As a kid, I used to have a designated dresser drawer in my room where I would store my Halloween candy. I would try to make it last as long as possible. After several years of this practice, my experience told me to eat my favorite pieces first because some candy just didn’t taste good after a while. What I didn’t know at the time was that candy has a shelf life.
Shelf life is the length of time a product may be stored without becoming unsuitable for use or consumption.
This shelf life for candy can range between two weeks to a year. The length of time depends on the type of candy, along with correct packaging and the proper storage conditions.
Chocolate has a shelf life, but it doesn’t go from good to bad very quickly. Most milk chocolates last from six to nine months and dark chocolate at least a year, sometimes more. Chocolate may “bloom” (turn gray) but this just means that it may not be at its best anymore, but it can still be eaten safely.
Candy that is coated in chocolate generally has a shorter shelf life because of what the center is made from. Chocolate-covered nuts, caramels or fruit fillings will oxidize or go rancid faster than a bar of strictly chocolate. These candies can get grainy, change in color, and acquire off-flavors and after-tastes.
A good rule of thumb is the softer the candy, the shorter its shelf life.
Looking back, storing candy in my bedroom dresser drawer wasn’t the best way to keep chocolate. The dresser was located next to the radiator (anyone remember radiating heat?), exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations. Loose in a drawer also exposed it to too much air.
Storing chocolate at a constant 65 to 68 F and keeping it in an air tight container is the best way to keep that Halloween, or any of your favorite candy, good to eat for a long time.
