How long cookies and cookie dough last, from pantry to freezer
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 2-6 months
Keep cookies in the pantry, where soft cookies last 2 to 3 months and crispy cookies 4 to 6 months from the day you buy them.
Watch out Throw out moldy cookies, because porous baked goods can be contaminated below the surface.
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Freezer
Keeps for 8-12 months
Freeze soft or crispy cookies for 8 to 12 months from the day you buy them, and thaw them slowly in the refrigerator.
Refrigerated cookie dough is good until the use-by date on its package, and it keeps 2 months in the freezer. Soft cookies last 2 to 3 months in the pantry and crispy cookies 4 to 6 months, counted from the day you buy them. Both kinds keep 8 to 12 months in the freezer, and moldy cookies should be thrown out.
Buying cookies this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
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Refrigerated cookie dough is good until the use-by date on its package, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Baked cookies keep much longer, with soft cookies lasting 2 to 3 months in the pantry and crispy cookies 4 to 6 months.
Both can go in the freezer. Cookies keep 8 to 12 months there and refrigerated cookie dough keeps 2 months, all counted from the day you buy them.
How long does cookie dough last in the fridge?
Refrigerated cookie dough lasts until the use-by date on its package, as USDA FoodKeeper lists it. Plan to bake it by that date, or move it to the freezer before then.
Commercial bread or cookie dough has its own FoodKeeper line, with 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. FoodKeeper notes that this time is for storage after cooking, so it applies once the dough is baked.
Can you freeze cookie dough?
Yes, refrigerated cookie dough keeps 2 months in the freezer, counted from the day you buy it. Commercial bread or cookie dough keeps longer, at 12 months from the date of purchase.
For commercial dough, FoodKeeper says to keep it frozen and, for safety, to cook it as directed. Both freezer times are for quality, because food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe.
How long do cookies last?
Cookies last 2 to 3 months in the pantry if they’re soft and 4 to 6 months if they’re crispy. Both kinds keep 8 to 12 months in the freezer. Apart from the use-by date and the time after cooking, every time in the table counts from the day you buy the food.
| Food | Pantry or fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Soft cookies | 2 to 3 months in the pantry | 8 to 12 months |
| Crispy cookies | 4 to 6 months in the pantry | 8 to 12 months |
| Refrigerated cookie dough | Until the package use-by date in the fridge | 2 months |
| Commercial bread or cookie dough | 3 to 4 days in the fridge after cooking | 12 months |
How long do sugar cookies last?
Sugar cookies last 2 to 3 months in the pantry when they’re soft and 4 to 6 months when they’re crispy. FoodKeeper sorts cookies into soft and crispy, so chocolate chip cookies follow the time for their texture too.
Can you freeze cookies?
Yes, soft and crispy cookies both keep 8 to 12 months in the freezer, counted from the day you buy them. That time is for quality, because food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe and only its quality suffers with long storage.
Freezer burn doesn’t make cookies unsafe, only dry in spots. It shows up as grayish-brown leathery spots where air reached the surface, and you can cut those parts away.
How to thaw frozen cookies and cookie dough
Thaw frozen cookies and cookie dough slowly in the refrigerator, which the USDA calls the safest way to thaw frozen food. Small items may thaw overnight.
The USDA’s guide to safe defrosting methods says never to thaw food on the counter. Frozen commercial dough is different, since FoodKeeper says to keep it frozen and cook it as directed.
When to throw cookies out
Throw cookies out as soon as you see mold on them. Moldy bread and baked goods should be thrown out, says the USDA’s page on molds on food. Porous foods like these can be contaminated below the surface.
Freezer burn on its own isn’t a reason to throw cookies out. It leaves them dry in spots but safe, and you can cut those spots away.
Frequently asked questions
Do cookies need to be refrigerated?
No, USDA FoodKeeper gives cookies pantry and freezer times, not a fridge time. Soft cookies keep 2 to 3 months in the pantry and crispy cookies 4 to 6 months.
Can you freeze chocolate chip cookies?
Yes, chocolate chip cookies keep 8 to 12 months in the freezer, the same as other soft or crispy cookies.
Can you freeze sugar cookie dough?
Yes, refrigerated cookie dough, sugar cookie dough included, keeps 2 months in the freezer from the day you buy it.
Are cookies safe after a year in the freezer?
Yes, cookies kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stay safe, because freezer times are for quality. Past the 8 to 12 months FoodKeeper gives, only their quality suffers.
Is freezer-burned cookie dough safe to bake?
Yes, freezer burn doesn't make food unsafe, only dry in spots. Cut the grayish-brown leathery spots away before or after baking.
