STORAGE + SHELF LIFE
HOW TO STORE CHOCOLATE
To fully enjoy your Dietsch Brothers chocolate we recommend that you keep your chocolates in a cool (65-70° F) and dry (less than 50% humidity) environment. It is not recommended that you refrigerate or freeze chocolate. In a refrigerator, the temperature is too low and humidity is too high. It is best to store chocolates away from direct sunlight and from products with strong odors such as coffee, candles and smoke since chocolate can absorb odors.
Chocolate should have a smooth, shiny appearance. When chocolate is stored in an environment that is too warm, greyish-white streaks or dots may appear on the surface of the chocolate, called fat bloom. This occurs when chocolate starts to melt and the cocoa butter separates and starts rising to the surface of the chocolate.
On the other hand, when chocolate is kept too cold and then brought back to room temperature, condensation can make sugar condense on the top of the product, forming a rough surface, called sugar bloom and your chocolate may be somewhat sticky.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to discard your chocolates if they bloom. Bloomed chocolate can still be eaten as it only has a very minimal affect on the taste and texture.
HOW TO STORE ICE CREAM
We recommend that you store unopened half gallons and quarts of ice cream in a non-defrosting style freezer. Unopened containers are good for up to three months. Ice cream bars are good for up to three months and nutty cones are good for one month in your freezer.
SHELF LIFE OF CANDY
Shelf life of our candy products varies based on the item. Most of our products are sold within a month from the date they were made. Under ideal conditions here is the anticipated shelf life of our most popular sweet treats:
| PRODUCT | SHELF LIFE |
| Chocolate Covered Pretzels and Roasted Nuts | 3 months |
| Pecan Critters and Choc. Nut Clusters | 3 months |
| Chicago Style/Sweet and Spicy Popcorn | 3 months |
| Sugar Free (depends on type) | 3-9 months |
| Barks | 3-4 months |
| Wrapped Caramels & Filled Clusters | 4 months |
| Peanut Butter Meltaways | 4 months |
| Brittles | 4-6 months |
| Truffles, Toffees & Chocolate Covered Cherries | 5 months |
| Coated Caramels (Regular & Sea Salt) | 5 months |
| Caramel Corn (Plain, Peanut & Almond) | 5 months |
| Coconut Clusters and Chocolate Covered Oreos | 6 months |
| Mint Meltaways and Buckeyes | 6 months |
| Snowballs and Nougats | 10 months |
| Cream Filled Candies | 12 months |
| Dipped Dog Treats | 12 months |
| Solid Milk Chocolate Items | 12 months |
| Solid Dark Chocolate Items | 18 months |