The spookiest time of year is upon us, and with it comes piles of candy. We all love to hoard candy after Halloween is over, but how long are these candies good for? Do they expire?
“Yes, candy does expire, but the good news is that most types of candy are good to eat for six to 12 months,” says registered oncology dietician, Kaitlin Mckenzie. The shelf life of a candy also depends on the type of candy and where you store it.
Here are some guidelines from the National Confectioners Association on how long to keep various candies and how to keep them fresh:
How long is Halloween candy good for?
- Soft chocolates, like milk and white chocolate, last eight to 10 months.
- Dark chocolate lasts the longest, up to two years. People might see a white coating on the dark chocolate when it’s older, which is called “bloom.” Bloom is not harmful and it’s safe to eat.
- 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. If unopened, they can last up to one year.
- Candy corn can last three to six months if the package is opened and stored at room temperature. If unopened, it can last for nine months.
“An easy rule of thumb is to toss any remaining Halloween candy by the time Easter comes, and vice versa - that way, any excess candies are never around longer than six months or so,” adds Kaitlin.
How to Store Candy So It Stays Fresh and Safe to Eat
- Keep all candies in their original packaging whenever possible and, once it’s opened, keep them in a sealed jar.
- The pantry is a safe place to store all the candy. If you store them in an airtight container, that’s even better.
- Freezing is a popular method to keep candies to last long, but remember not all candies are to be frozen. Avoid freezing candies with fruits and nuts. Toffee and truffles can be frozen for up to two months.
- Avoid mixing candies in the same jar as some candies absorb moisture (such as caramel, mints and hard candies) and some lose moisture (such as fudge and creamy candies). Storing these in the same jar will cause hard candies to become sticky and lose their texture.
- For the safety of pets and young children, store candy on a shelf that is out of reach. Chocolate candy is toxic to dogs, and many small candies can be a choking hazard.
Next Steps & Resources:
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
FAQs
So, your candy will be safe to eat months after Halloween is in the rear view mirror. But that's not to say that all of it will be just as fresh and appetizing a year from now. That depends on a number of factors, said Eifert. “Candy can develop off-odors and changes in flavor, appearance and texture,” she said.
Can Halloween candy go bad? ›
Hard candy - hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location. Jellied candies - if the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be stored away from heat and light at room temperature of about 70 degrees. Stored in this manner, the candy should last 6-9 months.
Is it okay to eat 2 month expired candy? ›
What about candy expiration dates — shouldn't I just adhere to those? 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 to know if candy is expired? ›
Another tell-tale sign is a change in texture. Hard candies can become sticky or even soft, while chewy candies can harden over time. If your Skittles have morphed into tiny rocks or transformed into gooey blobs, they're past their prime.
How do you know if Halloween candy is safe to eat? ›
Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious. Food Allergies: If your child has a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn't present.
Is it okay to eat 2 year old candy? ›
“Yes, candy does expire, but the good news is that most types of candy are good to eat for six to 12 months,” says registered oncology dietician, Kaitlin Mckenzie.
Do skittles expire? ›
Q: How long will my product stay fresh? A: While we quote a shelf life of 52 weeks for all our treats and snack products to consumers, the actual shelf life can vary.
Do twizzlers expire? ›
However, if properly stored, licorice candy has a shelf life of 6-12 months and will remain safe to consume well past its expiration date. So yes, it is safe to eat expired Twizzlers! The only time you need to worry is if there's an off smell or mold appears on your licorice.
Do airheads expire? ›
Airheads Airheads Variety Pack
A: Airheads Bars have an expiration two years after the date of production. The expiration date should be printed on the product, but if not, if a lot code can be provided the expiration date can be checked.
What does BB mean on candy? ›
How can I tell the "best before" date of a product? There is an ink stamped "BB" or "Best By" date code on our products. This best by date represents the month and year until which the product is expected to be within its peak freshness.
Unopened and kept in a cool, dry place, these candies can last up to one year. The importance of proper storage cannot be understated; it preserves both the quality and the safety of the sweets. After one year, while the gummi bears might still be edible, their optimal taste and texture may have declined.
Do Starburst go bad? ›
Starbursts expire and have an expiration date, but it's important to note that it primarily indicates the point at which the candy's flavor and freshness start to decline. If you store Starbursts under appropriate conditions, they can remain consumable for up to one to two years.
When should you throw away Halloween candy? ›
Hard candy - hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location. Jellied candies - if the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be stored away from heat and light at room temperature of about 70 degrees. Stored in this manner, the candy should last 6-9 months.
What is the safest Halloween candy? ›
Top Rated Allergy-Friendly Halloween Candy
- DUM DUMS. SEE LABEL. ♥️ Ingredients Do Not Contain: Top 8 Allergens. ...
- Free2B Bag O' Treats. SEE LABEL. ...
- Smarties. SEE LABEL. ...
- Dots. SEE LABEL. ...
- Skittles. SEE LABEL. ...
- Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Minis. SEE LABEL. ...
- Junior Mints. SEE LABEL. ...
- Surf Sweets Halloween Organic Fruity Bears. SEE LABEL.
According to Wright, most candy should be around for nine months. She says that chocolate is going to oxidize a little longer, meaning that the fat contained in the chocolate changes into other substances. This leads to the chocolate creating an unappealing smell and it starts to go bad.
Can you eat chocolate 2 years out of date? ›
Dark chocolate, with its higher cacao content, can be good to eat for as long as three years past the best before. Due to their high milk contents, milk and white chocolates might not last as long as dark, but their longevity is still nothing to sniff at — you can expect to get another 8 months or so out of it.
What happens to leftover Halloween candy? ›
Freeze it.
Thaw it out when you need snacks for a car trip or movie night or treats for birthday party goodie bags. You can also “recycle” it by saving it for Christmas stockings, Easter baskets or birthday piñatas — or even keep it in the deep freeze until next Halloween.
Can I eat expired sour patch kids? ›
Manufacturer's Estimates
Beyond this date, the texture may change; Sour Patch Kids could become harder or lose their vibrant taste. However, these candies do not expire in the traditional sense that perishable foods do, and are generally still safe to eat but with potentially diminished quality.
