Gummy Bears are a special kind of candy, they are both colorful and filled with flavor. Gummy bears are gelatin-based. That’s what keeps all of the sugar, citric acid, glucose syrup, and food coloring.
Although Gummy bears are usually store-bought, you can make them by yourself. Gummy bears would only last about 5 days before drying out, especially the homemade ones. So, how you preserve this yummy sweet tooth pacifist.
Can you freeze gummy bears? Yes, you can. Store-bought gummy bears can be frozen for up to a year. While homemade gummy bears should be eaten in about 4 – 6 months for best quality. Freezing gummy bears does not affect the taste or flavor, although frozen gummy bears can be a bit chewy than typical room temperature gummy bears.
Gummy bears have freezer-friendly components. If stored in the right way, it might last for up to a year. The ingredients in the gummy bears are self-preservative themselves so just a little help from you will keep it going.
Please note that your environment can also affect how long your gummy bears would last. The difference in environments or climate would mean a variation in room temperature. If you live in hot regions, it is recommended that you store in cool air tight spaces. This helps to prevent the gummy bears from melting from the heat.
To learn proper gummy bear preservation, keep reading this article.
How to Freeze Gummy Bears
You do not need special equipment to freeze gummy bears. Store-bought gummy bears would have special preservatives that increase their shelf life. But when opened, gummy bears aren’t something you just throw in the pantry for too long.
Homemade gummy bears contain no preservatives. This makes them a tad bit healthier than the store-bought ones, but it comes with the disadvantage of very low shelf life. In simple and easy steps, here’s how to freeze gummy bears.
Step 1: Pre-freezing
Gummy bears have a sticky nature, freezing them might amplify that and make them clump together. The pre-freezing process also helps to freeze each gummy bear thoroughly.
To do this, line a cookie sheet or baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Spread out the gummy bear of the lined baking sheet. Space them so they are not touching each other. Leave in the freezer to freeze for about 4 to 6 hours.
After freezing the gummy bears for a while, bring them out for freezing and further storage.
Step 2: Storage and Freezing
Airtight freezer bags are perfect for freezing almost anything. But, the key to freezing properly is to reduce contact between air, moisture, and other food items.
Pack the half-frozen gummy bears into the bags, press them flat, expel as much air as you can from the bags before sealing them. Label the bags with a sharpie, stating the date of the freeze and the contents. This will help you keep track of what you have frozen.
If you have a food calendar, Mark the date of the freeze on the calendar so you can eat the gummy bears while they are still at their best quality. You can also use sticky notes, to mark the date by which the gummy bears must be eaten in your freezer.
How to Thaw Frozen Gummy Bears
Frozen gummy bears are juicer than room temperature gummy bears and would give you that burst of taste and flavor you would not get from normal ones. You can eat your gummy bears without thawing them, it might be chewier, but that just means you would spend more time assuring your sweet tooth.
If you want your gummy bears thawed, remove them from the freezer and put them into the refrigerator to thaw at a regulated temperature overnight. You can also thaw your gummy bears on the counter, but you would enjoy them more when they are chilled.
Gummy bears cannot be thawed wrongly except if you go too far and melt them. This juicy candy can still be enjoyed even if you thaw it under running water.
What Makes Gummy Bears Hard?
Gummy bears will become hard upon exposure to air. But, it is okay. Hard gummy bears are not spoiled or inedible – all you need to do is to rejuvenate them.
You can rehydrate gummy bears by tossing them into a bowl of warm water to soften them. Do this for no more than 20 minutes so that they do not melt. Wait till the gummy bears dry and then eat them or store them properly for a long while. Just follow the freezing process as described above.
Can Gummy Bears Mold?
Yes, they can. If not stored properly, or if stored in a place where there is contact with moisture, your gummy bears will mold. Gummy bears hardly go bad but storing them in unsavory conditions can render them inedible.
Can Expired Gummy Bears Make Me Sick?
Candies contain sugar, glucose syrup, and gelatin. These are not harmful and can last for a long while before going bad. You can eat gummy bears a few days after the expiration date but do not make a habit out of eating expired candy.
After the expiry date, the quality, flavor, texture, and taste would reduce, and your gummy bears might not taste right. It is not advisable to eat expired food items as they could be harmful to your wellbeing.