6/1/2023 0 Comments Cacao powder shelf life![]() ![]() THE TAKEAWAY: If you come across cocoa powder that's past its expiration date–even by a couple of years-it's fine to use. Provided cocoa powder is kept in a sealed container and kept at room temperature, it can last for many years before ever becoming too spoiled to consume. Cocoa powder may go bad eventually, but it would likely take many many years for this to take place. The more volatile the molecule, the more rapidly it evaporates and degrades. Cocoa powder sets itself apart with its incredibly long shelf life. It’s important to remember that this is not really an expiration date but rather the day when the quality of the product will begin its’ inevitable decline. The compounds that give cocoa powder its flavor are less volatile than those in ground spices, which lose much of their flavor and aroma after about a year. Shelf Life of Cocoa Powder Every container of cocoa powder comes with a Use by or Best before date. When we repeated the test using high- and low-fat cocoa powders one to two years past their expiration dates, again comparing them with samples made with fresh cocoa, tasters could not differentiate between the samples. It can be stored in an airtight container for up to 6 months. When we tasted them side by side, only about half the tasters noted a difference, calling the samples made with the geriatric cocoa “duller,” “weaker,” and “more mellow.” No one noted any off-flavors. How Long Does Cocoa Powder Last If you buy cocoa powder in bulk, it will last longer. Some see a box of unsweetened cocoa powder six years past its expiration date and think “trash.” In the test kitchen, we think “testing opportunity.” Wondering if cocoa spoils or loses its flavor over time as spices do, we made hot cocoa and chocolate butter cookies with the six-year-old cocoa and a freshly opened box of the same product.
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