Does chocolate go bad?

13 years ago

I "found" a couple of those Pound-Plus Belgium chocolate bars from Trader Joe's waaaaaaay in the back of my cupboard. One is dark chocolate and one is milk chocolate.

They are both unopened. One has a *best by* date of Oct 2010 and the other has a *best by* date of May 2011.

Yes, I sure am wondering about How on Earth could I have Forgotten Chocolate in the Cupboard! lolam

I know I could open them and see if there's any bloom or whatever, and I could open them and taste, but before I do that...does chocolate go bad? If not, I might just open it when a friend comes over tomorrow, and we can revel in these! :O)

Smiles,
Sooz

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

annie1992
13 years ago
Chocolate doesn't go bad in the sense that it's unsafe to eat, it doesn't mold or spoil. However, it will bloom if the temperature variations are such as to cause that. That doesn't affect the safety of the chocolate, and it's still fine to bake or cook with, although it's a bit "off" if you're eating it straight. I think it's more a texture thing than a taste issue.

I've eaten chocolate older than that so I wouldn't hesitate to taste it. If it's good, eat it. If it has bloomed then there's a possibility you won't enjoy eating it by itself, bake some cookies or brownies and enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate!

Annie
rosesinny
13 years ago
Chocolate is a little bit like wine. If it is good to start with and if you store it well, for some period it will actually improve. People don't age it, and with good reason, but if you get to try a perfectly aged bar, it's actually pretty good.

If you don't store it well, the fat will start to separate and as posted above, it will "bloom", which ruins it as far as I'm concerned.

The difference between chocolate and wine however, is that chocolate contains fat and wine doesn't. Fat will go rancid. So while you can age chocolate if you keep it in the right conditions, your cupboard is NOT the correct condition for it!

That's OK tho - you can probably bake something with it. I don't know what Trader Joe's is selling though, so if it's like their wine, I'm not sure I'd bet on keeping it.
Related Discussions
does fish emulsion go bad?
Q
Comments (7)
The answer is NO. Any natural fertilizer product that is closed up in a bottle or container is anaerobic, and that is why it smells bad. All beneficial microbes that are involved in all sustainable gardening and farming soils are 99.99% aerobic! All modern composting methods for gardens and farms, are totally 100% aerobic decomposition processes. The anaerobic microbes have no real function or benefit to our organically grown crops, or to the organic farmer. Many diseases and pathogens are passed to plants via anaerobic microbes. However, if anaerobic fertilizing materials like fish or seaweed emulsions or old stinky organic teas, are well diluted (and used correctly and safely), and used as a light soil drench, the good aerobic soil microbes can digest them and neutralize them over time, before they can do any harm to the crops. Using sugary applications like dry molasses in the soil, is another smart way to get more aerobic soil microbes to overcome the anaerobic microbes near growing crops. I use old anaerobic teas of horse manures, fish, or seaweed, in very small portions in some of my large aerated compost tea recipes. This way I get the benefit of the extra protein and carbohydrate nutrients from the materials, while neutralizing most of the anaerobic microbes in the tea brew, before I apply the diluted tea to my crops. If an aerated tea is 100% aerobic, it can be used in a diluted form as both a foliar and soil application, on any plant. Indoors or outdoors. Anaerobic teas on the other hand are risky, and usually are safe if diluted and used only as a soil drench application. Hope this helps. Happy Gardening!
...See More
Does Glyphosate and/or 2-4-D concentrate go bad?
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks rhizo! But, as I recall, the shelf-life of those concentrates could be anywhere from 2 to 8 years. shelf-life...that is the term I couldn't remember, thus couldn't research it very well. Cool, dark, and dry pretty much sums it up. Yes, has been stored well. Ok, in doing some more searching using 'shelf life' I found where the question was asked on another site and a Consumer Response Representative from The Scotts Company and replied. He said: Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate has a shelf life of a minimum of eight years. The product may last beyond the minimum time period though. Many variables in storage conditions can affect the shelf life of a product. Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate will not be fully effective one day and ineffective the next; the product will gradually lose its effectiveness over time. Store both unopened and opened product containers in a cool, dry place and protect them from extremes in temperature. Freezing temperatures, for example, won't affect the product, but may cause damage to the container and could result in a chemical spill. Stored correctly, your product will last at least the minimum number of years and probably longer. ------------------------------------------- It's a good policy for all of us to purchase only the amount of certain products that we are reasonably sure we'll use in one year. Going forward, when purchasing I'll consider a smaller container, or else maybe opt to split it with a neighbor who also has a high usage every year. Thank you again. Sue
...See More
Does Feta go Bad?
Q
Comments (11)
Yes, I have had packaged feta go bad, moldy. I hated to toss it, but was too busy to remember to use it, so another few weeks in the fridge would not improve it. Sometimes when I venture into city-land, I stop at a section of Watertown and stock up on Middle Eastern goodies. I like the French feta as a sometimes alternative treat. I had a package of goat cheese in the cellar fridge that I kept forgetting to use. MONTHS. Maybe 6 months. It didn't have any off notes, but my imagination got the better of me and as it was only $5 worth, I experimented and rubbed it onto the bark of a large red maple (Q. rubra). Darn if my buddy the catbird didn't think it was just the berries. That catbird and I have sort of a friendship. She comes over to visit when I'm outside in a hammock or chair. I go out of view, catbird repostitions herself so that she can see me and talk away. I put oldish berries, melon and grape jelly out for her. Her favorites are the grape jelly cups and the chevre sur la bark. lorel*, you are a brave one.
...See More
Does laundry powder go bad? Lol
Q
Comments (11)
The box is from 2008 or 2009, and was actually one of P&G's stint in Private Label goods. It's supposed to compare to Gain Powder at the time (which wasn't 2x Concentrated) and is designed for Top Loading Washers. Let me just say, this stuff Oozes suds. But it cleaned very, very well. You'll notice if the scoop is inside, that it's way bigger than a usual powder scoop, because it was made before they compacted everything. If I were you - I'd save the stuff. If you ever have a grease spot/spill in particular, it'll work wonders on a driveway or garage floor. But don't attempt to use it at all in a Front Loading washer.
...See More
sooz
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks!!!
Smiles,
Sooz
westsider40
13 years ago
It didn't 'expire'. It is 'best by', accent on the 'best', as Peg Bundy said.

So maybe it would have been exceptional by 2010, but no way did it expire. I have found and enjoyed chocolate with a bloom and the Pound Plus is sooo good.
OklaMoni
13 years ago
if you are really unsure, send it to OKC, and I will take it upon myself to test it for you.

:)

Moni
sooz
Original Author
13 years ago
We opened the dark chocolate tonight, and am happy to report ... it's ALL GOOD!

Okay, we didn't eat it ALL, but I did have a couple of pieces and they were just fine! The dark chocolate was the "oldest" so that means the milk chocolate is just fine too!

Thanks again, and Moni, thanks for offering to test it for me! :O)
Smiles,
Sooz

Does chocolate go bad?

Comments (6)

annie1992

rosesinny

Related Discussions

sooz
Original Author

westsider40

OklaMoni

sooz
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Does chocolate go bad?

Comments (6)

annie1992

rosesinny

Related Discussions

soozOriginal Author

westsider40

OklaMoni

soozOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

sooz
Original Author

sooz
Original Author