Exact Answer: 2 To 3 Weeks
Over the last few decades, cookies have gained huge popularity. Cookies are widely eaten as desserts and even snacks. Cookies have several varieties. Depending upon different types of cookie dough, flavors of the cookie, additional ingredients, and all such factors are responsible for such a huge variety of cookies. As every person has different choices and taste preferences, when it comes to eating a favorite cookie, chocolate chip cookies top the list being the most favorite one.
How Long Do Cookies Last?
The shelf life of cookies when kept depends on several factors like the type of cookie dough, what all ingredients are used, amount of cookies. However, among all these factors, the major factor that determines the shelf life of cookies is the type of cookie. Taking a rough estimation about the shelf life of cookies is about 2 to 3 weeks.
In general, homemade cookie dough has a smaller shelf life, whereas, on the other hand, pre-made or ready-made cookie doughs can last for a longer duration of time.
The major reason behind the greater shelf life of readymade cookies is because they have artificially added preservatives and other such substances. These substances are although unhealthy for health because they are synthetic, but play a vital role in increasing the shelf life of cookies. Moreover, practically considering normal conditions, ready-made cookies can last easily from 3 to 4 weeks when kept in the pantry.
Whereas talking about homemade cookies, they can last in the pantry from 1 to a maximum of 2 weeks. The reason behind that is because these cookies do not have any artificially added preservatives or substances like baker’s yeast which work on increasing their shelf life. Although, if you want, you can add such preservatives to your homemade cookie dough if you want to increase the shelf life of cookies. However, it is not recommended because such synthetic preservatives are not good for health.
| Type Of Cookies | Time |
| Readymade cookies | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Homemade cookies | 1 to 2 weeks |
Why Do Cookies Last That Long?
The added preservatives play a vital role in increasing the shelf life of cookies. Moreover, if you are buying the ready-made cookies then it is important to mark the last date or the best before the date mentioned in the packet and then make sure to consume the cookies before that date.
Moreover, if you want to prolong the shelf life of cookies then the best possible way to do that is to store them in an airtight container or a sealed bag. Talking about homemade cookies, as mentioned earlier also that these cookies do not have any artificially added preservatives, they are much more reactive to harmful bacteria and all other germs present in the surroundings, therefore, it becomes really important to store them in a dry and airtight container to keep them away from moisture and other such atmospheric agents.
Apart from the type of cookies, there is another major factor that should be considered while knowing the shelf life of cookies. That factor is the storage conditions of cookies. In general, cookies can be stored in three different places, that are, pantry, the refrigerator, and the freezer. In the pantry, the temperature is just room temperature, the refrigerator has a lower temperature and the freezer has the lowest. Cookies have the longest shelf life when kept in the freezer and the shortest when kept in the pantry.
Talking about storage conditions, another way of increasing the shelf life of cookies can be keeping the cookies in the fridge. This also increases the shelf life of cookies and makes them last longer. However, refrigerating the cookies for too long can lead to spoilage of cookies as well. So, if you are looking for a better way to prolong the shelf life of cookies then you can keep them in freezers, which can increase the shelf life up to months.
Conclusion
Before consuming cookies, it is important to always make sure to check if they are good to eat or not. You can know that by the smell of cookies, color, and texture. If the cookies have a foul smell, green patches, or are too hard to touch then the cookies have gone bad.
