Event planning (and shopping) can take several weeks and even months!
As event planners will tell you, buying the small things early in the shopping stage. But how early is too early to start preparing a Candy Buffet for your special day?
Let us help ease some of the workloads as we walk you through your candy buffet set-up arrangements. Consider us your mobile event planner - on-call day & night!
To answer the question of “when” to shop for your buffet goodies, we assembled a Must-Have Shelf-Life Guide to keep handy throughout your event planning days.
Remember, while most candy is best kept at room temperature, there are varieties that can be chilled or even frozen. But be cautious, not all sweets are freezer-friendly!
For special events in the summer or in hot climates, consider ordering early to take advantage of the cooler weather and avoid extra shipping costs and please store your candy in a climate-controlled setting.
Shelf-Life Guide
Almonds – 1 year (pantry or refrigerator), 2 years (freezer)
Altoids – 18 months
Bubble Gum – 6 months
Bubble Gum (Big League Chew) – 15 months
Bubble Gum Ball (All Colors) - 3 months
Chewing Gum (Big Red) – 10 months
Chewing Gum (Dentyne) – 18 months
Chewing Gum (Doublemint) – 10 months
Chewing Gum (Juicy Fruit) – 10 months
Chewing Gum (Eclipse) – 12 months
Chewing Gum (Extra) – 18 months
Chewing Gum (Freedent) – 9 months
Chewing Gum (Orbit) – 10 months
Chewing Gum (Winterfresh) – 10 months
Butterscotch – 10 months
Cashews – 6-9 months (pantry), 1 year (refrigerator), 2 years (freezer)
Candy Bars – 2 - 4 months (pantry), 4 - 6 months (refrigerator), 6 – 8 months (freezer)
Caramel – 6-9 months (pantry or refrigerator), 1 year (freezer)
Candy Corn - 1 year
Caramels – 9 - 12 months
Gobstoppers – indefinite
Gummi Candy – 6-8 months (pantry or refrigerator), 12 months (freezer)
Jellybeans 1 – 2 years
Jelly Belly Jellybeans – 8 months
Jordan Almonds (also called candy confetti) – 2 – 4 months, 12 months
Lollipops – 6 months
Malted Milk Balls – 6-9 months
Milk Duds – 9 months
M&M’s (plain) – 12 months (pantry), 12 – 16 months (freezer)
M&M’s (peanut) – 6 months (pantry), 12 – 16 months (freezer)
M&M’s (peanut butter) – 6 months (pantry), 12 – 16 months (freezer)
M&M’s (mint) – 12 months (pantry), 12 – 16 months (freezer)
Novelty Candy – 12 months
NECCO Wafers – 12 months
Packaged Cookies (unopened) – 1 – 2 months, 4 – 5 months
Packaged Cookies (opened) – 2 – 3 weeks, 4 – 5 months
Pistachios – 3 months (Pantry ONLY – do not freeze or refrigerate)
Peanuts - 6-9 months (pantry), 1 year (refrigerator), 2 years (freezer)
Reese’s Pieces – 12 months
Sunflower Seeds –4-5 months (pantry), 12 months (refrigerator or freezer)
Smarties – 2 tears
Skittles – 2 - 3 years
Starburst – 2 – 3 years
Sour Ropes - 1 year
Twizzlers – 7 months
Hard Candy – 12 months
Unwrapped Bulk Candy - 3 months; however, certain items such as Candy Roll Wafers, Runts, Rock Candy Strings, and Candy Blocks will last longer due to their consistency.
Wrapped Bulk Candy: 12 months.
If perishability or exposure to high temperatures is an issue, the rule of thumb is "the softer the candy, the more likely it is to be damaged."
Please be aware that the guidelines provided are suggestions and cannot ensure complete accuracy.
