Name one thing more enjoyable than the smell and taste of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. There isn’t one. However, eating a whole batch of freshly baked cookies can be too much, even if you channel your inner Cookie Monster.
Whether you like it or not, at one point or another, you will need to put a hold on your cookie cravings and put them somewhere safe for later. And here’s the problem - how to store chocolate chip cookies to keep them fresh?
Nobody likes their cookies stale and stiffer than a rock. Once the magic is gone, the cookie experience becomes… not pleasant (put lightly). To ensure it doesn’t happen to your batch of chocolate chip cookies the next time you bake, you must know how to store them properly.
There’s more than one way to do that, and with our tips, you will be able to keep your cookies as fresh and delicious as when they left your oven.
Essential Cookie Storage Rules
First things first, let’s talk about cookie storage essentials. More specifically, the three commandments of storing your cookies, which are:
- Cool the cookies: The first and most important rule is that you must first cool your cookies before storing them. Why? Because when cooling down, cookies create moisture in the form of steam. If you put them all together in a closed container, that closed space will immediately become moist, ruining your cookie treasure inside.
- Store different types of cookies separately: If you’re thinking about storing your dry cookies with soft ones, we’ve got one piece of advice. DON’T. Various cookie types require different storage environments. For instance, the flavors will start blending if you store them in the same space. Soft cookies also produce more moisture, which can ruin your dry cookies.
- Store your cookies in layers: As glorious as a jar of cookies looks, it’s not the most efficient way to store your chocolate chip cookies. Throwing them like that can cause them to stick together, which is not something you want. To prevent that, the best idea is to put them in layers with a piece of parchment paper between each layer.
Storing Dry vs. Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
As said, dry and soft cookies should not be stored together. Moreover, different rules apply when storing dry and soft cookies. That said…
How to Store Dry Cookies?
The first thing to know about dry and crisp cookies, such as gingersnaps or shortbread cookies, is that they should stay fresher for longer. That’s because they don’t have that much moisture.
That doesn’t mean you can leave them on your counter for too long, though. You will eventually have to store them. The best way to do that is by following these simple rules:
- Let the cookies cool down completely.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. You can use freezer bags or a cookie jar if you don't have containers.
- Store different flavors separately to prevent them from blending.
- Although crisp cookies shouldn’t stick together, you can store them in layers separated by parchment paper. It’s not a must, though.
How long can you store dry cookies? When stored appropriately, your chocolate chip cookies should last about two or three weeks, depending on the recipe.
How to Store Soft Cookies?
Now to the soft chocolate chip cookies. You will find them more challenging to keep fresh as they are more moist and chewy than dry cookies. As covered, that added moisture can quickly make the cookies stale.
So, how to keep them fresh for longer? Once again, here are a few simple steps you should follow:
- Let your cookies dry completely.
- Ensure you store your cookies in an airtight container to help them retain their moisture.
- Again, be sure to store different flavors of cookies in different containers.
- Store the cookies in layers separated by parchment or waxed paper to prevent them from sticking together.
How long can you store your soft cookies? If you follow our tips, your cookies should be fresh after a week or so (when in airtight containers and kept at room temperature).
Can You Freeze Chocolate Chip Cookies?
At this point, you’re probably wondering: Hold on? Can’t I just put my cookies in the freezer?
Yes, you can. While it’s not recommended to store chocolate chip cookies in a refrigerator, there’s nothing wrong with freezing them. Indeed, it’s probably the best way to preserve your cookies for a long time.
However, there are some rules to freezing your cookies, both dry and soft. These are:
- Let the cookies cool down completely.
- Put the cookies in the freer bag - remember to store different flavors separately and use parchment paper when storing soft cookies.
- Squeeze as much air from the bag as possible and put it in an airtight container.
- Label the container and put your cookies in the freezer.
Freezing them that way should keep your cookies fresh even up to three months. If you want to eat them, the best way is to thaw them in an oven at a low temperature (250 to 300°F degrees should do the trick) for around 10 minutes until the cookies are warm.
You can also use your microwave, although we don’t recommend using it to thaw the cookies. That’s because a microwave can cause your cookies to lose their texture, with soft cookies becoming dry and crisp cookies turning soft.
Key Takeaways
That’s a wrap on our guide to storing chocolate chip cookies. As you can see, you can easily keep your delicious cookies fresh for a long time, provided you follow several simple storage rules.
That said, remember to always cool down your cookies before storing them, keep them in airtight containers, and don’t mix cookie flavors and types. Stored correctly, you will be able to keep your cookies fresh for several weeks, depending on the type and recipe.
Remember that you can also freeze your cookies. Again, though, you can’t throw them as you please into your freezer but ensure to pack them appropriately first.
And that’s about it. Follow our instructions and enjoy the taste of freshly baked cookies even weeks after baking. Until next time!
