Shelf Life of Cocoa

[weinoo]

Let's say I bought a bunch of different brands of good cocoa a while ago. Some of it is opened, some is still closed.

 

Most of it has expired by the package date; some recently, some not so.  Stored almost properly, in my room temp kitchen.

 

None of the previously opened packages had any off-smell to me; some definitely smell more cocoa-y. 

 

How long does cocoa last unopened? Opened? 

[Kerry Beal]

I'm sure some of the stuff in my house is more than 10 years old - low available water - low fat so little risk of rancidity. I use it!

[Margaret Pilgrim]

3 minutes ago, Kerry Beal said:

I'm sure some of the stuff in my house is more than 10 years old - low available water - low fat so little risk of rancidity. I use it!

Sounds normal here.

[pastrygirl]

Being finely ground is not a plus for shelf life but I’d still use it at least a year past date. 

 

 

[ElsieD]

Let's say I just checked mine and found that my black cocoa is well passed it best before date but I 'd still use it.  As long as it doesn't smell or taste "off".

[blue_dolphin]

From our friends over at Cook's Illustrated/American Test Kitchens: Don't Toss Expired Cocoa Powder

 

Quote

Some see a box of unsweetened cocoa powder six years past its expiration date and think “trash.” In the test kitchen, we think “testing opportunity.”  Wondering if cocoa spoils or loses its flavor over time as spices do, we made hot cocoa and chocolate butter cookies with the six-year-old cocoa and a freshly opened box of the same product. When we tasted them side by side, only about half the tasters noted a difference, calling the samples made with the geriatric cocoa “duller,” “weaker,” and “more mellow.” No one noted any off-flavors.

 

 

 

Edited May 26, 2023 by blue_dolphin
to fix quote (log)

[Margaret Pilgrim]

Seems a consensus that is doesn't go "off".   As with any aging spice, maybe a need to use a bit more than in its prime.

[weinoo]

2 hours ago, Kerry Beal said:

I'm sure some of the stuff in my house is more than 10 years old - low available water - low fat so little risk of rancidity. I use it!

 

This is what I was hoping for.

 

35 minutes ago, Margaret Pilgrim said:

Seems a consensus that is doesn't go "off".   As with any aging spice, maybe a need to use a bit more than in its prime.

 

Spices, to me, are very different, I tend to go through them annually, and get rid of any even a few months past their expirations. They're probably not a hundred percent fresh when they get ground to sell.

Edited May 26, 2023 by weinoo (log)