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Hurricane Sandy hit at the time when most people are shopping for candy for trick-or-treat.SHELLY STALLSMITH, The Patriot-News
Have more candy than you know what to do with?
Such is the fate for post-Halloween days. And if you haven’t been saddled with bags of chocolat-y goodness yet, chances are you will be tonight.
It is not just the trick or treaters who are finding themselves loaded up on sweets. Hurricane Sandy has put a damper on Halloween for many. After tonight, the treat givers might still have an arsenal of candy if trick or treaters don’t show up.
There is only so much candy one can eat in one sitting. So what are the best methods to preserve the rest?
We asked Lee Zimmerman of Zimmerman’s Nuts & Candy in Penbrook and various chocolate companies for their tips on keeping that treat tasty for longer.
Follow the 50/50 rule. Zimmerman recommends that candy generally be stored at around 50 degrees and 50 percent relative humidity. Wilbur Chocolate in Lancaster, however, says that 63 to 68 degrees is the ideal temperature range for storing candy.
Know your candy. No one wants a rock-hard coconut bar, so be sure to store those closer to room temperature. It's the same for licorice.
Avoid the refrigerator. Hershey's recommends not putting chocolate in the refrigerator for safe keeping. The chocolate might not melt properly if it has been kept in the cold box.
Maintain breathing room for candy. Wilbur recommends keeping its treats 4 inches off the floor and 4 inches away from the walls to allow proper air circulation around the chocolate.
Go old fashioned. Not sure you're going to be able to give your candy the perfect temperature it deserves? Zimmerman recommends opting for old-fashioned candies such as Mary Janes and Bit of Honeys. "They can take the warmer temperatures with the colder ones."
Hold onto candy corn. Because the Halloween treat is mostly cooked sugar, Zimmerman says it will "last literally three years." The manufacturer of Smarties recommends the same for its candy. Although if people follow the 50/50 rule, they could last longer.
Keep chocolate away from pungent food. Chocolate absorbs nearby odors, Wilbur says. Having the candy near items with a strong smell can alter the flavor of the confection.
Eat nuts first. Treats with nuts has a shorter shelf life than most because the nuts can go rancid. Zimmerman says that it puts a six months shelf life on its peanut-butter candies. "But if frozen, it will last up to a year," the company adds.
Tired of eating candy bar after candy bar? Take those sweets and craft a brand new treat with recipes for leftover candy dishes. Click here for recipes from The Hershey Company and here for recipes from Mars.
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