Nothing beats the taste of freshly baked cookies. Making cookies from scratch is a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. You put in a lot of effort baking a batch, so it’s only natural that you want to eat every single one of them.
Cookies, thankfully, are not picky eaters. They will thrive in any environment that is free of moisture and oxygen (dark, calm, and dry, or “DOR”). However, if you intend to keep your cookies for an extended period of time, it is best to select a fantastic location with low humidity.
Most cookies will not last very long if left out in the open. Some of them will only last a couple of days. The good news is that this issue is far from new. There are several methods you can use to keep your biscuits fresh for a longer period of time.
Baked goods have a relatively short shelf life. Commercial baked goods, such as pastries, bread, and, yes, biscuits, have a longer shelf life than homemade varieties. This is because preservatives were added.
Cookies differ from most baked products in that they do not contain dairy products, eggs, or other consumable ingredients. As a result, many people believe that their shelf life is limited. Biscuits, on the other hand, have a much longer shelf life than you might think – up to 6 months.
There are options for extending the shelf life of cookies without causing serious issues with flavor or recipe ingredients. Each of the options below will extend the shelf life of your cookies, but some are clearly better than others for specific cookies. The following are some of the most crucial methods;
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Limit the moisture content
One of the most important factors affecting shelf life is food moisture content. When the moisture content of food falls below 12 to 14 percent, bacteria, yeast, and molds cannot grow. Fortunately, the majority of biscuits are well below this level.
Excess water can be absorbed into cookies if you spend time in a moist, humid environment. Alternatively, having an allergic reaction to the baking ingredients. If you intend to store cookies for more than two weeks, choose a location with low humidity levels to avoid this. So, if you want your cookies to last longer, avoid making whoopie pies. It is critical to select the appropriate recipe. Stick to drop or cutout cookies that are dryer in texture.
Look no further than your freezer if you want to extend the shelf life of your cookies. Freezing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to extend the shelf life of many foods, including cookies. Baking helps to prevent bacterial growth and staling by freezing baked goods.
The growth of bacteria and mold on food is slowed (or even stopped) by freezing. Most freezers also help to prevent staleness by maintaining a relatively constant level of humidity. Of course, how you handle frozen cookies before freezing affects their quality.
In most cases, freezing cookies to preserve them will not affect the flavor or texture of the cookie. Some bakers dislike freezing cookies because defrosting them causes condensation on the surface, which can ruin the texture.
The best part about freezing cookies is that when you have a sugar craving, you can simply thaw them at room temperature. The best workaround for this problem is to freeze dough that you will later use to make cookies. If you know your cookie recipe yields a large batch, plan ahead and freeze a portion of the dough for a later batch.
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Use of chemical preservatives
Preservatives were developed with the goal of making it easier to extend the shelf life of all foods for commercial and storage purposes. You don’t even have to be a professional baker to use them these days.
There are many different preservatives to choose from if you look online. Citric acid, a naturally occurring common ingredient in citrus fruits, works well with most cookies. The acidity inhibits the growth of both mold and bacteria. Another common bakery additive, BHT, comes in a close second. Most preservatives are best in use by adding a small amount to the dough before baking your treats.
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Addition of golden raisins
Of course, raisins aren’t suitable for every recipe (nor does everyone even like raisins). However, increasing the number of raisins in your cookie recipe may introduce a preservative. And not just any raisins will do; only golden raisins are acceptable.
The color, taste, and texture of golden raisins differ from those of sun-dried brown raisins. Most importantly, they contain sulfur dioxide, which acts as an anti-oxidant and preservative. This is why raisins are a natural preservative. Most other raisins lack this compound and will not work. Sulfur dioxide is safe in small amounts, but some people (particularly those with asthma) are sensitive to this preservative.
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Adding honey
Add honey if your recipe allows it. A jar of pure honey, as you may know, keeps indefinitely. While some liquid honey crystallizes over time, it is still perfectly edible. On the other hand, sugar does. Many savvy bakers still use honey as a sweetener and preservative in their baked goods.
Honey has an acidic pH that ranges between 3.4 and 6.1. Honey’s acidity aids in the inhibition of microorganism growth. Honey’s antimicrobial properties may aid in the preservation of your batch of cookies.
This natural preservative has mixed results, but most bakers will notice a difference in shelf life after replacing 20% of the sugar in a recipe with honey. Sugar should still provide the majority of the sweetness in your cookie dough. In a typical batch, a tablespoon or so of honey is enough to help preserve it.
Conclusion
In short, the main theme of this article is to describe the 5 key methods for boosting the shelf life of the cookies. The shelf life of cookies is determined by a number of factors. It includes the expiration date, the method of preparation, and how the cookies were stored. Cookies are a popular and easy-to-transport dessert because of their low cost and high-calorie density. To keep air and other contaminants out, cookies should be stored in a tightly-closed container or wrapped in plastic wrap. While using the above methods, If you use an air-tight freezer-safe container, you can freeze your cookies and keep their taste. A cookie tin box also provides a fresh taste of cookies. Some Cookie Tin Manufacturers are developing new cookie tin box designs for people to use as decorative boxes or as a gift.
