Every Halloween, your kids bring home piles of trick-or-treat candy. Unless you want them experiencing a non-stop sugar high until Thanksgiving, you might want to store some away for later. Read on for tips and tricks to make sure your treats stay tasty for weeks to come.
Storing away sweets is a great way to encourage moderation and ensure that Halloween candy lasts beyond a few weeks. But, how long does candy last? And, how can you make sure it stays fresh? These are some great tips for keeping Halloween candy alive long after ghosts and goblins have been laid to rest.
Shelf-life and Storage Suggestions
- Chocolate. Dark chocolate can be kept for 1 to 2 years if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark
and dry place. A pantry or basement is an ideal location. Milk and white chocolate have a more
limited storage time-no more than 8 to 10 months.
- Hard candy (lollipops, lifesavers, butterscotches). Hard candies can last up to a year when stored
at room temperature or in a cool, dry location.
- Jellied candies. If the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be kept in a covered candy
dish, away from heat and light at room temperature (about 70 degrees). Stored in this manner, the
candy should last six to nine months. If the packaging has not been opened, soft sweets will last
approximately 12 months.
- Candy corn. If the packaging has been opened, candy corn should be stored under the same
conditions as soft candies and will last approximately three to six months. Unopened, fresh
packages will last about 9 months.
- Gum. As long as the packaging remains sealed, most gum products have a shelf-life of six to nine
months. To maximize product freshness, keep chewing gum packages in a cool, dry place and out
of any direct sunlight.
- Caramel. Should be kept covered, away from heat and light at room temperature. Stored properly
should last six to nine months, even up to 12 months in some cases.
General Guidelines
- Protection in the pantry. While different types of candy have different storage requirements,
generally the pantry is a safe place to stash sweets. Airtight storage in a cool place will ensure a
longer shelf-life. A number of candies may be frozen as well.
- Wrap it up. Treats such as taffies, caramels and nougats should be protected from dampness
during storage. Before storing away, make sure these sweets are wrapped individually with
clear cellophane.
- Avoid moisture mixes. Do not mix candies that absorb moisture such as caramels, mints and
hard candies with candies that lose moisture such as fudge and creamy candies. Storing these
sweets in the same container will cause the harder candies to become sticky. To make sure that
hard candies stay hard, sprinkle with finely ground sugar and store in an air-tight jar.
- Cryonic candies. Freezing is a popular method for keeping candy over long periods of time.
However, not all sweets are suited for the freezer. While toffee and truffles can be frozen for up to
2 months, avoid freezing candy with fruits and nuts. Every Halloween, your kids bring home piles of trick-or-treat candy. Unless you want them experiencing a non-stop sugar high until Thanksgiving, you might want to store some away for later. Read on for tips and tricks to make sure your treats stay tasty for weeks to come.
Storing away sweets is a great way to encourage moderation and ensure that Halloween candy lasts beyond a few weeks. But, how long does candy last? And, how can you make sure it stays fresh? These are some great tips for keeping Halloween candy alive long after ghosts and goblins have been laid to rest.
Shelf-life and Storage Suggestions
- Chocolate. Dark chocolate can be kept for 1 to 2 years if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark
and dry place. A pantry or basement is an ideal location. Milk and white chocolate have a more
limited storage time—no more than 8 to 10 months.
- Hard candy (lollipops, lifesavers, butterscotches). Hard candies can last up to a year when stored
at room temperature or in a cool, dry location.
- Jellied candies. If the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be kept in a covered candy
dish, away from heat and light at room temperature (about 70 degrees). Stored in this manner, the
candy should last six to nine months. If the packaging has not been opened, soft sweets will last
approximately 12 months.
- Candy corn. If the packaging has been opened, candy corn should be stored under the same
conditions as soft candies and will last approximately three to six months. Unopened, fresh
packages will last about 9 months.
- Gum. As long as the packaging remains sealed, most gum products have a shelf-life of six to nine
months. To maximize product freshness, keep chewing gum packages in a cool, dry place and out
of any direct sunlight.
- Caramel. Should be kept covered, away from heat and light at room temperature. Stored properly
should last six to nine months, even up to 12 months in some cases.
General Guidelines
- Protection in the pantry. While different types of candy have different storage requirements,
generally the pantry is a safe place to stash sweets. Airtight storage in a cool place will ensure a
longer shelf-life. A number of candies may be frozen as well.
- Wrap it up. Treats such as taffies, caramels and nougats should be protected from dampness
during storage. Before storing away, make sure these sweets are wrapped individually with
clear cellophane.
- Avoid moisture mixes. Do not mix candies that absorb moisture such as caramels, mints and
hard candies with candies that lose moisture such as fudge and creamy candies. Storing these
sweets in the same container will cause the harder candies to become sticky. To make sure that
hard candies stay hard, sprinkle with finely ground sugar and store in an air-tight jar.
- Cryonic candies. Freezing is a popular method for keeping candy over long periods of time.
However, not all sweets are suited for the freezer. While toffee and truffles can be frozen for up to
2 months, avoid freezing candy with fruits and nuts.
See Also:
Freaky, Fun Facts about Halloween Candy
How to Throw a Festive Halloween Party for Kids and Adults
