When I started off storing candy, I used only quart jars for my family of five children. We quickly realized that we simply didn't need that much candy to improve our attitudes. Pint or even half-pint jars are more than enough, depending on the size of your family and the kind of candy you are storing.
Vacuum-sealing the candy keeps it fresh and significantly reduces the temptation to sneak "just one" by you or gnomes or minions, or whoever it is that plagues your house.
Ten years of experience in vacuum-sealing and storing our candy has taught us the following rules:
- Do place a variety of candy in each jar so that people can choose their favorites. (OK, there is serious debate on this point. I think having a variety is the way to go. But I apparently lack the very discriminating palate my children are blessed with. They prefer to have all Twix in one jar, all M&Ms in another, and so on. They say otherwise the flavors all blend together. I think it's nonsense.)
- Definitely do not combine "fruity" and chocolates--the chocolate will take on fruit smell. Starburst-flavored chocolates are just sad.
- The caramel in Twix gets hard after about a year, but otherwise it tastes fine.
- Do not combine hard and soft candies.
- Do not can your kids' Halloween candy in a #10 can, put it in with a case of wheat, and tell them they'll be happy to have it someday, because you know someday is coming soon. That was ten years ago. They haven't let me forget it. And we still haven't found it.
- Jelly Bellies, even vacuum-sealed in a desert, eventually get kind of sticky after about three years.
- Candy canes go a little "soft" in moderate to high humidity areas, but I haven't experienced any problems in our desert area.
- Red Vines do not store well at all, even for three months. Of course, it's not that they spoil. They're all sugar. But the texture isn't good at all.
- Marshmallows, though I would not consider them candy, do not vacuum seal well, either. They kind of just become a mess.
- Be at the store early in the morning the day after the holiday passes to get good deals on candy. Of course, the Snickers and M&Ms go very quickly.
- Do not label the case as "candy." Labeling it as beans or dry milk will significantly extend its shelf life. And if you are forgetful, it will be a great surprise someday. I really love those kinds of surprises.
I've never had anything go bad in all the years we've been doing
this, but I don't think we've ever opened a jar that was more than two
years old. However, back in the days when you were able to borrow the
canners from the Home Storage Centers and buy #10 cans and lids and can
food at home, we placed two fun-sized packets of M&Ms in the cans of
wheat we were canning. We came across one of those then nine-year-old
cans earlier this year. I think I ate the peanut M&Ms quite
quickly. Of course, it was only in the name of research. I had to be
very sure that none of the peanuts had gone rancid. None had. I am
such a thoughtful mom in that respect. I managed to restrain myself and
generously let the children have the plain M&Ms.
Of course, it should go without saying that this is expanded
food storage. You don't get to buy candy until you've gotten at least a
year's supply of the basics of food storage for your family. You've
got to be the adult. However, it really gives children a great sense of
security and peace to know that their parents are not only making sure
that they have food to eat, but also that they're going to maintain
normalcy as best as possible in a difficult situation.
1 december 2018
Marshmallows can be dehydrated then vacuum sealed and will last indefinitely. They end up like the hard marshmallows in cereal.
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