Does Chocolate Go Bad? Here’s the Sweet Truth (2024)

Calling all chocolate lovers—this one's for you! If you’ve ever done a spring cleaning and found a stash of old Halloween candy or Valentine’s Day chocolates from years past, you know how thrilling and confounding it can be. While a fun-sized piece of chocolate might be exactly what you wanted to find during your yearly pantry organization, you’re also probably thinking, How old is this candy? And does chocolate go bad? When it comes to safely eating chocolate, there are a few things to consider that might surprise you. Before eating (or baking with) your old chocolates, read on to find out if it’s past its prime or still as delicious as ever.

Ree Drummond has tons of chocolate dessert recipes—using everything from white chocolate chips to milk chocolate candies to dark chocolate bars—so it’s safe to say that she uses chocolate in her kitchen on many occasions. But there’s nothing worse than getting excited to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies only to discover that the old, half-used bag of chocolate chips in the back of the pantry is looking a little gray and dismal. It sounds like you’re out of luck, but once you know if chocolate goes bad or not, you may find yourself baking cookies after all.

There’s no hard and fast rule for knowing if your chocolate is fresh. In fact, the shelf life of chocolate depends on a few factors, namely the type and quality of the chocolate, and how it's stored. The good news is that as long as it looks, smells, and tastes normal, it’s generally safe to eat. Here are some tips for storing chocolate to preserve its freshness for as long as possible and how to tell if your chocolate has gone bad.

How long does it take for chocolate to go bad?

You can go years without ever noticing the piece of leftover Halloween candy buried in your coat pocket, but once you do come across it, 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. Chocolate with higher milk content (like white chocolate or milk chocolate) will go bad quicker than chocolates with lower milk content (like semi-sweet, bittersweet, and dark chocolate). It’s generally okay to eat chocolate for months past the expiration date if it’s been unopened or stored correctly.

Here’s a quick guide to chocolate types and their shelf lives:

Dark chocolate, baking chocolate, bittersweet, or semi-sweet: The higher the cocoa percentage, the longer the shelf life. These chocolates will generally stay fresh for one to two years.

Milk chocolate: So many holiday candies are made of milk chocolate. If you come across a piece that’s unopened, it can stay fresh for up to one year. But if there are nuts or other ingredients involved (like with Snickers or Reese’s), the candy is more prone to going bad at a quicker rate.

White chocolate: The outlier of the group—some might even say it’s not real chocolate, but that’s for another day. Since white chocolate is made up of dairy and cocoa butter, it’s likely to go bad earlier. It can last up to six months unopened.

What’s that white stuff on my chocolate?

Have you ever come across an old bar of chocolate and noticed a chalky white color on the surface? Or something that looks like gray dust? Don’t worry! It’s not unusual for this to happen and there’s even a name for it—it’s called chocolate bloom. The good news is that this doesn’t mean the chocolate has gone bad. There are two types of bloom: fat bloom and sugar bloom. Fat bloom happens when the chocolate is exposed to inconsistent temperature changes, causing that white film on the surface. Sugar bloom happens when the chocolate is exposed to moisture, causing gritty-looking sugar crystals to form. Bloomed chocolate is still perfectly safe to eat, but it won’t have the same delicious taste or texture as fresh chocolate. Instead, try baking with it—you won’t notice any difference in your cookies!

How can you tell if chocolate has gone bad?

If your chocolate smells bad or has any kind of mold, it’s time to throw it in the trash. And if there are any cracks on the surface, chances are that the chocolate is stale and past its prime. Use your best judgment: If it looks and smells like chocolate, it'll likely taste like chocolate. Any questionable smells or mold is better off being tossed.

How do you store chocolate?

Chocolates are best stored in a cool, dry place like your pantry. Too warm or too cold and your chocolates are bound to either melt, collect condensation, or start to mold. It’s tempting to keep chocolate in the refrigerator, but unless you live somewhere really hot, it’s best not to. The fridge is a breeding ground for odors, and it can cause chocolates to bloom. If possible, keep your chocolate in its original packaging, especially if it’s packaged in aluminum or opaque paper—these materials help keep out light and moisture. If the chocolate is unwrapped, store it in a sealed freezer bag or air-tight container.