What's the REAL expiration date of chocolate bars? - The High Five Company % (2024)

FAQs

What's the REAL expiration date of chocolate bars? - The High Five Company %? ›

If unopened and stored properly, dark chocolate lasts 2 years (from the day it was made). If opened, but still stored properly, the rule of thumb is one year. As for milk and white chocolate bars, the time available is cut in half. One year if unopened and stored properly, and 6-8 months if opened and stored properly.

So how do you know if it's expired? First things first: Look at the expiration date on the packaging. Chocolates will taste better if eaten before their best-by dates, but that doesn't mean you can't still nibble on it in the weeks to come. The shelf life of chocolate depends on the type of chocolate.

Dark chocolate, with its higher cacao content, can be good to eat for as long as three years past the best before. Due to their high milk contents, milk and white chocolates might not last as long as dark, but their longevity is still nothing to sniff at — you can expect to get another 8 months or so out of it.

What is the standard expiration date format for foods? The standard format is MMDDYY, where “MM” refers to the month, “DD” refers to the date, and “YY” refers to the year. So if a product says 101525, it means that the product expires on October 15, 2025. Is it safe to buy food on its expiration date?

“In the case of most commercially processed foods, it's contamination during processing and packaging that leads to foodborne illness, not the age of the food. So, even after some time passes, candy should be safe to eat as long as it was properly handled and it remains unopened prior to eating.”

You might be surprised to know that, despite the expiration date, chocolate stays edible and safe to eat for longer than what's indicated on the packaging. Chocolate bars are best eaten as fresh as possible, but they can still be considered edible a few months after the best before date printed on the packaging.

Chocolate bloom might look unappetizing, but it's completely safe to eat. That doesn't mean you'll want to eat it, though, as flavor and texture can both be compromised. “Bloom usually strips the chocolate of some of its most pleasing qualities,” says Laiskonis.

First, look for a date with the phrase “use by,” “sell by,” or “best by.” The date will typically be in a “Month/Day/Year” form, so a code like 110324 would mean November 3rd, 2024.

How do I check my expiration date? To check the expiration date, you can look for “Use by,” “Sell by,” or “Best by” dates on the product. These are either on the bottom or side of the product. If the date is not explicitly written, you can check the date the product was manufactured.

Barcodes do not contain expiration date information; they are used for identification and inventory purposes. To find a product's expiration date, one should check the packaging for a printed date. A barcode scanner can provide product information to then query the manufacturer for expiration details if necessary.

Is it OK to eat a Hershey bar that's 2 years old? ›

While consuming expired chocolate isn't necessarily harmful, it may not taste as fresh or flavorful as it once did. In most cases, chocolate past its expiration date is still safe to eat, provided it has been stored properly and shows no signs of spoilage.

As a general rule, refrigerating chocolate can extend its shelf life by at least 25%, while freezing can prolong it by 50% or more. Place the original box in a heavy-duty plastic freezer bag, seal it tightly and then refrigerate for up to one year, or freeze for up to 18 months for best quality.

What does expired chocolate look like? There are several indicators that chocolate may have gone bad. These include a dull appearance, a whitish film on the surface (known as chocolate bloom), a rancid smell, or a sour taste.

Can chocolate go out of date? Chocolate doesn't have an expiry date and is usually fine to eat for several months after the best-before date. So, if you're wondering “Can you eat out-of-date chocolate?”, the answer is yes.

They will usually remain at peak quality for 2 to 3 weeks at room temperature . For longer storage, they will keep well in the fridge for 2 to 3 months or for 6 months in the freezer. Wrap tightly to keep the odors away.

Regardless of the printed date on your milk, the best way to determine whether milk is spoiled is with a simple sniff test. Spoiled foods will develop an off odor, flavor, or texture due to naturally occurring spoilage bacteria. If milk has developed such spoilage characteristics, it should not be consumed.