Everyone loves fudge and it’s often eaten long before it can go off. But if you don’t eat it, how long can it take to go off? Click here to find out!
Fudge is one of those rare delights that shouldn’t be as good as it is.
Honestly, the whole fact that fudge does taste good is amazing because really it shouldn’t, it is incredibly sweet, very sticky and gooey, and a little crumbly, and we all love it.
It reminds me of summers spent on the beach looking at the pier and fairground rides, while snacking on a huge block of fudge as a lovely breeze blew over my head.
That is the thing with fudge as well, it is not a multi-day treat. It won’t be put in the fridge or cupboard like granny’s Christmas cake or the sweet thing you have with your lunch.
No, a big block of fudge that is pure sugar, butter, and milk, why that has to be eaten all in one go, down the hatch, and then you must feel ill all day afterward.
That is the only way to eat fudge. But what if you don’t do that? What if you want to keep fudge for multiple days? How can you store it? And how long does fudge really last?
In this article, we aim to open your eyes to the possibility of a treat that lasts beyond one day, as we explore how long fudge can really last.
How Long Will Fudge Last In The Fridge?
One of the most useful and easiest appliances to store food in is the trusty fridge. Keeping a cool temperature of around 1 to 4 degrees, they are perfect for keeping food from degrading and becoming inedible.
This also works perfectly for fudge, as being a mix of sugar, butter, and milk, it has ingredients in it that are much more suitable for life in a colder environment. All you need to keep fudge in a fridge is a container with an airtight seal that can fit into your fridge snugly.
As mentioned before, fudge can be somewhat sticky, so before placing it in the container, it is best to line it with either waxed or greaseproof paper that can be lifted out at your leisure. That way there’s no mess and no fuss.
As for how long the fudge will last in the fridge, it will probably last about 2 to 3 weeks. This seems like a long time, especially for something that contains milk, but fudge has already been somewhat cooked.
To make fudge, you cook it at about 112 to 116 degrees Celsius (234 to 241 degrees Fahrenheit), which turns the sugar into what’s called the ‘soft ball stage’, which is the point where the candy is kind of malleable, but not yet 100% sugar.
Since it has reached this stage, the milk, which normally would go bad, is combined with the fats of the butter and a high amount of sugar in the cooking process, which help it last.
However, it is not as shelf stable as chocolate or hard candy, so it needs to be stored properly to help it last that long.
The one problem with storing fudge in the fridge is it can be quite hard when you try to have a bite, however if you take it out and leave it at room temperature for an hour or so before you eat it, then the fudge should be as good as it once was.
How Long Will Fudge Last In The Freezer?
Surprisingly, the freezer is perfect for storing the excess fudge you have or have bought. It keeps it in a solid state and helps it last for an incredibly long time. However, to keep fudge the way you like it in the freezer is tricky, as the two things you don’t want on your fudge are air and moisture.
Considering that freezers are basically boxes of frozen water that radiate cold air which then interacts with the warm air of your creating a moist mist, this seems impossible.
Yet, you can avoid disaster, if you wrap your fudge tightly in wax paper, then in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and finally put it in an airtight container or a freezer bag.
Getting air or moisture through that bad boy will take more than a freezer can give and if you place it at the back of said freezer, the fudge will not be subject to any changes in temperature from the door opening, keeping it fresh and delicious.
Once all your preparations are complete, and you have placed your fudge in the freezer, you can set your timer for 2 to 3 months, because that is how long it will last in there.
This is an incredibly long time for fudge and gives a great little snack for months to come. Not only that, but sometimes if the fudge is stored perfectly, it can last up to a year, which is insane to think about and something I would never have thought possible.
How Long Will Fudge Last At Room Temperature?
Finally, we look at how long you can leave fudge out at room temperature and even though it is shorter than the other two, it is still quite a while. Before you can leave it out, though, you have to know how to store it at room temperature.
As always, cover the fudge completely in waxed or greaseproof paper and place in a sealed airtight container, the paper is especially important at room temperature as this is when it will be at its stickiest and trying to pull a sticky object out of a tight container with no paper is the worst.
Then, put the container in a cool and dry cupboard or, if you have one, a pantry. It needs to be in these kinds of areas, as the temperature needs to be stable, and the fudge can have moisture entering the container or being evaporated from the fudge itself.
Once you’ve made all your preparations, your fudge should last 1 to 2 weeks. Again, this sounds like a lot for a milk based product, but the sugars and butterfat have stabilized the milk, so it will be okay.
However, despite the other methods, I would say this is the easiest and best way to store fudge, as it makes it easy to grab, and you won’t need to store it for long with how much you’ll be eating of it.
Final Thoughts
Fudge is the absolute best. I know some people find it sticky, or too sweet, or 100 other reasons, but I, and a lot of other people, think it’s great.
But storing fudge is always an issue, especially in summer. However, if you use the tips and tricks set out in this article, you should find it incredibly easy, and it’ll last a very long time.
