Perhaps you’ve got a sweet tooth and are enchanted by those sweet little colorful delights and cannot do without them.
Marshmallows have worked their magic on you, and you use them in your hot chocolate, cookies, and even sweet potato casserole – the list goes on and on!
Now you’ve got several bags of marshmallows with you. And you are worried whether your marshmallows will get spoiled.
You may be baffled by many questions, such as:
How should you store your marshmallows? How long do marshmallows last?
If so, you’re at the right place. We’re covering the nitty-gritty of marshmallows today.
How To Know If Marshmallows Have Gone Off
Your store-bought marshmallows have a mild aroma and a fluffy soft texture. And, of course, a sugary taste.
The bad news is that if you leave your favorite marshmallows in a moist place or do not store them suitably, they may not be so delightful anymore!
Your marshmallows may show signs of spoilage, such as:
- discoloration
- change in taste
- become sticky and clump together
- become extremely chewy
No worries. Chewy marshmallows are perfectly safe. The texture of your marshmallows has changed because the sugar has melted, that’s all.
One last thing: Be warned. You are not the only one whose heart has been stolen by marshmallows. Some tiny creatures love them, too!
Pantry bugs, especially ants, enjoy feasting on your candies.
If you have had your bag of marshmallows for a long time, check if there are any holes in it. Tiny insects may have made their way into it.
How To Store Marshmallows
You can store your marshmallows in a dry and cool place away from sources of heat and light. Room temperature or a little lower than that is perfect for keeping your marshmallows. So you can keep them in your kitchen cupboard or pantry.
But if you live in tropical regions and your marshmallows keep melting or sticking together, it may be better to keep your marshmallows in the fridge.
You have to take extra care after you open your bag of marshmallows.
Transfer them to airtight containers, and do not forget to close the lid tightly after use.
Remember: If your marshmallows come into contact with air, they will become hard. They may also absorb the smells from their surroundings.
The same rules apply when you keep your marshmallows in your refrigerator.
Here’s the deal: If you keep your marshmallows in a tightly sealed container and they become sticky after some time, sprinkle some powdered sugar or cornstarch on them. Then shake the bag of marshmallows. It will help to get rid of the stickiness.
Are you wondering if you can freeze them? Yes.
If you’ve got a large stock of marshmallows and do not want to finish all of them in a hurry – go ahead and freeze your marshmallows. That way, your sweet treats will last much longer.
If you have unopened bags of marshmallows, pop them directly into your freezer. In case you have open packages transfer the sweet contents to freezer bags or airtight containers and freeze them.
You can defrost them in the fridge before use.
Now: Whether you put your marshmallows in bags or containers, don’t pack them too tightly, or else they will get squished.
How Long Marshmallows Last
The best part is that your lovely little treats are made up of stable and lasting ingredients like sugar, gelatin, and water. So it goes without saying that they have a stable shelf-life.
However, your marshmallows’ longevity may vary depending on the brand.
You will find a best-before date on your bag of marshmallows. That means your unopened bag of marshmallows will be good for several weeks, even after that date, if you store it properly.
Some marshmallows last for two months, while others have a shelf life of 4-6 months.
Last but not least: You have to be more vigilant about your marshmallows after opening the package. Make sure you finish all of them as soon as possible.
Some producers give you a time limit of three days to use them all. But that may be an exaggeration. Your candies will not harden and taste great for 1-2 weeks.
After that, the quality may deteriorate, and it may be better to pop them in your freezer.
Here are the rules of thumb to keep you on track:
- Unopened marshmallows last for one month after the best-before date in the pantry.
- Opened marshmallows can retain their quality for 1-2 weeks.
The Bottom Line On Marshmallows
Key takeaways:
- Marshmallows are sweet treats that have a mild aroma and a soft texture.
- If you don’t store them suitably, they show signs of spoilage (scroll up if you missed that) and lose their charm.
- To enjoy the best quality marshmallows, you can keep your marshmallows in airtight containers at room temperature or slightly below that temperature. Remember to seal them tightly.
- You can keep your unopened marshmallows for one month after the best-before date in the pantry.
And use opened marshmallows for 1-2 weeks.
- You can even freeze them and use them for a very long time.
