Does candy expire?
If so, is there any preventative measures I can take to prevent candy from expiring?
I'm curious because Halloween candy after two years tends to look a little...off, and I'm not sure if it's safe to give it back out this Halloween. Since there's no noticeable expiration date on candy packages, is it safe to assume that they don't expire?
Same goes for homemade candy, does it expire too?
I want to know for the majority of chocolate-based candies, rock-sugar candy (jolly ranchers, etc) whether or not they expire
Best Answer
Hard candy (I think called boiled candy in England), such as lollipops or star mints is essentially pure sugar, with some color and flavor added. This type of candy will last essentially forever, if kept absolutely dry. There may be some degradation to the color or flavorings after six months or so, but the candy itself will last indefinitely. If moisture can get to it--even summer humidity--it can soften, become sticky, clump together, and otherwise become unappetizing.
Chocolate has a fairly long shelf life, especially dark chocolate. Under proper conditions, it can last for several years. The mix ins or other components of a confection may limit its shelf life:
- Nuts may go rancid after a year or two
- Nougat may dry out and get rock hard, or if it is humid, spoil
- Caramel may get very hard
One manufacturer suggests a shelf life of 6 months for its candy bars, which is probably a reasonable estimate for good quality.
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Quick Answer about "Does candy expire?"
Does Candy Expire? Yep, candy does expire, but the good news is that most types of candy keep well for six months or more. Also, in general, the quality will decline before the candy truly expires or becomes unsafe. Most candies have low moisture content paired with high levels of sugar, which is a preservative.Is it safe to eat expired candy?
Most candies do have expiration dates, but like most foods, these dates serve more as guidelines for when to consume them. It's generally fine to eat candy past its expiration date, though the quality and texture does decline after a certain point.How long is expired candy good for?
"Shelf life can vary anywhere from two weeks to a year." She and professor of food science Fadi Aramouni suggest that if a candy appears extremely sticky or has a grainy texture, then it has most likely expired due to temperature changes and the crystallization of sugar.Can you eat chocolate 2 years out of date?
Best before dates for dark chocolate products tend to be over 2 years, and you can normally eat the chocolate for up to 3 years past this if stored properly. Most resources state that milk chocolate can last approximately 1 year, but take this with a pinch of salt.Does Candy Spoil?
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Answer 2
Hard candy if kept dry and within a reasonable amount of years should stay good. I'm not saying that you should re-give old candy as in butterfingers or hershy chocolate. It might get crumby and taste foul so before you give it to kids and their parents say you poisoned it and you get arrested for drugging the candy i'd buy new non gone bad candy.
Answer 3
This may not answer the question in the title, but for :
is there any preventative measures I can take to prevent candy from expiring?'.
Yes. Make sure it doesn't hang around.
There are groups that will take leftover candy / candy the kids don't like, and will give it to others. Some will give it to kids in hospitals that didn't get a chance to trick-or-treat, others in the US will ship it to military personnel serving overseas.
And if there isn't one in your local area, you can always start one.
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