still be delicious no matter what. The only Pop-Tart I’d say shouldn’t be frozen is this extra-large version of the toaster pastry. While it probably would be delicious frozen, too, you’d have to find a freezer big enough to fit it.