The Best—and Worst—Ways to Store Every Type of Cookie

Here are the best (and worst) methods for storing cookies and cookie dough.

Why Do Cookies Get Stale?

First, you’ll need to become familiar with the main adversary to any cookie’s freshness: air.

Prolonged exposure to open air makes starchy foods stale.

Baked cookies keep in the freezer for a year.

Frozen raw dough is best if used within a few months.

Look to the fridge (or freezer) if they’ll be around longer.

Unrefrigerated cookies stay fresh for two or three days.

The same is true for cookie tins and other non-airtightfood containers.

This approach works wonders for keeping these types of cookies moist.

(Yes, really.)

Similarly, cake stands and other displays aren’t great for storing cookies longer than a few hours.

Yes, you might bring cookies back to that delicious, out-of-the-oven state.

Softer cookies like snickerdoodles and oatmeal raisin cookies are great reheated.

There are two main ways to reheat cookies: in a microwave or in the oven.

Drier cookies like biscotti or polvorones can become too dry during reheating, so skip this step.

Simply leave them out to thaw.

Frozen cookie dough, however, can last up to two months.

There are two ways tofreeze cookie dough: shaped into ready-to-bake individual cookies or as a whole undivided batch.

This method works great for plainer cookies, likesugar cookiesandchewy gingersnaps.

If you plan to use a cookie cutter, the slightly chilled dough can help cookies retain their shape.

(Just be sure to leave enough time to defrost the dough.)

The moisture from the bread slice transfers to the cookies, preventing them from getting dry.

White bread is best for this hack so that no flavor is added to the cookies.

To keep crispy cookies crisp, you’re gonna wanna keep them away from moisture.

Always store different types of cookies separatelysoft cookies can cause crispy cookies to soften due to their extra moisture.

Place crispy cookies in an airtight container, but don’t completely seal it.

(The extra air will help cookies stay crisp.)

you’re able to also freeze store-bought cookies to help them last longer.