Can you eat expired cookie dough?

Cookies are perhaps the most popular snack out there. This is why many people make sure they have cookie dough within easy reach at all times. This way, they can rest easy knowing they can satisfy their cravings wherever they arise.

That said, it’s not uncommon for people to lose track of the things they buy at the supermarket. So, in all probability, you will come across the question

Can you eat expired cookie dough?

To be safe, you should not eat cookie dough that is past its expiration date, but you can eat it up to 1-2 months after its best before date if stored properly.

However, when using cookie dough past its expiration date, there are several factors to consider. Do not stop reading as we delve into this issue.

What is cookie dough made of?

Before we answer the question of whether it’s safe to eat expired cookie dough, we need to take a closer look at what cookie dough is made of. It goes without saying that this is very important.

Especially if you are like us and consider cookies to be your favorite treats. If you’re not careful, you could be biting off more than you can chew, as your favorite snack can just as easily make you sick.

If you have a cursory knowledge of baking and cooking, you probably know that most cookie doughs contain raw eggs.

This means that your dough will require extra caution and care on your part, as eggs are associated with dangerous bacteria like salmonella and e-coli.

As you may have noticed, this makes proper storage even more pertinent when it comes to cookie dough. Of course, other types of homemade cookie dough recipes exclude raw eggs entirely.

Keep in mind that store-bought cookie dough also contains other ingredients that act as preservatives that effectively extend its shelf life. Still, it’s important to keep the cookie dough refrigerated.

Is it safe to use expired cookie dough?

You may be thinking: isn’t the expiration date set in stone? Although it may surprise you, there is a difference between expiration dates and best before dates.

If your cookie dough has an expiration date instead of a best before date, it’s best to heed the warning and dispose of the dough.

However, the expiration date acts more as a guide, giving you an approximate timeframe for when the dough will be at its best. This means that it will not go rancid, spoil, or expire on the date stated on the label.

That being said, you are completely free to consume the cookie dough even if it is past its initial expiration date.

However, we must stress the fact that you need to pay close attention if you plan to go ahead with this, and keep an eye out for any telltale signs of cookie dough spoilage.

Listed below are some of the signs to look out for:

• Discoloration - This is a red flag to watch out for. Typically, the discoloration starts at the edges of the cookie dough. You will notice that its edges will begin to show a darker color compared to the inner parts of the dough. This is the product of a process known as oxidation, which can mean the end of your dough.
• Flavor Changes - If you’re anything like us, you’ll know how hard it is to resist eating raw batter from baking. There is something in its taste that attracts us. However, as the cookie dough begins to transform, you will also notice that there will be changes in its flavor. Soon enough, it will be a long way from the wonderful taste you used to enjoy.
• Stale smell - Just like any other spoiled food, cookie dough will soon give off a foul odor, telling you it’s time to throw it away.
• Mold Growth - If your cookie dough is not stored properly or if it goes past its best before date, you will notice that it will soon start to show signs of mold growth. Needless to say, this can be quite dangerous, so it’s best to get rid of any moldy cookie dough you have.

Although it is relatively safe to use cookie dough past its expiration date, we recommend doing so with an extra layer of caution and care.

At the same time, you should always follow proper food safety procedures and exercise proper hygiene to ensure cookie dough doesn’t turn.

Of course, we recommend cooking the batter well before eating it, as tempting as it may be to skip the wait and pop that spoonful of batter right into your mouth.

If you feel like eating raw cookie dough, check out our favorite edible cookie dough recipe.

How long is it safe to keep raw cookie dough in the fridge?

This is probably the most important question in this guide. Although it is certainly a great question, giving a direct and definitive answer is more complicated than you think.

This is because not all cookie dough is created equal – what may seem like subtle differences can lead to vastly different shelf lives.

To explain it better, we have listed some of the things you should keep in mind:

• Ingredients - As we’ve said before, what you use to make the dough will have a big impact on how long it lasts. Some types of cookie dough contain high levels of artificial flavoring and other types of additives and preservatives that can drastically affect cookie life.
• Fillings - Just like the ingredients used in the dough itself, what you use as a filling will also affect the longevity of your dough in the fridge.
• Quantity - The amount and size of cookie dough you store is also important. As a general rule, don’t let large sheets of raw cookie dough sit too long in the fridge, as their larger size makes them more susceptible to the effects of their environment.
• Storage - It’s also worth mentioning here that how you store your cookie dough will have a big impact on how long it will last. For example, between cookie dough that has been left out at room temperature for 4 hours and freshly made dough that went straight into the fridge, it’s clear that the latter will last longer than the former.

How long does homemade cookie dough last vs. store bought?

As explained in the previous section, there are several factors at play when determining how long raw cookie dough will last in the fridge.

The range can vary a lot. For example, homemade cookie dough can last 1-2 weeks, while some store-bought brands can last 6-12 months.

The differences may seem extreme, but we have to go back to the crucial role that specific ingredients play in terms of the longevity of the dough.

In this sense, we offer you an overview of the different types of cookie dough and its duration.

Store Bought Cookie Dough

First of all, we have the most comfortable and durable of all. Store-bought cookie dough is incredibly easy to use. You can find it in any supermarket or grocery store and the dough itself is usually pre-dosed.

If you ever need to store it for longer, it will do you good to remember that it can last up to 3 weeks in your fridge. In the meantime, if you decide to freeze it, it can last up to 12 months.

homemade cookie dough

Next, we have homemade cookie dough. This is the kind of thing home cooks love to do. As anyone will tell you, there is nothing more satisfying than making something from scratch.

This is because you can exercise full creative control over the entire process.

That being said, they probably won’t last as long as store-bought cookies. This is because you will be working with fresh ingredients instead of processed ones.

Unfortunately, it is to be expected that they do not have the same keeping properties as their counterparts.

Specifically, they will only last 3-5 days before the quality of the dough starts to decline.

Retail cookie dough

Lastly, we have what we call the bake sale frozen cookie dough. It is inevitable that you will come across this type of dough at some point.

It is the perfect middle ground between the two previous types. It is often used for fundraising and the like.

Although they are produced commercially, they are not the same as what you buy in the supermarket, since they are usually made in smaller batches.

Also, this type of cookie dough does not contain the same amount of preservatives and artificial ingredients.

That said, the best way to make this type of cookie dough last is to make sure it’s stored properly. If you put it in the fridge, it can last up to 1-2 weeks past its initial expiration date.

Of course, if you want to ensure that it can reach its maximum shelf life of 9 months to a full year, then you should also consider putting it in the freezer.