The Best Tips for Storing Homemade Candy from Our Test Kitchen Pros (2024)

FAQs

The Best Tips for Storing Homemade Candy from Our Test Kitchen Pros? ›

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

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.

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.

If the candy cools too quickly, set it on a saucepan over hot water to soften it, but if it gets sticky, return at once to the work counter. Toss in a small amount of powdered sugar to keep from sticking together.

Hard candies can last up to one year if they're stored properly. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from humidity and heat. The coating of powdered sugar at the end of the recipe helps to keep hard candies from absorbing moisture from the air.

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!

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

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.

Tips for Storage

Freezers and refrigerators hold a lot of moisture and that moisture will be absorbed by your candy. 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.

If the sugar mixture is not cooked to the proper temperature (the hard-crack stage 300-310° F {149-154° C.} or if you are working in a kitchen with high humidity, chances are your candy is retaining too much moisture.

Can you use parchment paper when making hard candy? ›

Quickly pour the syrup into lightly oiled molds or on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and let harden. To prevent the candy from sticking, dust finished pieces with powdered sugar.

To keep your homemade candy at its best, opt for room-temperature storage. Room temperature storage eliminates the risk of condensation, allowing your candy to stay as fresh as possible for longer.

"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. ...

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

Cut in squares and wrap in waxed paper or parchment paper.

To extend the shelf life of your homemade Indian sweets: Freeze: Some Indian sweets can be frozen for several weeks. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper and place them in an airtight container before freezing.