Hershey’s chocolate is one of the most popular chocolate brands in the world. With its distinctive flavor and iconic packaging, Hershey’s chocolate bars, Kisses, and other candy products hold a special place in many people’s hearts. However, like any food product, Hershey’s chocolate does eventually expire and go bad. Knowing how to tell if your Hershey’s chocolate is past its prime can help you avoid eating spoiled candy. This article will cover several ways to test if your Hershey’s chocolate has gone bad and is no longer safe to eat.
Check the expiration date
The first and easiest way to tell if Hershey’s chocolate may be expired or stale is to check the expiration date stamped on the package. Hershey’s prints a “best by” date on all of its chocolate products, which tells you the timeframe during which the chocolate will be at peak freshness and flavor. The expiration date is usually printed along the bottom or side of the packaging.
If the current date is past the printed expiration date, then the chocolate is likely stale and headed downhill in terms of taste and texture. Chocolate can last for a few months past its printed date if stored properly, but it’s always best to eat Hershey’s chocolate before the expiration date for ideal freshness and mouthfeel. Discard any packages that are more than a few months past the date.
Inspect the appearance
When chocolate goes bad, you’ll often notice visual changes to the candy itself. Examine the chocolate through the packaging and look for signs of bloom, discoloration, mold, and separation.
Bloom: Chocolate bloom shows up as a light grey or white film on the surface of the chocolate. It occurs when cocoa butter naturally separates from the cocoa solids and rises to the surface. A little bloom is harmless, but excessive bloom can indicate stale, low-quality chocolate.
Discoloration: Fresh Hershey’s chocolate should be a rich brown color. If you notice the chocolate turning grey, green, or another unnatural shade, it has likely gone bad.
Mold: Tiny furry spots or cottony growths on chocolate are a telltale sign of mold contamination. Immediately discard any chocolate that looks moldy.
Separation: Chocolate that has melted and rehardened will turn chalky and separate from the cocoa butter. It will not look smooth and shiny. Discard any chocolates that show signs of separation.
Smell the chocolate
Your nose can pick up subtle changes in chocolate that indicate it is going rancid. Give the chocolate a good sniff through the wrapper. Fresh Hershey’s chocolate has a pleasant, mild cocoa scent. Spoiled chocolate will smell stale, musty, or even sour. Off-odors are a definite red flag that chocolate has turned and should not be eaten.
Check the texture
Feeling the texture of the chocolate can provide more clues about its freshness. Unwrap a small piece and rub it between your fingers or bite into it. Fresh Hershey’s chocolate should be smoothly glossy. When chocolate goes bad, you may notice a grainy, gritty, or chalky texture instead of the signature smooth, melt-in-your-mouth feel. Additionally, spoiled chocolate tends to crumble easily instead of snapping cleanly when broken.
Taste the chocolate
The ultimate test is giving the chocolate a taste. Start with just a tiny bite. High-quality, fresh Hershey’s chocolate will be creamy and flavorful. Gone-off chocolate will taste dry, bland, rancid, or bitter. Any unpleasant flavors like sourness or staleness mean the chocolate is past its prime and should be discarded. You can also compare the taste side-by-side to a new piece. An obvious degradation in flavor is a definite sign to toss the chocolate in question.
How to store Hershey’s chocolate properly
Storing chocolate correctly helps extend its shelf life and keep it from spoiling too quickly. Here are some tips for storing Hershey’s chocolate:
– Keep chocolate tightly wrapped in its original packaging until you are ready to eat it. Do not unwrap and rewrap partially used bars.
– Store chocolate in a cool, dry place around 65°F. Avoid temperature extremes. Chocolate exposed to excessive heat or fluctuations in temperature is more prone to blooming and spoilage.
– Keep chocolate away from direct sunlight, which can cause melting and structural breakdown. Store chocolate in a pantry or other spot away from windows and heat sources.
– Avoid storing chocolate in the refrigerator or freezer. Temperature swings from cold to warm lead to condensation buildup and fast deterioration of chocolate.
– Wrap open packages in plastic wrap or place in resealable plastic bags. Air exposure can cause chocolate to dry out.
– Store different varieties of chocolate separately to prevent flavor transfer. Milk chocolate and dark chocolate can pick up each other’s scents.
Following these tips will help ensure your Hershey’s chocolate stays fresh and maintains that classic Hershey taste and texture you love. Discard any chocolate that shows signs of age for ultimate enjoyment. With proper storage, unopened Hershey’s products can last up to two years past the printed date.
Reasons why chocolate goes bad
There are a few main reasons why chocolate like Hershey’s goes stale or rancid over time:
Age: The oils in chocolate will eventually go rancid with prolonged exposure to oxygen. Very old chocolate simply becomes flavorless.
Improper Storage: Excessive heat, cold, humidity, or sunlight cause chocolate to bloom or deteriorate faster.
Temperature Fluctuations: Changes in temperature (like refrigerating then unrefrigerating chocolate) lead to humidity buildup and structural breakdown.
Air Exposure: Unwrapped or open packages allow air circulation that accelerates oxidation and moisture loss.
Contamination: Bacteria or mold spores that get introduced can grow and spoil chocolate.
By following proper storage methods and discarding expired candy, you can help your Hershey’s chocolate last as long as possible. But eventually, the product will reach the end of its shelf life and need to be tossed. Relying on your senses is the best way to determine when your chocolate bars, kisses, or chips have gone past their prime.
What to do with expired Hershey’s chocolate
Once Hershey’s chocolate has gone past its expiration date or started showing signs of spoilage, it’s best to discard it instead of eating it. Here are some options for getting rid of expired chocolate:
– Throw it in the trash. This is the simplest and most common solution, especially if the chocolate shows visible mold.
– Compost it. Chocolate and its packaging can both be composted depending on your area’s guidelines. Break up the chocolate and mix it into your compost heap.
– Use it in a craft project. Expired chocolate in sealed packages can be incorporated into melted craft chocolate or candy making at home. However, do not eat the finished homemade creations.
– Donate unopened expired chocolate. Food banks or shelters may accept donated chocolate beyond its date to use in prepared recipes or send home with patrons. Call ahead.
– Feed it to the birds. Small bits of crumbled chocolate can make an enjoyable treat for neighborhood birds or chickens on small farms.
No matter how you dispose of aged Hershey’s products, resist the temptation to eat them once the chocolate has clearly deteriorated. Consuming spoiled chocolate can potentially cause stomach upset or other foodborne symptoms you’ll want to avoid.
How to tell if other chocolate brands have gone bad
Not just Hershey’s – any chocolate can expire and go bad. Here are some signs to watch for with other popular chocolate brands:
M&M’s – Check for bloom, discolored or dull candy shells, soft or leaky fillings, and loss of crispy texture.
Reese’s – Look for dried out, stiff, or cracked peanut butter fillings. Fresh Reese’s have a smooth, velvety center.
Snickers – Inspect for hard or oily caramel and peanuts losing their crunchy snap. Nougat may also look dried out.
Kit Kat– Feel for any grainy or gritty wafer texture instead of the crispy, flaky layers of fresh Kit Kats.
Chocolate chips – Semisweet and milk chocolate chips become more likely to separate from the cocoa butter. They may feel waxy or powdery.
White chocolate – Has a higher fat content and tends to develop bloom more quickly. You’ll see more mottled discoloration.
Any brand of chocolate that is past its date or shows signs of deterioration in aroma, texture, or taste should be discarded for food safety. When in doubt, throw it out. With proper storage and freshness checks, you can catch expired chocolate before it gets used in cooking or eating.
FAQs
Can chocolate expire?
Yes, chocolate products including Hershey’s have a shelf life and do expire eventually. The oils in chocolate undergo oxidation over time, causing decay of flavor. Hershey’s recommends consuming their chocolate within 1-2 years of the printed “best by” date for best taste and texture.
How long does chocolate last unopened?
Properly stored, unopened packages of Hershey’s chocolate (wrapped in foil or plastic) can last 6-12 months past the printed date before starting to go bad. For example, if the date says Sept. 2023, it should be good until about Sept. 2024 if still sealed. Once opened, lasting a few months is more typical.
Can you eat Hershey’s chocolate a year after expiration?
It’s not recommended to eat Hershey’s chocolate more than a few months past the printed expiration date. Within a year after expiration, the chocolate is likely to taste stale, show bloom, and have an unpleasant texture. Beyond a year, chocolate can develop rancid flavors and become unsafe to eat. It’s best to discard Hershey’s chocolate 1-2 years past its date.
Does chocolate need to be refrigerated or frozen?
No, you should not refrigerate or freeze branded chocolate like Hershey’s. The temperature fluctuations lead to condensation which causes chocolate to become grainy with a layer of surface bloom. Store chocolate tightly wrapped at room temperature in a pantry instead.
Can you get sick from eating expired chocolate?
Eating expired chocolate may cause digestive upset, but it is unlikely to make you seriously ill unless mold is present. Chocolate contaminated with potentially harmful molds may trigger allergic reactions or food poisoning symptoms in some cases. To be safe, it’s best to throw away chocolate once it has clearly dried out or looks inedible.
Conclusion
With its unique, mild flavor and nostalgic place in many childhood memories, Hershey’s chocolate holds a special status. But like all sweets, it won’t last forever. Checking expiration dates and being aware of signs of spoilage like appearance, aroma, texture, and taste changes will help you determine if your Hershey’s chocolate bars, kisses, or other products are still fresh. Proper storage can prolong shelf life, but any chocolate that shows significant signs of age should be discarded. With a few simple freshness tests, you can easily decipher if your Hershey’s chocolate has gone bad and avoid eating spoiled candy. Trust your senses, follow expiration dates, and keep an eye out for common red flags of stale chocolate.
