Do the chocolate chips go bad? - Storage of chocolate chips

If you do anything baking, there’s a good chance you’ll like to stock up on chocolate chips. They bring a really nice experience to everything from banana bread to oatmeal.

As with most things, buying in bulk helps offset costs. If you buy more than you can use immediately, you will probably be left wondering how long they will keep.

Do the chocolate chips go bad?

Chocolate chips can last up to 2 years if stored correctly. The higher the cocoa percentage, the longer the chocolate will keep. Milk chocolate chips start to go bad at 8 months, while 80% dark chocolate can last up to 2 years without going bad. Chocolate chips with nuts or fruit will go bad faster, so you may experience a rancid taste after 8-10 months.

In the following article, we’ll discuss how to tell if your chocolate has gone bad, how to properly store your chocolate chunks so they stay fresh for as long as possible, and what to do if your chocolate turns a little white around the edges.

How to know if chocolate is bad

Chocolate lasts a long time, especially if stored properly, but it can go bad. The likelihood of chocolate going bad increases with the number of additives it contains, specifically the ingredients most likely to go bad, such as fruit, dairy, and even nuts.

Plain pieces of chocolate can go bad in the sense that they go rancid and lose their sweetness. The most obvious signs that chocolate is stale are a musty smell when you open the container or cracks in the chocolate.

Chocolate cracks when it dries , and if it’s drying too much, you’re losing flavor as well. Stale chocolate won’t hurt you, so you can taste it to see if it’s appropriate for baking or snacking.

Do you think there is mold in your chocolate?  Mold does not grow on chocolate. If you see white or gray streaks or specks, your chocolate has experienced what is called a fat bloom or sugar bloom.

It’s not the most attractive aspect of chocolate, but it’s not moldy and it’s not dangerous, not even a sign that the chocolate has gone bad.

We’ll talk about white spots on chocolate and chocolate flowers in more detail later in the article.

Do white chocolate chips go bad?

Many connoisseurs will argue that white chocolate isn’t technically chocolate, but is made with cocoa butter, so it has its roots in the cocoa bean.

The other ingredients, however, are mainly sugar and dairy. The sugar will keep the chocolate chunks from going bad for a long time, but white chocolate will start to develop an off-flavor after about 8-10 months , even if stored carefully.

Is it safe to eat expired chocolate chunks?

In most cases, chocolate chips that have been stored carefully are safe to eat, even if they are past their best-before date.

This recommendation is set by the manufacturer to reflect an assumed amount of time before chocolate loses flavor or goes rancid.

If you follow the storage instructions below, your chocolate chips should last 1-2 years without going rancid, depending on the variety.

How to store chocolate chips

As a general rule, you should make sure that the chocolate chips are stored in a cool, dry place.  The ideal temperature is between 60-75F and they should be in an airtight bag or container.

You must protect the chocolate chips from temperature fluctuations and humidity.

If the chocolate is stored in a cupboard near the oven, for example, the rises and falls in temperature will cause condensation on and around the chocolate pieces, which can lead to a sugar bloom. You also run the risk of accidentally melting the chocolate chunks.

The best location would be a pantry in a temperature controlled space.

How long do chocolate chips keep after opening?

There is a difference in the life of the chocolate chips depending on the percentage of chocolate that comes directly from the cocoa bean. The more milk there is in the chocolate, the shorter its shelf life.

If stored properly, milk chocolate chips stay fresh for about 1 year after opening the bag.

Shavings with a higher concentration of dark chocolate, 60% or higher, will last longer. If stored carefully, semisweet, bittersweet, or dark chocolate chips will last up to 2 years.

How long does chocolate last in the fridge?

Storing chocolate or chocolate chips in the fridge won’t necessarily extend their shelf life, unless they’re exposed to fluctuating temperatures in your home.

For example, if it’s the height of summer and your house regularly exceeds 75ºF, your chocolate may melt if you keep it in the cupboard or pantry.

If this is the case, storing the chocolate in the fridge is a good idea.

Try to keep the temperature fluctuation as little as possible when you put the chocolate chunks in the fridge. This will help prevent condensation from forming on the chocolate. It may still bloom, but it should retain its delicious flavor.

Chocolate can pick up strong flavors from other items stored in your fridge, so make sure it’s well protected inside an airtight Ziploc bag and, if possible, an airtight Tupperware container as well.

If stored like this, white or milk chocolate chips will keep fresh for up to a year, and dark chocolate chips should be safe for up to 2 years.

Can chocolate chips be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze the chocolate chips, but this will affect the visual appearance of the chocolate and will not significantly change its shelf life.

If you put the chocolate chunks in the freezer, they are much more likely to cause a sugar bloom, and they will come out of the freezer covered in white. This is crystallized sugar and if you melt your chocolate it will dissolve back into the dark.

Chocolate that has been frozen will also have a crumbly texture, even when thawed it will not have the same consistency as it was fresh.

The flavor should remain consistent, as long as it’s carefully sealed and protected so it doesn’t pick up odors and flavors from other items in your freezer.

Frozen dark chocolate chunks will keep relatively fresh for up to 2 years, and white or milk chocolate will keep for about 1 year. This is the same amount of time they would stay fresh in your cupboard, tightly closed, and you wouldn’t risk a sugar bloom in there.

Freezing the chocolate chips is an option, but not ideal.

How to store chocolate chips [Table]

Related questions

Do the chocolate bars expire?

Yes, most chocolate bars have an expiration or best before date. This does not mean that the chocolate itself is bad after this date, but rather that it is the maximum time that the manufacturer believes the chocolate will retain its freshness or quality.

If you have a bar of chocolate that has been stored in its original container in a cool, dark pantry past its expiration date, there’s a good chance it’s still safe to eat.

Additives like fruit, nuts, or caramel can also change the quality, and each brand or bar will be slightly different.

How to fix chocolate bloom?

If you’re trying to cook or serve chocolate that has bloomed and want to get rid of unsightly white or gray swirls, the best way to fix the bloom is to melt and temper the chocolate.

If you’ve had a sugar bloom problem, no tempering is going to give you the near-perfect results needed for making fine confections, but it will certainly hide any white or gray streaks.

What are vegan chocolate chips?

Chocolate is a naturally vegetable product, made from cocoa beans. Many people assume that “cocoa butter” is a dairy product, but it is actually the fat from the cocoa plant.

Chocolate becomes non-vegan when other ingredients are added to it, such as milk for milk chocolate. Some sugars are also not strictly vegan because they are charcoal filtered.