When Should I Order Candy?

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.