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How Long Do Jelly Beans Last?

How long do Jelly Beans Last? Jelly beans last for 1-2 years beyond any date printed on the package. How long does gummy candy last? The shelf life of jelly beans and other jelly candy depends on the best by date and how the jelly beans are stored. This is true for most any candy, including Skittles and other gummy candy.

Jelly beans are sweet little nuggets of bean shaped jelly flavored with fruit pectin. They are most visible at Easter, but the Jelly Belly company keeps them coming in surprising and unique flavors all year round. If you get a chance to visit their factory or any of their retail shops, they are always happy to let you sample. The firm shell and gummy inside of jelly beans are made of sugar, which is a preservative.

So, how long do jelly beans last? When properly stored, unopened Jelly Beans last beyond their best-by date for the time periods indicated in the table below:

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Jelly Beans Expiration Date

(Unopened)	Pantry
	Past Printed Date
Jelly Beans last for	1-2 Years
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans last for	8 - 12 Months
Gummy Candy lasts for	1 Year
Skittles last for	2-3 Years
Sour Ropes last for	1 Year
Candy Corn lasts for	1 Year
Caramels last for	9-12 Months
Gum lasts for	6-9 Months

Of course, jelly beans will last for a shorter period of time if it is not stored properly. But, like many other products, jelly beans may have a best by date which is simply the last date by which a manufacturer will vouch for a product's quality, not its safety. Because of this distinction, you may safely eat your jelly beans after the best by date has expired.

How to tell if Jelly Beans are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

You can't tell how old a jelly bean is just by looking, this is one you really have to sink your teeth into... the best way to tell if a jelly bean is good is to try and bite it! If your jelly bean is not the freshest you will have to chew it harder than usual and it will probably stick to your teeth.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Jelly Beans to extend their shelf life?

Store jelly beans in a cool dry place at a constant temperature. Heat will make gummy candy so sticky that it will stick to itself.

If gummy candy is opened, it lasts for a shorter period of time - generally 3-6 months.Freezing can be a long term option for some candies, for instance caramels will freeze well for a year.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Jelly Beans:

Jelly beans were the first candy sold by weight rather than price.

How long are Jelly Beans good for when prepared in a dish?

How long do jelly beans last? That depends. How long does chocolate last? In general, jelly beans last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient they are mixed with.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Jelly Beans lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Jelly Beans.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Jelly Beans shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!