Candy Storage Tips (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to store candy? ›

Protect Candy in the Pantry.

While different types of candy have different storage requirements, the pantry is generally a safe place to stash sweets. Airtight storage in a cool place will ensure a longer shelf-life. Some treats may also be frozen.

As paper bags breathe more than plastic, the sweets are always 'double-bagged' to aid longevity of the sweets. If the bags are kept closed, they should be great for about 3 weeks once made, although the expiry date of the contents is much longer than this!

Upper end on lifespan for the most persevering candies is two years, but most are about 6 months.

Silica Packets

If you've ever bought new shoes or electrical products, you'll notice a small packet in the container. Silica packets are designed to absorb moisture, which protects items from water damage. You can use them in your boiled sweet packaging to stop them from sticking together.

Hard candy like lollipops can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location. Gummies last for six to nine months from the date of purchase. Soft candies like caramel and jelly beans last six to nine months if the package has been opened and left at room temperature.

Hard candies can last up to one year if they're stored in a cool, dry place away from humidity and heat. To keep hard candies from absorbing moisture from the air and other nearby treats, sprinkle them with finely ground sugar before stashing them in an airtight glass jar.

Hard candies essentially have an indefinite shelf life, provided they are stored properly. Items like lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, and other individually wrapped candies do best without exposure to moisture.

“In the case of most commercially processed foods, it's contamination during processing and packaging that leads to foodborne illness, not the age of the food. So, even after some time passes, candy should be safe to eat as long as it was properly handled and it remains unopened prior to eating.”

"Light and heat will oxidize and causes rancid flavors, and those are the things that can affect, especially chocolates and candies, the most [in storage]," she said. "The cooler the temperature, the longer those ingredients are going to stay good tasting. ...

Boil Water in the Pot

By the time the water starts to bubble, it will have removed most of the hardened candy from around the sides of the pot. If there's anything else left around the edges, it will be half melted, soft and pliable enough to scrape off with the back of a spoon or spatula.

Why is my homemade candy sticky? ›

Why is my hard candy soft and sticky? The simple answer is that there is too much moisture in your candy. One or more factors could be contributing to this problem. In hard candy making, it is important to cook all the water out of the sugar/corn syrup/water mixture.

For storage, keep hard candy at room temperature, in a dry place – never in the refrigerator. Properly kept, candy should last for weeks.

We recommend consuming your sweets within 6 months and within 4 weeks once opened.

Always store candy wafers in cool, dry places, and in a container that is airtight. Plastic bags, food storage containers, and glass jars will all do the trick. The cupboard is a safe place where wafers will not be exposed to too much heat, light, or moisture.

The best place to store chocolate is in a cool, dry, and dark environment, like a pantry or cupboard. You'll want to store it away from heat, moisture, and light. Chocolate thrives at room temperature and low humidity levels, ideally between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and less than 55 percent humidity.