Does Chocolate Ever Go Bad? (The Sweet Truth Revealed)

You’re craving something sweet, so dig around your kitchen pantry, hoping to find a chocolate bar.

And there it is, hidden in the depth of your kitchen shelves lies your favorite chocolate bar.

But as you’re about to rip it open, you notice the printed date on the packaging, and it was 6 months ago!

Should you still take a bite or throw it out? Does chocolate go bad?

But here’s the surprising thing—it won’t go bad the same way other food items do. What do we mean by this?

Well, keep on reading to know more! In this article, we’ll also share with you the following:

If you’re ready, let’s get started!

Can Chocolate Go Bad?

Yes, chocolate can go bad, but not in the way you think.

Because of its nature, chocolate won’t quickly spoil. However, chocolate can go stale (i.e., it may lose its aroma, flavor, or texture may degrade over time).

Here’s why:

Why Doesn’t Chocolate Go Bad?

On its own, chocolate can last for decades due to the following reasons:

• Cocoa butter, the main ingredient of chocolate, is shelf-stable because it contains many antioxidants. Not only that, it’s low in polyunsaturated fatty acids, so it’s resistant to rancidity. (*)
• Bacteria and molds thrive on moisture. Since chocolate has no added water, bacteria and molds won’t grow on it and won’t cause it to spoil.
• Chocolate contains high amounts of caffeine, resistant to mold and fungal growth.

However, this applies only to pure chocolates. Chocolates with added ingredients may have a shorter shelf life due to various factors.

Learn more: Does Cocoa Powder Go Bad or Expire?

What Causes Chocolate To Go Bad?

Despite the chocolate being shelf-stable, it can still go bad due to the following factors:

1. Unstable Ingredients

While cocoa butter is resistant to rancidity, most chocolate products may contain unstable ingredients like butter and milk, which are prone to rancidity.

If the chocolate’s oils, fats, and milk have gone rancid, it may give off an unwanted smell and taste, which can undoubtedly affect the chocolate. (*)

2. Other Ingredients with Shorter Shelf Life

Pure chocolate can last for a long time. However, we can’t say the same for chocolates containing other ingredients, which may have a shorter shelf-life than cocoa butter.

Such ingredients include nuts, dried fruits, cookies, and many more. Unfortunately, once these products are already past their shelf life, they may become stale, affecting chocolate’s overall quality and taste.

3. Improper Storage

If you don’t put chocolate in its proper storage, it may be exposed to air, insects or ants, and moisture. These can affect the chocolate’s taste, texture, and appearance, causing it to go stale.

So What is the Printed Date on Chocolate About?

If chocolate doesn’t go as badly as expected, why is there a printed date on its packaging?

• Fun Fact: The printed date on the chocolate is best-by, not an expiration date.

Best-by dates are rough estimates of when it can retain its best quality. Past the best-by date, chocolate is still safe to consume, but its texture and taste may have already deteriorated.

Learn more: Your Common Food Ingredient’s Shelf Life – A Comprehensive Guide By Groups

How Long Does Chocolate Last? (Different Types of Chocolates + Shelf Life)

There’s no straightforward answer to this because the shelf life of chocolate varies depending on the type of chocolate used, the extra ingredients it contains, and how it’s stored.

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when determining the chocolate’s shelf life:

• The purer the chocolate content, the longer its shelf life.
• The higher the milk content and the more extra ingredients it has, the shorter its shelf life.
• Chocolate products made from unpasteurized milk ingredients and uncooked beans are highly susceptible to bacterial growth and may go bad quicker.

To help you out, here’s a comprehensive table showing the different types of chocolates along with their corresponding shelf life:

Remember that these are just estimates, and the chocolates may go stale faster or slower than the expected shelf life. Because of this, you must check the chocolate for any signs of staleness or spoilage before consuming it.

How to Tell if Chocolate is Bad?

With that said, here are some of the signs that you should watch out for:

1. Lack of flavor and bitter or sour taste

If the chocolate doesn’t taste sweet anymore, it’s time to throw it out. Also, it may sometimes give off a waxy taste when the oil becomes rancid.

2. Rancid Smell

Upon opening the chocolate’s packaging, a strong rancid odor is one clear sign that it’s no longer of high quality, so discard it immediately.

3. Mold Growth

If there are green spots or fuzzy growth at the surface of the chocolate, don’t consume it anymore. (*)

But What if the Chocolate Has White Spots on It?

Chocolates with white spots are still safe to be consumed.

These white spots are signs of fat bloom and indicate that the chocolates’ cocoa butter fats have separated from the cocoa mass and have risen to the chocolate’s surface. This is a result of improper processing or storage.  

The good news is fat bloom only affects the chocolate’s appearance and has no particular impact on its taste, so you can still go and eat it.

How About the Gray Film on the Surface?

It’s safe to consume chocolates with gray film on their surfaces.

The gray film you see is likely crystallized sugar or a sign of sugar bloom. This usually happens when the chocolate is exposed to warm temperatures or quickly transferred from a cold place to a warm place.

This gives the chocolate a grainy or powdery texture, but its taste will remain the same.

How to Store Chocolate?

To preserve the quality of chocolate for longer, proper storage is critical. To help you out, here are some storage tips to keep in mind:

1. Store chocolate at the right temperature.

Contrary to popular belief, chocolate is best stored at room temperature. To be precise, it must be stored at temperatures between 12 to 20 degrees Celsius with a relative humidity of 55%.

In countries with hot climates, you should keep chocolates in a cold, dark, and dry place to prevent them from melting.

2. Don’t put it in the refrigerator.

Surprise: Chocolate shouldn’t be placed inside the refrigerator, and there are two reasons why. Here they are:

Chocolates are extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

Once you remove the chocolates from the refrigerator, they will be quickly exposed to warmer temperatures which will cause sugar bloom. This phenomenon will cause the chocolate’s texture to change.

It will absorb the strong aromas of the other food inside the fridge.

Inside the refrigerator, the chocolates will be beside other food items with strong smells. The cocoa butter in chocolate can easily absorb these unwanted odors, causing its aroma and taste to change.  

3. Keep chocolates away from heat and light.

Protect your chocolates from all types of light—both natural and artificial—to avoid oxidation.

You should also store the chocolate away from heat sources to prevent melting. Exposure to heat may also cause condensation, which introduces water to the chocolate, which might increase the risk of mold growth or bacterial contamination.  

Transfer opened chocolate to airtight containers.

To protect the chocolate from air or insects, transfer the opened chocolate into an airtight container like a Ziploc bag.

If you have many chocolates you can’t consume anytime soon, store them in the freezer.

Freezing is the best way to extend its shelf life. But we’re not going to lie. It will indeed cause a few texture changes.

To avoid this, store the chocolate in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before putting it in the freezer, so it can gradually adjust to the cold temperatures.

When you’re ready to use or eat the chocolates, just simply place it back in the refrigerator for 24 hours to allow it to prevent extreme temperature fluctuations.  

The Bottom Line

Does chocolate ever go bad? Unfortunately, all types of chocolate, including dark and white chocolate, can go bad.

Due to cocoa butter’s stability, chocolates won’t spoil. However, they might get stale, and their texture, appearance, and taste may change over time, which will ruin your experience.

So should you eat that chocolate bar? As long as it’s within the expected shelf life and it exhibits no signs of spoilage, you’re good to go. And make sure to eat it all or follow the storage tips we’ve shared so it can last longer.

Up Next: Do Chocolate Chips Go Bad or Expire? (The Sweet Truth Analysis)