How do packaged cookies stay good for so long?
How come packaged cookies, even those without preservatives, don't go bad after a few days and have such long shelf lives? Is it because of the packaging? Especially cookies that contain ingredients like milk... doesn't the milk in the cookies go bad??
Best Answer
The sugar answers are spot on.
Also, let's give a shout out to modern packaging--particularly the vapor barriers in use today. Light years ahead of the old days. That vapor barrier is a significant contributor to the longevity of the modern packaged cookie.
Also impressive, is Modified Atmosphere Packaging. That allows products today that were unthinkable 20 years or so ago. Pre-sliced lunch meats, shredded cheeses, Lunchables, prefab sandwiches etc.
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Quick Answer about "How do packaged cookies stay good for so long?"
Cookies should be stored in a tightly closed container or wrapped with plastic wrap to keep out air and other contaminants. For a long-term option, you can freeze your cookies while preserving their taste if you use an air-tight freezer safe container.Why does store bought cookies last so long?
Most packaged cookies have one major preservative called sugar. Sugar (and salt) preserve foods by means of osmosis: they draw water out of the food's cells, and leave so little moisture that it'd take way longer for hostile microorganisms to go.How long can packaged cookies last?
COOKIES, COMMERCIALLY PACKAGED - UNOPENED Properly stored, a package of unopened cookies will generally stay at best quality for about 6 to 9 months.How do packaged cookies stay fresh?
Storing Dry Cookies- Make sure cookies cool completely before storing.
- Store them at room temperature in an air-tight container, like Tupperware.
- Store different flavors separately. ...
- If you have limited Tupperware containers, place each flavor in its own freezer bag and then place those bags in the container.
How long can cookies last in a sealed bag?
At room temperature: Keep them sealed up in an airtight container. They'll be good for two weeks. In the freezer: Keep them in the freezer for up to six months. If you need to revive them and crisp them up, a few minutes in a 300\xbaF should do it.Store Cookies - How to Keep Your Cookies Fresh!
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Answer 2
Most packaged cookies have one major preservative called sugar. Sugar (and salt) preserve foods by means of osmosis: they draw water out of the food's cells, and leave so little moisture that it'd take way longer for hostile microorganisms to go. There's also a hypothesis (quoted for example in BBC's Focus Magazine) that the sugar/salt draw water molecules out of the cells of the microorganisms themselves, thus killing them.
So what keeps the cookies is the same thing that keeps jams and gives honey eternal shelf life: enormous percentage of sugar.
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