Inevitably, some of your children collected much more Halloween candy than you expected. So how long will it last? No, we’re not talking about how quickly will it be gobbled up. Instead, what’s its shelf life?
Bottom line: You will have plenty of time to eat it, if it’s in its original wrapper.
The National Confectioners Association offers tips for storage and has general shelf-life guidelines.
3 to 6 Months
Candy corn that is opened will last three to six months, provided you store in away from heat and light, and keep it at room temperature, roughly 70 degrees.
6 to 9 Months
Gum, provided you haven’t opened the package, will keep six to nine months. Tip: Store it out of sunlight in a cool, dry spot.
Caramel keeps six to nine months. It needs to be at room temperature and away from heat.
Soft candies, like jellied ones, will last six to nine months, if the packaging is opened and not near heat. They’ll last a year, if they have not been opened.
8 to 10 Months
Milk chocolate and white chocolate won’t keep as long as dark chocolate because the fats oxidize when they are exposed to oxygen. That’s why those chocolates taste off or stale.
1 Year
Hard candies are good for a year. Keep them in a cool, dry location.
1 to 2 Years
Dark chocolate will last a year, if you keep in foil and somewhere dark, cool, and dry. The higher the cocoa content, the longer it will last.
Other Tips
The National Confectioners Association suggest keeping candy in airtight storage containers in a pantry.
When candy starts to smell or look weird, it’s time for it to hit the trash.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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