Do Hershey’s Kisses Go Bad? – Full Analysis

Hershey’s kisses, also known as their famous flat-bottomed teardrop chocolate, is one of the most popular brands of candies in the United States. More than 70 million Hershey’s kisses are produced in a single day!

Do Hershey’s kisses go bad? Yes, Hershey’s kisses do go bad, but not as fast as other chocolates that contain dairy. As long as the plastic bag the kisses come in is not damaged or punctured, these chocolate minis can last up to eleven months.

But if you do open the bag, it is best to store them in a ziplock bag. Placing the ziplock bag in the fridge is one way to preserve the kisses. But if you place them back in the pantry after they have been opened, that is fine as well. They just won’t last as long.

How Long Do Hershey’s Kisses Last?

Because of the preservative in the Hershey’s kisses recipes, these little chocolates can last for a long time. If the kisses’ bag is unopened and stored in a cool, dry pantry, the kisses will be safe to eat and bake for 11 months.

Once opened, they must be stored so that no air gets inside the bag. This can be done with a chip clip or a ziplock bag. Then, put the bag back inside the pantry or place it in the fridge if you have a bug issue. While they are in the fridge, the kisses will last 11 months, just like an unopened bag.

How Long Do Hershey’s Kisses Last? Shelf Life [Chart]

Hershey’s Chocolate has Dairy – Why Does it Last So Long?

You may think that because Hershey’s kisses have dairy as part of their ingredients, the kisses will only last two months before going bad. After all, dairy goes bad quickly, and even if there is only a small amount of dairy and nutritious kids, that could certainly speed up the expiration date, right? Well, that would be true if Hershey Kisses didn’t have four types of preservatives to the secret chocolate recipe to keep the kisses stable and prevent the dairy from rotting them from the inside.

But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t store the kisses the right way or leave them out on the counter. The preservative protects the kisses from spoiling if stored away correctly.

How to Know if Hershey Kisses have Gone Bad

Although they may be delicious and bite-sized for our enjoyment, Hershey’s kisses go bad just like all other foods. So, if you find a bag of kisses in the back of your pantry or fridge, and you don’t know how long they have been there, you need to know the signs that chocolate has gone bad.

White spots – this is difficult or easy to do, depending on the size of the kisses. When you take some of the Hershey’s Kisses out of bed, see if they have any small white spots. The small white spots mean that the chocolate is turning old and it is not good to eat. If you see a small amount of spots, but you want to double-check and be sure, take a knife and cut the kisses in half. If the inside is turning white, then the chocolate is too old.

Unfading flavor – Hershey kisses are known for its rich chocolate flavor, but its rich flavor is usually the first to go when chocolate turns old. To check the quality of the Hershey Kisses chocolate, place one or two kisses in your mouth and let them sit on your tongue. If you notice I do not have much flavor, then the kisses are too old.

No chocolate smell – along with its rich chocolate flavor, the Hershey’s Kisses also have a fragrant chocolatey smell. To check for a good smell, smell the chocolate from inside the bag. There is no need to take the chocolate kisses out and place them in your hand. Just smell the bag and see if you can take in the smell of chocolate. If there is no smell, do not use them in your baking because they will not taste very good.

How to Store Hershey’s Kisses

Depending on how the chocolate minis are stored and if their bag is open, they can last for a short or long while. Just remember, the less contact the chocolates have with air and moisture, the longer they will last.

In an unopened bag – when you first buy the chocolates and store them in your home, place them in a cupboard or a pantry that doesn’t get any light and humidity, and moisture does not seep in. But if the temperature in the pantry rises above 75F/23.9C, then put the kisses in the fridge, or else they will all melt together. 

In an opened bag in the pantry – After you are finished with the kisses, place the kisses in a ziplock bag and store them back in the pantry. It is a good idea to write the date you opened the bag somewhere near the top, so you don’t use it after a certain time.

In an opened bag in the fridge – If the weather is hot or you have an infestation of bugs, then it is best to place the bag of kisses in the fridge. It will be safer in avoiding the bugs who will chew through the plastic and lay eggs on the chocolates. Put the bag in the back of the fridge, so the temperature around the chocolates doesn’t change suddenly every time the refrigerator door is opened. 

Can You Freeze Hershey’s Kisses?

While a person doesn’t need to freeze Hershey’s kisses, you can do so if you want. We recommend that you place an unopened bag of Hershey’s Kisses in a heavy-duty freezer gray Ziploc bed and store them near the bottom of the freezer. But watch over the bag to prevent it from developing freezer burn.

Conclusion

• Hershey’s Kisses are mini chocolates with a conical shape and are used in many baked goods.
• Even though Hershey’s kisses have a few dairy ingredients, they do not spoil quickly because of the stabilizers and preservatives that keep them shelf-stable.
• If the Hershey’s Kisses are in an unopened bag and stored in a cool, dry place that does not reach above 75 degrees Fahrenheit or 23 degrees Celsius, they will last for 11 months.
• Once they’re open, they must be stored so that no air gets into the bag.
• Protecting the kisses with a chip clip or a ziplock bag
• Even though Hershey’s Kisses contain dairy, the preservatives and she’ll stabilizers in the recipe keep them safe enough to eat for 11 months
• There are three ways to know if the kisses have gone bad; by taste, by looks, and smell.
• If the kisses have white patches, the chocolate is now old
• Also, if the chocolate has no taste or smell, then it is turning old.