Jello is one of the most popular American desserts. This fruity and jiggly dessert can be served in many different ways.
Whether served with fruits, mixed with yogurt, made into jello shots, or served as it is, everybody has their favorite way of enjoying this gelatin-based dessert. The options are endless.
Jello is a favorite dessert for both children and adults. Therefore, it comes handy to buy ready-to-eat jello in bulk and keep them in the pantry. If you prefer to make jello at home, it seems practical to make in large quantities and store it in the refrigerator.
Either way, you want the desserts to last as long as possible and ask yourself: How long does jello last in the refrigerator? Is the leftover from last weekend party still okay to eat? Does jello go bad?
If the situation above is similar to yours, no worries. In this article, we talk about the basics of jello’s shelf life, storage methods, and how to know if jello has gone off. If this is something you’re looking for, read on.
What Is Jello?
Jello or officially Jell-O is a brand owned by Kraft Food that is extremely famous for the desserts products, ranging from ready-to-eat jello, powder mix, pudding, and many more.
Jello also refers to a gelatin-based dessert prepared with sweetener and flavoring agents. It comes in a wide variety of fruit flavors and colors.
Gelatin is made from animal collagens, particularly cows and pigs. Gelatin is the gelling agent that gives jello its distinctively soft and jelly-like texture.
How To Store Jello
Jello comes in both ready-to-eat pack and powder mix. Pre-packaged ready-to-eat jellos are usually packed in cup servings. These products are shelf-stable and can be safely stored at a cool, dry place, away from sources of sunlight and heat. Your kitchen cupboard or pantry is the ideal place.
If you’d like, just as most people do, these desserts can also be kept in the refrigerator. This way, you can rest assured to enjoy chilled, refreshing jello anytime you wish.
If you have leftover jello, simply cover it with a plastic wrap or put it into a sealed container and stash it into the refrigerator for later.
When it comes to storing powder jello mix, the guideline is similar to storing other dry products. Powder jello mix belongs to a cool, dry place. Make sure it is far from the source of sunlight and heat, preferably your pantry or cupboard.
It is unnecessary to store powder jello mix in the refrigerator as the powder tends to get clumpy and start to grow mold when introduced to moisture.
If you prefer to prepare jello at home, always keep it refrigerated for later use. Store homemade jello in a sealed airtight container. Always use clean utensils to avoid cross-contamination.
Can you freeze jello?
Although freezing jello is not recommended, but yes, you can. The flavor is not affected, but you should expect a change in texture. The freezing process breaks the bonds that hold gelatin together, consequently, results in a watery texture after thawing.
If you are short in time, you may think to freeze jello to speed up the setting process. Instead of freezing it, use a mix of ice cubes and cold water after the powder is fully dissolved in hot water. This way, your jello sets much faster. You may also want to check our other article about freezing jello.
How Long Does Jello Last?
Jello products come with a “best-before” date. You should observe this date for your purchase and consumption. The quality and freshness of the products should remain desirable before this date, subject to good storage conditions. This is applicable for both powder mix and ready-to-eat jello.
Ready-to-eat jello should be consumed within a week after opening. Meanwhile, powder mix jello stays good for about 3 months after opening.
In general, prepared jello can last for 7 to 10 days, although, the longer it is kept in the fridge, the higher the chances for its freshness to decline. When other ingredients, such as fruits are added, the shelf life may be shorter.
According to Kraft Foods’ official website, prepared jello retains its best flavor and texture within 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. After that, the texture may start to get rubbery from drying out.
How Do You Know When Jello Goes Bad?
Prepared jello is high in water content, making it prone to microbial spoilage. After a while, jello will start to break down. If you see watery liquid on the surface, it is a common sign that jello is going bad.
Next to that, you may notice a bad odor, like sour smell. If that’s the case, it is time to toss the dessert. Likewise, if you see visible molds or dark spots on the surface of jello.
The powder mix is relatively stable. However, exposure to moisture is a real enemy. The powder will get clumpy or even grows mold. If this happens to your supply, don’t bother to use it for safety reasons.
FAQs
Yes, it is quite common that expired foods are still safe to eat past its expiration date. For highly perishable food, an expiration date is more of a quality than a safety concern. However, try not to eat a product that has too long passed the date.
For an unopened pack of jello, inspect the packaging. Make sure the packaging is not damaged.
Next to that, try to do a quick safety test to tell if the jello has gone off. If you think no spoilage signs are observed and the taste is still acceptable, feel free to eat it.
To enjoy the best flavor, texture, and taste, it is recommended to prepare jello not too long before serving, maximum in a week, but preferably in 2 to 3 days. Consider preparing jello in an individual serving to benefit a longer storage time.
The jell-O brand uses gelatin extracted from collagens of animal tissues. Hence, it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegan.
However, in the market, there are similar products made of plant-based gelatin, particularly from seaweeds, known as agar or carrageenan. This product is your vegetarian-friendly jello.
Summary
Jello is one of America’s favorite desserts enjoyed by both kids and adults. Just like any other food, going bad is inevitable.
Powder mix should stay in the pantry or cupboard. Don’t use it if it gets clumpy or grows molds. Keep ready-to-eat and prepared jello in the refrigerator and enjoy it while it is still fresh. After a while, the quality will deteriorate and jello will go bad. If you see any signs of spoilage, it is time to let it go.
Give jello proper storage to maximize its shelf life. This way you can reduce food waste and of course save some money for buying desserts!
*Photo by belchonock/depositphotos
