Chocolate is a great treat for both kids and adults. But do you know how long it can last, or whether it expires at all? If not, this article will give you all the basic information about chocolate that you need. Answer to this questions depends on the kind of chocolate. As a rule of thumb you should remember that dark chocolate lasts longer than milk or white one. As long as the package of the chocolate bar is unopened, dark chocolate should be fine for at least two years, white and milk ones for a year.
Once the package is opened, dark chocolate should be of great quality for a year, white and milk ones for maybe months. Sorry, white- and milk-chocolate lovers. Semi-sweet, bittersweet and dark chocolates have a better chance of surviving a long stint in the pantry. Here are some guidelines for a few popular types:.
The quality of the chocolate also has a lot to do with its lifespan. High-quality chocolate can even improve with age, just like wine. Sugar bloom, on the other hand, can have a grainy or powdery texture and off taste.
Also keep in mind that chocolate with ingredients like nuts or fruit can be more susceptible to expiration.
Use your best judgment before indulging. A consistent cool temperature is most important; taking the chocolate from hot to cold or vice versa is a recipe for condensation and mold. A cool, dark spot in the pantry works just fine. Keep your sweets out of the fridge unless you live in a really hot or humid environment. And leave it in its original packaging; most chocolate is packed in aluminum or opaque wrapping, which fights oxidation and moisture.
Just refrigerate it for 24 hours first to keep the crystallization process from happening too quickly in the freezer. To thaw, move it to the freezer for 24 hours, then let it come down to room temperature on the counter. But all in all, unless it smells off, has serious discoloration or any mold, go for it. Bloom be damned.
This Will Be the Amazon Coat of Does Hand Sanitizer Work? We Ask Hamptons Chicago San Francisco. Connect With Us. Are you sure you want to remove this item from your Recipe Box? Create a Password Forgot your password? Many sources advise against keeping chocolate in the fridge, as it will attract moisture and spoil. You can easily counteract that by putting the bar in a freezer bag. Plus hardly anyone ever needs to store chocolate for a year or so.
Chocolate usually lasts for a few months past its date. Dark chocolate retains quality for the longest, even up to a year past the date on the label. Milk chocolate is second with up to six months, and white chocolate third with only a couple of months. When it comes to various chocolate products, such as chocolates, candy bars like Kit Kat or Twix, and others, their shelf life depends on ingredients other than chocolate.
Chocolate, just like chocolate syrup , comes with a best-by or best-before date. That date informs you of how long, approximately , the product should retain freshness. That date is only a rough estimate, and chocolate most often lasts much longer.
As I already mentioned, dark chocolate lasts much longer than milk or white chocolate. That means dark chocolate has a longer best-by date, but it also stays okay longer past its date than the other two. Chocolate contains little to no water, and the flavonoids protect the fats from oxidation. Because of that, chocolate is not prone to spoiling.
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