How long do Pop-Tarts last? (And do they spoil?)

Sweet, crunchy and delicious, Pop-Tarts are a favorite for many families. These filled cupcakes make a great breakfast snack, and they only take a few minutes to heat up in the toaster.

How long do Pop-Tarts last? If stored in their wrappers, Pop-Tarts will last until their best before date, and may still be edible afterward. Once out of their packaging, they can go bad if they are not stored correctly. The best way to keep Pop-Tarts fresh is to store them in a cool place inside their wrappers or in an airtight container.

Do you want to keep your Pop-Tarts fresh and delicious? We have all the answers and more for you! We’ll see how long Pop-Tarts last and give you some tips on the best way to store these tasty treats.

What are Pop-Tarts?

If you’ve walked into a grocery store in the last decade or two, you’ve probably come across Pop-Tarts.

These tasty snacks are marketed as “toaster buns,” meaning a stuffed pastry that can be heated in the toaster. They come with different fillings, and many varieties are coated in a sugary glaze.

Pop-Tarts can be eaten hot or cold, and although they are meant for breakfast, many people eat them at any time of the day.

Fillings include fruits like strawberry, cherry, and blueberry, and other flavors like brown sugar and cinnamon, and S’mores.

(For those wondering, a S’more is a marshmallow toasted over a fire, then sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies. No camping trip is complete without a packet of marshmallows.)

Pop-Tarts are supplied in twin packs or multi-packs. They are often wrapped in aluminum foil, like chocolate bars and cookies, to keep them fresh.

Do Pop-Tarts go bad?

The foil wrapper that the Pop-Tarts are sealed in will keep them fresh and perfectly fit to eat for a long period of time.

However, they don’t last forever! There is a time limit in which a sealed package of Pop-Tarts can be safely consumed.

After this date, the food may still be edible, but its quality may have deteriorated.

So is it okay to eat food after the best before date? This depends on your personal criteria and the food itself.

The good news is that best before dates are used for foods that won’t be too harmful if they start to go bad.

The other date that is often referred to is the “expiration” date, which is for foods that can cause poisoning, such as meat and fish. Food that is past its expiration date should never be eaten.

Pop-Tarts are a highly processed food and contain a lot of sugar. This means that they keep very well and will take a long time to go bad.

Think of the fruity filling like jam – it’s basically a preserve!

Once a package of Pop-Tarts has been opened, the rate of deterioration accelerates considerably.

Uneaten Pop-Tarts must be stored properly and consumed before they spoil.

How long do Pop-Tarts last in the pantry?

If your Pop-Tarts are in their original packaging, they will last in your pantry at least until the best before date.

The good news is that manufacturers often err on the side of the best before date, as they want you to eat the food while it is at its best.

This means that many foods remain edible even after the best before date.

If your Pop-Tarts have passed the best before date, open the package and check that they do not appear to have spoiled.

If they look and smell as expected, pop them in the toaster and enjoy.

Once the Pop-Tarts package has been opened, its shelf life will be greatly reduced. Puff pastry goes stale and is much more likely to mold.

Do Pop-Tarts last longer in the fridge?

Like most baked goods, storing Pop-Tarts in the fridge doesn’t help them last longer. In fact, the humidity in the fridge can make them soggy and rancid.

If your package of Pop-Tarts isn’t open, store it in the pantry until you’re ready to eat them.

The only benefit of using the fridge is that it will reduce the chance of mold growing, so this might be a good option for storing an opened package of Pop-Tarts if you live in a very hot and humid climate.

Store them in an airtight container or plastic wrap to keep air and moisture at bay.

Do Pop-Tarts last longer in the freezer?

There is no real advantage to storing unopened packets of Pop-Tarts in the freezer, as they have a very long shelf life when stored in the pantry.

An opened package of Pop-Tarts can be kept in the freezer if stored in an airtight container or plastic wrap.

However, there are no manufacturer guidelines for reheating frozen Pop-Tarts, so let them thaw at room temperature first.

Out of curiosity, some people love to eat frozen Pop-Tarts! This seems to work especially well with flavors like chocolate cookie dough and ice cream.

What is the best way to store Pop-Tarts?

With such a long shelf life, unopened packets of Pop-Tarts are best stored in a cool, dark place, like your pantry or kitchen cabinet.

If stored like this, they should still be tasty and edible even after their best before date.

However, most Pop-Tarts come in a pack of two, and only one serving is recommended, so what do you do with the other?

If you can reseal the original packaging, do so, or place it in a small airtight container or wrap it in food-safe plastic wrap.

Your Pop-Tart will stay perfectly fresh in the pantry for a week or two.

Related questions

Head over here to clarify other burning questions.

How to tell if Pop-Tarts have gone bad

Pop-Tarts can keep for a long time, but you shouldn’t eat a Pop-Tart that has gone bad.

In addition to risking a nasty stomach upset, a Pop-Tart that’s gone bad won’t taste as good.

Here are the best ways to check if your Pop-Tart is bad:

Texture

Often the first sign of deterioration in a Pop-Tart that you’ll notice is a change in texture.

This is because no matter how good the airtight packaging is, over time they will start to go rancid. A stale Pop-Tart will become brittle and lose the delicious, crunchy texture we all love.

Smell

If your Pop-Tart has gone bad, it will smell musty and moldy. A fresh, edible Pop-Tart should smell sweet and pastry, although when cold it has very little odor.

Remember to smell the stuffing before you eat it: if it doesn’t smell like you expect, throw it away!

color and appearance

Pop-Tarts that have gone bad may develop a layer of mold. It can be on the inside or outside of the Pop-Tart, so just to be sure, cut it in half and take a look.

Check for any discoloration in the dough and filling, such as darker or lighter areas.

How are Pop-Tarts cooked?

Although Pop-Tarts were designed as toaster pastries, they can now be reheated in other ways as well. Here are the best ways to cook Pop-Tarts:

Toaster

The traditional method is to place your Pop-Tart in the toaster. Set the toaster to low, as if you were making lightly browned toast.

Take the Pop-Tart out of the wrapper, pop it in the toaster, and cook it through one cycle. Let the Pop-Tart cool for a few seconds before eating it.

In the microwave

Remove the Pop-Tart from the wrapper and place it on a microwave-safe plate. Heat on full power for 3 seconds.

Let it cool for a few moments before eating it: the filling can get hot very quickly!

Give up cooking

If you have never tried a cold Pop Tart before, they are very good! Many people don’t bother to heat their Pop-Tarts, preferring to eat this toasty snack straight out of the package.

Or better yet, try a frozen Pop-Tart - you may not want to reheat a Pop-Tart again!