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When youre cooking a large meal like Thanksgiving dinner, its important to prepare elements ahead of time so youre not stuck in the kitchen all day while missing out on the company of friends and family. Thanksgiving pies can definitely be prepared ahead of time, but how far in advance? And should they sit out at room temperature, or be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer?

We spoke to food safety experts and a professional baker about the best storage practices to help keep you safe from foodborne illnesses and preserve the quality of your home-baked pies. Heres what you should know.

Pie crusts and certain types of pie can be frozen.

Most fruit pies

Fruit pies can be stored safely for 3-4 days in a refrigerator but up to 1-2 months (after baking) in a freezer, Tamika Sims, director of food technology communications at the International Food Information Council Foundation , told HuffPost.

Pumpkin and pecan pies

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach notes that while pumpkin and pecan pies can be frozen for up to two months, their fillings may separate and their crusts can get soggy.

But dont even think about freezing a custard pie. Pies that have custard or chiffon should not be frozen, but can be stored for 3-4 days in a fridge, Sims said.

The thing with pie is its really best when its fresh, however as a chef I always recommend [making] your dessert [before the rest of the meal], Tracy Wilk, lead chef and recipe editor for the recreational program at the Institute of Culinary Education , told HuffPost. As making pie dough is the most time-intensive step of the pie-making process, she recommends making it in advance and putting it in the freezer (or even better, rolling the dough out and placing it in a freezer-safe pie plate) ahead of time. That way, you can make your pie filling the day of Thanksgiving, drop it into the dough (from frozen or defrosted overnight in the refrigerator) and bake it fresh on Thanksgiving Day.