When should you throw away Valentine’s Day chocolates and candy?

No other holiday fills our homes with chocolates like Valentine’s Day, but when does the candy expire and how soon should you throw them away?

Halloween is a close second, but on Valentine’s Day, everyone both young and old receives chocolates on the day of love. Other candy varieties are popular, of course, but chocolate is the clear winner on February 14. But what if you simply have too many or your kid came home from school with more chocolates than you’d like them to have?

If you’re wondering how long is too long to hang on to Valentine’s Day goodies, you came to the right place!

There are many who believe it’s perfectly fine to keep holiday candy (including Halloween, Christmas, and birthday treats) for as long as they’d like. They simply store it in a jar and keep it in a cool place to snag a treat or two whenever the craving strikes. If you do this, though, you’re risking a big stomach ache or worse.

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All candy should have an expiration date printed on their label, so be sure to check it! If you can’t find it or threw away the container, it’s a good rule to only keep the candy for no longer than up to 8-10 months after purchase — so long as you keep it stored in a cool and dry place.

This may be up to each taste bud, but I love storing my chocolates in the freezer, especially Kit Kat bars. I don’t need to worry about expiration dates because, well, let’s just say the chocolate doesn’t last too long at my home anyway.

Chocolates: Milk and white chocolate is good for up to ten months. Dark chocolate may last longer, but I would advise to stick to under 10 months with all chocolates.
Lollipops: If kept in a cool and dry place, hard candy like lollipops can last up to a year.
Gum: If sealed and properly stored, you can enjoy gum for six to nine months.

Again, I wouldn’t keep any candy or chocolate for over 10 months. There’s really no need, a new holiday will roll around in no time! What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day treat?