How to keep macarons at their best.

The short version

Sealed container, always. About three days at room temperature, up to five in the fridge. Take them out 20 minutes before you serve them.

Why sealed matters more than cold

A macaron is a meringue shell around a soft filling, and the thing that ruins it is air, not warmth. Left open, the shell goes from crisp-then-chewy to simply stale within a day.

A sealed container at room temperature will keep a macaron better than an open plate in a fridge.

When to refrigerate

Refrigerate if you need more than three days, or if the room is genuinely hot. The cold firms the filling, which is why the 20 minutes out of the fridge matters — served straight from cold, the filling is stiff and the flavor is muted.

Do not refrigerate uncovered. A fridge is dry and full of other smells, and a macaron will take on both.

Freezing

Macarons freeze better than most baked goods. Seal them in an airtight container, freeze for up to a month, and thaw still sealed in the fridge overnight, then bring to room temperature before opening. Opening the container while it is cold puts condensation on the shells.

Getting a delivery early

If your event is on a Saturday, taking delivery on Friday is usually the safer plan. Sealed at room temperature they will be at their best the next day, and you are not depending on a delivery arriving during the morning you are busiest.