Have you ever had to throw out cookies because you couldn’t eat them all before they became stale and old? That can be such a heartbreaking experience. But what if there were ways to keep your cookies fresh for longer? That would be something worth celebrating, right? Well, break out the conga line because a few of our readers have shared how they have solved that problem.
Samantha Opdenbosch
Samantha Opdenbosch is a licensed home baker and owner of Sam’s Cookie Company in Marietta, GA.
Heat-Seal Them
It is absolutely possible to keep cookies fresh for a long time. Once cookies are completely baked, decorated, and dried, they can be heat-sealed in a cello bag and kept fresh for about two weeks.
If cookies need to be made in advance for a large event, they can be placed in their heat-sealed bags, then put in a larger air-tight container and frozen for up to six months.
When you are ready to serve the cookies, make sure that the frozen air-tight container is placed on the counter untouched for an hour or so to thaw. It’s very important not to touch the cookies until they are completely thawed so the decoration will be undisturbed.
If cookies have been left out for a period of time and have gotten hard, another trick is to place the cookies in an air-tight container with a piece of fresh bread. Make sure the bread is not touching the cookies. The moisture from the bread will transfer to the cookies and give them a softer bite!
Freeze Them
I always freeze my cookies to keep them fresh the longest. This works best by freezing them in cookie dough form; however, you can also pop them in [the freezer] post-baking for great preservation. Ensure you wrap them up and seal them in an air-tight container to help them last up to three months.
For best results, freeze your cookies as soon as they have cooled from baking to lock in all that fresh flavor! When your cravings kick in, simply take your cookie out and leave it on the counter to thaw for a couple of hours.
Aysegul Sanford
Aysegul Sanford is a Food blogger and owner of Foolproof Living.
Parvathy Pothan
Parvathy Pothan is the founder-editor of Everything Better.
Store Them in an Airtight Container
One of the best ways to keep cookies fresh for a long time is by storing them in an airtight container.
When exposed to air, cookies become soft and soggy and may even develop fungus. Optionally, you can keep a few grains of rice at the bottom of the container as it absorbs any moisture to keep the cookies crispy.
Ideally, store them in the kitchen cabinet at room temperature and avoid keeping them in the refrigerator. This is because when you take the cookie jar outside, the temperature difference will result in condensation inside the jar, which will make it soggy.
If stored in an airtight container in the kitchen cabinet, cookies can last for six to twelve months, depending on the ingredients used.
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