Salt water taffy is a popular candy that has a soft, chewy texture and comes in a variety of fun flavors and colors. But if you’ve ever bought a large batch of taffy and didn’t eat it all right away, you may be wondering – how long does this candy actually last before going bad?
Quick answer: How long does salt water taffy last?
With proper storage, salt water taffy can last typically for the following timeframes:
- Unopened store-bought taffy: About 6 months past the printed expiration date
- Opened store-bought taffy: About 1 month
- Homemade taffy: 1-2 weeks at room temperature
The shelf life of taffy depends mainly on how it is stored. Keeping it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place helps prevent it from drying out or becoming sticky. Refrigeration can extend the shelf life slightly. However, freezing is not recommended as it can make the taffy hard and crystallized.
What factors affect the shelf life of salt water taffy?
There are a few key factors that determine how long salt water taffy will stay fresh and retain its texture and flavor:
Ingredients
Taffy contains sugar which helps preserve it. However, ingredients like corn syrup or butter can cause taffy to stale faster. Preservatives in commercially made taffy also help extend its shelf life.
Storage method
Proper storage is key for longevity. Taffy should be stored in an airtight container at cool room temperature. Heat, humidity, and light will accelerate staling.
Opening and exposure to air
Once opened, taffy will start to dry out from exposure to air. Eating directly from an open bag shortens how long the remainder will stay fresh.
Preparation method
Homemade taffy has a shorter shelf life than commercially manufactured taffy due to differences in cooking methods, ingredients, and lack of preservatives.
How to tell if salt water taffy has gone bad
Here are some signs that your salt water taffy has gone past its prime:
- Hard, stiff, or dried out texture
- Loss of chewiness
- Sugary crystals on the surface
- Dull, faded colors
- Off odors
- Visible mold growth
If your taffy exhibits any of these traits, it’s best to discard it. The texture will be poor and eating spoiled candy can cause stomach upset.
Does salt water taffy expire?
Yes, salt water taffy does eventually expire, although if unopened it can last up to 6 months past its printed expiration date. The expiration date on a package is an estimate of when the taffy will start to go stale and lose quality. However, the taffy won’t necessarily spoil and become unsafe to eat immediately after that date.
How to store salt water taffy for maximum freshness
Here are some tips for keeping salt water taffy fresh for as long as possible:
- Purchase taffy from a retailer with good product turnover to ensure it is not stale
- Check the expiration or best by date on the package
- Keep unopened taffy packages in a cool, dry pantry away from heat and moisture
- Once opened, transfer any leftover taffy to an airtight container or bag
- Store opened taffy at room temperature, away from direct sunlight
- Avoid storing taffy in the fridge or freezer, as low temperatures can make it hard and gritty
- Press out excess air before sealing the storage container
- Try to eat opened taffy within 1 month
Does refrigeration extend the shelf life of taffy?
Refrigerating taffy can help extend its shelf life slightly by slowing down chemical reactions that cause it to go stale. However, the effect is minimal. Storing taffy in the fridge can also lead to moisture condensation when you take it out, making the candy sticky. And freezing taffy is not recommended at all, as the low temperatures will dry it out.
Your best bet for keeping taffy fresh is to store it properly at room temperature – in a cool, dark place inside an airtight container. Refrigeration can give you an extra 1-2 weeks if needed, but don’t rely on it solely for preservation.
How long does homemade taffy last?
Homemade taffy has a shorter shelf life compared to store-bought brands, lasting only 1-2 weeks at room temperature. There are some reasons for this:
- No preservatives – Preservatives used in manufactured candy help prevent early staling.
- Variability in cooking methods – Overheating taffy while making it can break down structure.
- More susceptible to moisture – Without commercial packaging, homemade taffy is more prone to drying out.
To help homemade taffy keep longer:
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot.
- If giving as a gift, wrap taffy pieces individually to minimize air exposure when eaten.
- Consider adding natural preservatives like honey or vegetable glycerin to your recipe.
- Enjoy your homemade candy within 1 week for peak texture and flavor.
How long does opened store-bought taffy last?
Once opened, the shelf life of store-bought taffy decreases. An opened package of salt water taffy will stay fresh approximately:
- 1 month past printed expiration date if re-sealed in original packaging
- 2-3 weeks if transferred to an airtight container
- 1-2 weeks if left in the opened original packaging
Exposure to air causes taffy to lose moisture and become hard and stale more quickly. To maximize freshness after opening, transfer uneaten taffy to an airtight container or bag, press out excess air, and store in a cool, dry spot.
Can old taffy make you sick?
Eating taffy past its prime likely won’t cause food poisoning or make you sick. However, it won’t taste very good either! Stale, dried out taffy can also pose a choking risk, especially for children and the elderly.
Over time, the structure of taffy breaks down and oil separation can occur, giving the candy an unpleasant greasy texture. Exposure to humidity causes sugar crystals and a gritty texture to develop.
Mold growth is one concern with very old taffy. Discard any salt water taffy that develops visible mold.
For optimal flavor and chewiness, enjoy your taffy before it goes bad. But if you do accidentally eat taffy past its prime, it likely won’t harm your health, just your tastebuds!
Does salt water taffy need to be refrigerated?
Refrigerating salt water taffy is not required for safety reasons, and is not ideal for preserving freshness either. Taffy is shelf-stable at room temperature when properly stored. Refrigeration can slightly prolong the shelf life, but also risks moisture condensation and texture changes.
Unless your climate is very hot and humid, room temperature storage is best. Keep taffy in a cool area out of direct light. An airtight container helps prevent drying out. Only refrigerate if needed to prolong freshness by 1-2 weeks.
Freezing taffy is not recommended. The low temperatures lead to a dry, crystallized texture. For peak enjoyment, store salt water taffy at cool room temperature with minimal humidity exposure.
What is the shelf life of store-bought unopened taffy?
When still factory-sealed, commercially manufactured salt water taffy typically has a shelf life of:
- 6-12 months at room temperature
- Up to 1 year past printed expiration date if stored properly
Unopened taffy lasts significantly longer than opened packages. An airtight wrapper prevents drying out from air exposure. For maximum shelf life of unopened taffy:
- Purchase from retailers with good product turnover
- Select packages with distant expiration dates
- Store in a cool, dry pantry away from heat, moisture, and sunlight
- Avoid storage above 75°F
Even up to 6 months past its expiration date, unopened taffy should retain good flavor and texture if stored under optimal conditions.
Does taffy go bad?
Yes, taffy can go bad over time. Signs of spoiled taffy include:
- Hard, stiff, or dried out texture
- Lack of pliability when chewed
- Grainy sugar crystals on surface
- Dull, faded colors
- Off odors
- Separated or weeping oil
- Mold growth
Taffy can go bad due to age, improper storage conditions, or exposure to humidity and air. Heat and sunlight also degrade taffy over time.
For best quality, eat taffy before it shows any signs of spoilage. If the texture seems overly hard or you notice any stale odors, it’s best to discard the candy.
Can you eat expired taffy?
You can technically eat expired taffy without getting sick, but the texture and flavor will become poor. We do not recommend eating salt water taffy more than 6 months past its printed expiration date.
Taffy is still safe to eat for a short period after its expiration because sugar acts as a preservative. However, the candy will become progressively drier and less chewy. Eating very old, expired taffy also poses a choking hazard due to the hardened texture.
For the best experience, eat taffy before the expiration date. But if consumed shortly after, expired taffy only poses a quality issue rather than a safety one.
How long can you store taffy?
With proper storage and handling, salt water taffy can be stored for the following maximum times:
- Unopened, store-bought: Up to 1 year past printed expiration date
- Opened, store-bought: 1-2 months past printed date
- Homemade: 1-2 weeks at room temperature
To achieve maximum shelf life:
- Store taffy in a cool, dark place around 65-75°F
- Keep taffy in an airtight glass or plastic container
- Avoid humidity, heat, and direct light
- Refrigerate only if needed to prolong freshness by a couple weeks
- Freeze homemade taffy if making large batches you can’t eat quickly
With proper storage and handling, salt water taffy can stay delicious for months beyond purchase. But eventually it will dry out and become hard, signaling it’s time to discard any uneaten candy.
Conclusion
Salt water taffy has an impressive shelf life compared to many other candies. Unopened store-bought taffy stays fresh for up to a year past its printed expiration date. Once opened, taffy will last about 1 month if carefully resealed and stored. Homemade taffy has a shorter shelf life of only 1-2 weeks.
To maximize salt water taffy’s shelf life, store it in cool, dark conditions in an airtight container. Avoid humidity, heat, and sunlight. While refrigeration can provide a slight shelf life extension, freezing is not recommended. With optimal storage and handling, salt water taffy can stay deliciously chewy for many months past purchase.