Can Chocolate Go Bad In The Heat?: You have old chocolate bars lying in the fridge past their expiry date. Now you get a question Can chocolate go bad? We know chocolate is the best treat for both kids and adults. But you don’t know the shelf life of chocolate, and how long can you eat chocolate after the expiration date.
In this article, we are giving details like do chocolates expire, does milk chocolate go bad, do chocolate bars go bad, storing chocolate, how long it lasts once opened, and How to know do chocolate go bad.
- Does Chocolate Go Bad After Opening? – How To Tell If Chocolate Is Bad?
- How Long Does Chocolate Last? Shelf Life of Chocolate
- Should You Refrigerate or Freeze Chocolate?
- How To Store Chocolate For Longer?
- Interesting Facts About Chocolate
- How long can you eat chocolate after the expiration date?
- Is it safe to eat expired chocolate?
- Does heat spoil chocolate?
- Will old chocolate melt?
- Does chocolate go bad in the fridge?
- Does chocolate go bad in heat?
- When does hot chocolate go bad?
- Can baking chocolate go bad?
Does Chocolate Expire? How To Tell If Chocolate Is Bad?
Yes, chocolate expires after the best-by date on the label. But it doesn’t really go bad. As it has cocoa butter which has an indefinite shelf life. So, when stored in a cool and dark environment, the chocolate has more lifespan.
When it comes to the signs of spoilage of chocolate, the white spots found on the chocolate bars are called molds. Mold-growing chocolate is not safe to eat. If you even find any local discoloration on the chocolate, discard it.
If your chocolate looks fine, smells good, and tastes as usual, then only you can eat that chocolate. Before eating the chocolate which is completed best by date it is better to check for mold. If your chocolate is past its best date, then its quality starts degrading.
How Long Does Chocolate Last? Shelf Life of Chocolate
The shelf life of chocolate depends on different factors such as storage conditions, preparation method, and expiration date. The thumb rule is dark chocolate lasts a longer time than milk or white chocolate.
The unopened dark chocolate lasts for at least 2 years, while white and milk last for 1 year. Opened dark chocolate lasts for 12 months, and milk and white chocolate lasts for 8 to 10 months.
Chocolate should be stored in the refrigerator or cool and dark environment to maintain its quality for more days. And make sure to tightly wrap the chocolate cover once opened. All these tips increase the chocolate’s shelf life.
Pantry | |
---|---|
Milk chocolate (unopened or opened) | Best by + 3 – 6 months |
White chocolate (unopened or opened) | Best by + 3 – 4 months |
Dark chocolate (unopened or opened) | Best by + 9 – 12 months |
Should You Refrigerate or Freeze Chocolate?
Yes, you can refrigerate or freeze chocolate. Actually, many brands advise keeping the chocolate in the fridge so that it will attract moisture and spoil. You can even place the chocolate bar in the freezer bag and place it in the freezer for better quality.
In a hot and humid climate, the chocolate starts melting and it can go bad easily. So, always keeping the chocolate bar in the refrigerator is the best option.
Freezing the chocolate doesn’t increase its shelf life, but it helps to retain quality for many days. When you want to freeze chocolate, you have to remove the air from the bag before sealing it.
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Ingredients:
Cocoa Solids, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Emulsifiers (322, 476), Artificial Flavouring Substances (Cocoa, Vanilla)
Nutritional Information
15 servings per container
Serving size: 10 g
Nutrients | Amount per 100 g* | % RDA# |
Energy (kcal) | 521 | 3% |
Total Fat (g) | 33.1 | 5% |
Saturated Fat (g) | 18.6 | 8% |
Trans Fat (g) | 0.0 | 0% |
Cholesterol (mg) | 0 | |
Carbohydrate (g) | 51.4 | |
Total Sugars (g) | 43.0 | |
Added Sugars (g) | 42.5 | 8% |
Protein (g) | 64 | |
Sodium (mg) | 38 | 0% |
#RDA stands for Recommended Dietary Allowance per serving
*Average Values
How To Store Chocolate For Longer?
Better storage precautions are useful to maintain the quality of the chocolate bar and thus extend the shelf life. Always store the chocolate in a dark, cool, and dry place, away from strong smells. The pantry is okay, there is no need to refrigerate it if you want to eat early.
Once opened, wrap it before place in the storage. The chocolate should be placed away from heat sources as the heat melts chocolate or causes a bloom. The ideal temperature is between 54°F and 61°F. You can even refrigerate or freeze the chocolate bar.
Interesting Facts About Chocolate
The fun facts about chocolate are listed here:
- It takes 400 cocoa beans to make one pound of chocolate.
- Every cocoa tree produces approximately 2,500 beans.
- There are an estimated 1.5 million cocoa farms in West Africa.
- It takes two to four days to make a single-serving chocolate bar.
- Chocolates can help prevent tooth decay.
- The hot chocolate was the first chocolate treat, not the bars.
- Milk chocolate was invented in Switzerland.
FAQs On Can Dark Chocolate Go Bad? – Can Chocolate Go Off
1. How long can you eat chocolate after the expiration date?
You can eat milk and white chocolates for 2 to 4 months after the expiration date. While dark chocolate for up to 1 year.
2. Is it safe to eat expired chocolate?
Yes, it is safe to eat chocolate after expiration. But there should be no signs of spoilage on chocolate.
Yes, heat can spoil chocolate. The chocolate melts in the heat and causes bacteria and mold growth.
No, properly stored old chocolate does not melt. It is safe to eat old chocolate, but the taste might change.
5. Does chocolate expire in the fridge?
No, unopened chocolate doesn’t expire earlier in the fridge. If it is unopened then the expiry date depends on how it was stored.
6. Does chocolate spoil in heat?
Yes, chocolate can be spoiled in the heat. When it touches extreme temperatures it causes blooming.
7. When does hot chocolate expire?
When hot chocolate is opened it stays good for 6 months. If it is unopened and stored in the pantry, it expires after 1 year.
8. Can baking chocolate go bad?
No, baking chocolate or dark chocolate doesn’t go bad too fast as it contains a higher cocoa percentage which helps to last longer. If your baking temperature is too high then can chocolate go stale which makes it difficult to eat.
Key Takeaways – Can Chocolate Expire?
We think that the data provided here about Can Chocolate Go Out of Date has been beneficial to you. Follow the guidelines and storage tips over here to maintain its quality for longer.
For any other queries, regarding the same like does refrigerated chocolate go bad or what happens if you eat expired chocolate, comment to us.
Visit our site CanFoodGoBad.com to learn more information about other food products, and Can Chocolate Syrup Go Bad.