Make Sure Your Cookie Never Crumbles: The Best Way to Store Cookies

Who doesn’t like a freshly baked cookie right out of the oven? No, we didn’t think so!

On the other hand, is there anything more disappointing than biting into a stale cookie and having all your hopes destroyed? We don’t think so either!

Today, we will be looking into how long cookies stay fresh and giving you some handy tips and tricks to make sure every cookie you put in your mouth hits the spot just right!

So if you’re ready, let’s get into it.

How Long Do Cookies Stay Fresh?

There are so many different kinds of cookies, but they can be generally divided into two groups: dry cookies and soft cookies. 

Due to their different textures, they will last for different periods of time so let’s take a look at their shelf lives individually.

Dry Cookies

Shortbread, gingersnap cookies, and Danish butter cookies are some of our ultimate favorite dry cookies. As the name suggests, they have less moisture in the batter, making their texture more crumbly and tender.

Due to this lack of moisture, dry cookies have a longer shelf life than their soft counterparts. If properly stored, they can last 2-3 weeks.

Dry cookies will become soft when they go stale and lose that signature snap. The texture will also be mealy, and a stale taste will be unmistakable.

Soft Cookies

Some of our favorite soft cookies include chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies.

A good soft cookie has a beautifully chewy texture from the moisture in the center with delicate, crispy edges.

Due to the moist center, these cookies are prone to going off more quickly, but they can last up to a week if stored correctly.

Signs to look for in a stale, soft cookie are; that the edges will get very dry, and the moist center will cause the cookie to crumble, literally.

You obviously want to avoid your cookies going bad at all costs, so here are some tips and tricks for how to store them to keep them fresher for longer:

How to Store Cookies For Ultimate Freshness

Soft or dry, the way to store cookies doesn’t change much. Here are a few tips that will keep your cookies fresh for as long as possible:

• Cool thoroughly before storing: This will avoid trapping any warm air in the container, which can cause condensation and make the cookies go soft.

• Store in an airtight container: Keeping air away from your cookies is a sure-fire way to make sure they last. The container of cookies can be stored in a pantry or on a countertop at room temperature.

• Keep flavors separate: Some cookies with strong flavors can leech their flavor into other more mild-flavored cookies if stored together. Storing molasses cookies and shortbread, for instance, will make the shortbread taste like molasses over time. To avoid this, you can keep each flavor in its own airtight container or in the same container in separate Ziploc bags.

• Separate the layers: Cookies tend to stick if stacked on top of one another. You can remedy this by placing a sheet of parchment paper between each layer.

The Best Way to Freeze Cookies

Freezing cookies can be a great way to keep yourself stocked in baked goods. It also stops any leftover cookies from going bad, which would be a great pity. 

If you freeze the cookies on the day you bake them, they should maintain their texture and fresh flavor. Conversely, you could make a batch of cookie dough, slice it into rounds and freeze them before cooking. That way you can cook them from frozen and have a fresh batch of cookies in no time.

Here is a little guide on how to freeze prebaked cookies, so they taste just as good when you thaw them as when they came out of the oven.

1. Place your cookies into a freezer bag and squeeze out all the excess air.
2. Seal well to make sure that the air in the freezer cannot penetrate it as this could cause freezer burn.
3. Place the bag of cookies into an airtight container.
4. Clearly label and date the container to keep your freezer organized. 
5. If you are freezing soft cookies, you can put a sheet of parchment paper between every layer.

It’s really that easy. Now you have cookies on hand for whenever the inevitable craving hits.

How to Thaw Frozen Cookies

The beauty of freezing cookies is that you can pull a batch of cookies out of the freezer and have a home-baked cookie by barely lifting a finger whenever the mood hits. This is even more useful if you are entertaining or want to make a kick lunchbox snack for the kids.

There are a few ways to different ways to thaw them so let’s take a look:

On the Counter

The best way to thaw cookies to maintain their texture is to leave them on the counter to come to room temperature. They should take 1-2 hours to thaw fully, but it will totally be worth the wait.

Oven

If you really can’t wait and don’t worry, we understand. You can defrost the cookies in the oven.

1. Place the oven on low (250/300 C).
2. Line a baking tray with foil or parchment paper and lay out the cookies with an inch or so of space between each one.
3. Heat the cookies until warm; this should take 8-10 minutes.
4. You can feel the center to check that it's warm.

Microwave

The microwave is the last resort in our eyes to thaw a cookie because they can get overly soft, but it’s an alright option in a pinch.

Place the cookie on a microwave-safe plate and warm for 60 seconds at 50% power. Repeat at 30-second intervals until warm.

Conclusion

Cookies are the ultimate little indulgence that we can treat ourselves to brighten our day. Dry or soft, cookies just uniquely hit the spot.

We hope this little guide taught you all you need to know about keeping your cookies fresh for as long as possible so you can treat yourself whenever you feel like it.

We believe no cookie should be left behind, so if you simply follow our advice, you will never have to deal with a stale cookie again.