It is that spooktacular time of year where ghouls and goblins are on the prowl for sugary treats! After their big candy acquisition, there is normally much more than they can, or should be eating at one time. Halloween is the ideal time to stock up on delicious treats!
This begs the question, should you throw out their candy or can you freeze Reese’s peanut butter cups?
A Good Rule of thumb is as long as you freeze the peanut butter cups prior to their “Best Buy” date, they will last up to a year in the freezer! However, it is also imperative that you place your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in a freezer-safe ziplock bag or an airtight Tupperware container to achieve optimal freshness.
Additionally, if you want to store other Reese’s products, make sure to look at the ingredients list first. While Reese’s is owned by Hershey’s, not all of their product line contains chocolate. This will diminish the time in which these products stay safe to eat!
Storage Guidelines: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
It is the perfect culmination of chocolate and peanut butter. Almost 100 years ago, a former Hershey’s employee created this rich and satisfying treat using the signature Hershey’s chocolate that we all know and love.
However, this mouthwatering morsel features items with differing shelf lives. Dark chocolate will last an impressive 2 years, whereas milk chocolate can stay fresh for over a year. In contrast, white chocolate will only last about four months and peanut products only extend for six months.
While this sweet snack contains mostly natural ingredients, they also include TBHQ and citric acid “to maintain freshness”.
What these additives do is even out the “Best Buy” time frame. This allows consumers to safely keep Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for six to nine months in room temperature conditions.
Unfortunately, though, no matter which chocolate and peanut butter combination you choose, once the package is opened, a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup will only stay fresh for three to five days.
How To Store Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups In The Freezer
For those looking to elongate the shelf life of this staple Halloween candy, it is as simple as freezing it!
Simply take Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and place them in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Remove as much air as possible and then label the bag with the date.
You can also use air-tight Tupperware containers to achieve the same result. You can achieve this with or without the original packaging.
If the seal of the candy is unbroken, leave it as such. This will provide a second layer of protection! Then, keep the candy at a consistent zero degrees Fahrenheit until you are ready to eat! This will keep these tasty treats safe to consume for up to a year.
While they can technically last for longer, the quality, texture, and flavor will quickly degrade after this time frame. Lastly, remember to never put products that are past their due date in the freezer.
Storage Guidelines: Other Reese’s And Hershey’s Products
Many peanut butter enthusiasts like to make their own versions of this nutty snack. These come in the form of pies, peanut butter cookies, and even ice cream.
For those who have Reese’s Pieces or chocolate chips on their ingredients list, there is some information that you should keep in mind.
Just as with any other chocolate, the chocolate chips will last up to 18 months when stored in the freezer, as directed above.
Freezing Reese’s Pieces
While many would assume that the same storage advice for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups would apply when you want to freeze Reese’s Pieces, they would be mistaken. Why? Reese’s Pieces do not actually contain any chocolate!
This means that the freezer life is demonstratively less. Therefore, this product will only span about six months following the “Best Buy” date when frozen.
Freezing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie
Additionally, many homemade, cream-based, no-bake products do not bode well in the freezer.
This is because, unlike the cooked varieties, the texture drastically changes in these extreme temperatures to a rubber-like consistency.
Thus, when chocolate and peanut butter ingredients are combined with dairy products like cream cheese and heavy cream, the delectably rich peanut butter pies will only retain their consistency for a few days.
Use a simple freezer wrap or aluminum foil to cover the pie. Then, slide it in a freezer-safe ziplock bag.
Remove as much air as possible. Make sure to eat it within three to four days of preparing the dessert.
Freezing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Conversely, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies are a fantastic treat for any occasion that does quite well in freezer storage!
No matter if you are making a basic peanut butter-style sugar cookie or a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup encased in soft-baked sugar cookie goodness, the storage process will remain the same.
Make your cookies and give them ample time to cool. Once they have reached room temperature, use a freezer-safe air-tight container to store your delicious desserts.
The best practice is to line the bottom of the container with wax parchment paper. Put the first layer of cookies down and then lay another piece of parchment paper down on top of the cookies.
Repeat this process until the bin is full, without making it too crammed. Label the bin and place it in the freezer. This will keep your cookies fresh for up to two months!
Storage Do’s And Dont’s For Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
According to the chocolate experts at Lake Champlain Chocolates, “moisture in the fridge can also lead to ‘sugar bloom,’ meaning the sugar rises to the surface and discolors the chocolate (which has no effect on flavor but doesn’t look too appealing).”
Additionally, “chocolate easily absorbs odors of whatever’s in the refrigerator.”
Thus, avoid the refrigerator if possible. However, if you must keep your chocolates cool, make sure to put them in an air-tight container. This can help to prevent these instances from occurring.
Furthermore, the optimal storage temperatures need to be below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally at 65 to 68 degrees.
Additionally, the humidity needs to be less than 55%. If these criteria are not met, the flavor, texture, and consistency will change. Moreover, have you ever noticed that all chocolates are stored in opaque packaging?
This is intentional. Light is not your sweet treat’s friend. Therefore, store Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in a dark place and away from both natural and artificial light.
Pros And Cons For Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Did you know that chocolate is a heart-healthy food? In fact, the American Cancer Society notes that “research shows that flavanols in cocoa beans, an ingredient in chocolate, are antioxidants, meaning that they may reduce damage to cells. […]
This is especially true for dark chocolate varieties that contain at least 70% cocoa. The chocolate also provides the consumer with an ample source of calcium and iron!
Furthermore, peanut butter has also been shown to help heart health and manage blood sugar levels. This is a convenient attribute when eating sugary chocolate!
Best of all, this sweet snack has almost as much protein as a stick of string cheese and both the peanut butter and chocolate provide an ample amount of potassium.
However, despite these many benefits, it is important to remember that everything is better in moderation.
Moreover, consuming sugar in excess can lead to obesity, diabetes, cavities, and high blood pressure.
The recommended daily allowance for chocolate is approximately one to two ounces per day. That equates to two Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!
While we are not suggesting making this sweet treat a part of every afternoon snack, on occasion, this can be a fantastic and healthier option compared to other candies.
Additionally, due to the higher protein amount, it may help to give you a little more energy to power through your busy afternoon, with less of a crash later.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are wanting to store the one-pound Reese’s easter bunny or just some miniature cups for a quick and tasty afternoon snack, freezing is the optimal method for conserving freshness and flavor.
This is extremely beneficial since this signature brand sells large scale candies for Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and of course, Halloween!
Best of all, while you can always wait to defrost your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in the refrigerator or on the counter (for less than two hours), you can also freeze them and then eat them as a chilly snack.
In fact, many people prefer frozen chocolate and frozen Reese’s Cups over the room temperature varieties.
Some even say that it enhances the distinct flavor. Parents can also use freezing as a simple way of throwing a sweet treat into their children’s lunches without the worry of them melting by lunchtime!
Either way, this delicious snack will help with those cravings! You can also sleep soundly knowing that they have remained fresh!
However, always check your frozen products prior to consumption. Changes in color, texture or consistency can mean that spoilage has occurred.
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Heidi is a wife, mother, Newfie owner, writer and Meteorologist. She was born and raised in Texas and has worked in the broadcast industry for over a decade.