Do cookies stay fresh for long?
Well, it’s that time of the year when we all make cookies and other baked goods at our homes.
Most of the time, we make them in excess and store them for later.
But how do we ensure that they remain in good condition for an extended period?
Are there any types of cookies that can be stored for weeks or months?
Let’s try to find detailed answers to these queries in the following guide.
How Long Can Cookies Stay Fresh?
Now, before we look into other details, let’s understand more about this basic question.
As far as cookies are concerned, their storage period depends on the types of ingredients used for the preparations.
Therefore, you won’t see the same storage time for two different cookies.
Still, in general, the cookies stay fresh for up to a week or two if you keep them in an airtight container.
Their shelf life increases when you use the refrigerator to store them.
If you keep them in the refrigerator, they will stay fresh for 1-2 months.
For the cookies stored in the freezer, you don’t have to worry about them for at least six months.
They may stay fresh up to 8 months in the freezer, but you will notice the difference in taste and flavor.
This generally happens due to the slow bacterial process, so you should try to finish them as early as possible.
In case you want to store the cookies for a longer duration, you should consider storing them in airtight containers only.
It’s one of the best ways to ensure better shelf life for your cookies.
You will find more information on this topic below.
So, let’s dive right in!
List Of Cookies That Stay Fresh For A Long Time
Here are some of the cookies you can store for a considerable amount of time –
- Chocochip Cookies
- Ginger Snaps
- Oatmeal Cookies
- Almond Cookies
- Pistachio Biscottis/Almond Biscottis
- Butterscotch Cookies
- Chickpea Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Nankhatai (Indian Cookies)
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Cinnamon Cookies
- Gingerbread Cookies
Note – If you are adding fresh ingredients like coconut and eggs to your cookies, it can affect the overall shelf life of the end product.
The moisture content present in such ingredients can significantly reduce the storage period.
So, do keep this thing in mind.
Now that you know the names of cookies that last longer, take a look at the following section, where I’ve shared some useful tips to maintain their freshness for an extended period.
How To Keep Cookies Fresh For A Long Time
Here’s a list of some useful tips and methods for you –
1. Store Them In Airtight Containers
As I mentioned earlier, there is no better way than storing your cookies in airtight containers.
It keeps them fresh and helps retain the crispy texture for a good duration.
Moreover, try to use glass or metal containers while storing them.
Also, you should place parchment paper on top of the container and cover it with a lid.
For even better results, you can place the same paper under each cookie layer.
It will create a protective shield between different layers of cookies.
2. Make Them Thinner
Thin cookies last longer than most other cookies!
Yes, you read it right!
When you make them flat, you essentially reduce the body of the cookies.
This means you also decrease the water content in your cookies, which helps increase the overall shelf life.
Do use this tip whenever you want to make cookies in large quantities and store them for a month or two.
3. Do Not Use Frosting
When you want to store cookies for a long, you should avoid putting frosting on them.
It expedites the bacterial process and makes things worse in the end.
So, the best thing you can do here is add frosting when you wish to serve them.
You can always prepare fresh frosting and put it on top of your cookies.
If you want to store the cookies with frosting, you can keep them in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
Do not store them for more than a few days.
4. Avoid Fresh Ingredients
Fresh ingredients like fruits, milk, etc., bring more moisture to the cookies.
You should try to limit these ingredients if you wish to preserve cookies for weeks and months.
Also, it’d be a good idea to finish such cookies within a week or so.
They will lose their flavors over time if you try to store them.
5. Use Refrigerator/Freezer To Store Your Cookies
As you know, cool temperatures benefit in lowering bacterial activity.
So, if you place your cookies in the refrigerator or freezer, it can help keep them fresh for a long time.
The only downside of this process is you will have to reheat the cookies after removing them from the fridge.
It’s an additional step and needs to be performed carefully.
Otherwise, you may burn the cookies easily.
I have shared more details on this topic in the next section, so do check it out.
Steps To Get Crispy Texture Back To Frozen Cookies
Here’s how you can make your cookies crispy again –
- Take the cookies out of the fridge.
- Keep them aside till they reach room temperature. If you have put them in the freezer, you will need to keep them at room temperature for a little longer period.
- Once the cookies are at normal temperature, you can put them in the oven for a couple of minutes.
- Remove them on the grill once you’re done reheating.
- Serve them as you like.
That’s how easy it is to get the crispiness back to the frozen or refrigerated cookies.
Note – If you feel the cookies have not turned crispy and crunchy, you can reheat them for another couple of minutes.
However, make sure you don’t overheat them.
Else, they might turn brown and taste slightly bitter.
Now, let’s check out the FAQs section below, where you will find a few more interesting answers to the commonly asked questions related to this topic.
FAQs
There is not much difference in how you store homemade cookies vs. the ones you make for sale.
You will need to store them in airtight containers and dry and cool temperatures.
Moisture is the biggest reason why cookies turn soft or go bad.
So, you need to work on it to be able to avoid this issue as much as possible.
You can also use food preservatives to increase the shelf life, though it’s not the best thing to do in general.
Apart from that, you may store the dough in the freezer instead of storing baked cookies for a long duration.
Try to make them in small batches, as it’s a lot better than managing the storage.
Bakeries often prepare them in the required batches only.
They try to avoid making excess cookies, as storage is always a concern.
But in general, they store their cookies and other such products in airtight glass containers.
This helps them preserve their cookies for a few extra days at room temperature.
For the soft texture and freshness, you will have to work on the recipe as well as the storage method.
Both of them are key to retaining the desired flavor and texture of your cookies.
If you need extra softness, you can increase the quantity of butter or ghee in the cookie dough.
Yes, cookie tins do help in keeping them fresh, but you will need to layer them properly inside the container.
Otherwise, they will lose their texture after a while.
Christmas cookies can remain fresh for up to 4-5 days.
Put them in the freezer if you wish to extend their shelf life.
Over To You
Well, I hope you enjoyed this guide on what type of cookies stay fresh for a long time.
I have also tried to share a few tips on this topic, so I’m sure you won’t face much problem storing them.
Still, if you come across any issues, I’m always there for your help.
You can leave your queries below in the comments section.
Please share this guide with your friends and family if you found it helpful.
I have a problem with shelf life, even if I used preservatives. My cookies only last long a month after that period, it will become soft.
I have some questions regarding shelf life as below,
1. Is that concern with freezing dough before baking?
2. Is that concern with ingredients since I used milk and egg?
3. How long can keep cookies at room temperature commercially?
Hey Lwin,
1. No, freezing dough before baking should not affect the shelf life of the cookies.
2. Yes, milk and eggs can both affect the shelf life of baked goods. Milk can spoil, and eggs can start to smell bad after a few weeks.
3. Commercially, cookies can usually be stored at room temperature for up to 6 months. But it’s best to consume them within a month or two for the best quality.
As for your cookies, you need to work on your recipe to try and extend the shelf life.
You could experiment with different types of preservatives or look into packaging methods that will help keep your cookies fresh longer.
But ultimately, it’s important to remember that home-baked goods usually don’t last as long as store-bought goods.
So don’t expect your cookies to last for months.
Hello. I need help. I want to produce cookies to sell in stores. But my cookies don’t last longer than 3 weeks. There is a company that wants to be a partner. Can you help us refine the recipes so that the cookies last up to 3+ months? Or do you know where to turn on this issue. The company will pay all costs and assistance.
Hey Irina,
It’s quite difficult to make cookies last for so long. You will probably need to use preservatives in your recipes. Apart from that, you will also have to work on packaging to improve the shelf life.