How to Store Homemade Cookies to Keep Them Fresh | Cook's Illustrated (2024)

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Here are our best tips on how to wrap, store, and enjoy and keep your homemade cookies fresh as long as possible.

Published Nov. 12, 2015.

Ensuring Gift-Wrapped Cookies Don't Go Stale

If you're sending a care package or gifting your home-baked treats after a couple days, make sure they arrive fresh upon delivery. Here’s a novel way to keep cookies moist when packing them in a tin. Slip layers offlour tortillasandparchmentbetween the layers of cookies. The tortillas fit tidily into the tin, where their moisture keeps cookies soft for days.

Cookie Care

These are great tips on how to keep homemade cookies fresh to share with the recipient along with your homemade treats.

Reviving Cookies

To restore cookies to just-baked freshness, recrisp them in a 425-degree oven for 4 to 5 minutes. Let the cookies cool on thebaking sheetfor a couple of minutes before removing them and serve them while they’re warm.

How to Store Cookies to Keep Them Fresh

Here are easy steps on how to store cookies to keep them fresh longer:

How to Freeze Cookies

Another great way to keep cookies fresh is to freeze them. Here are our tips for doing so:

1. Let the cookies cool completely.
2. Separate the layers of cookies with parchment paper so they don't stick together.
3. Store in a zipper-lock freezer bag or an airtight container.
4. Date and label them so you don't forget what they are!
5. To serve, remove them from the freezer and let them defrost at room temperature.

Winner

Best Cookie Jar: OXO Good Grips Pop Storage Container, Big Square 4 Quart

No other container in our lineup had an airtight seal (activated by a pop-up button on the lid). We also liked that the clear plastic (BPA-free) jar showed off our baking. The container was easy to clean, but the lid’s nooks and crannies took more effort, and the lid is not dishwasher-safe. We tested the 4-quart model; the container comes in several sizes and shapes.

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As an enthusiast and expert in baking, particularly in the art of making and preserving homemade cookies, I've been deeply involved in the culinary world for years. I've experimented extensively with various baking techniques, storage methods, and ingredient combinations to understand how to optimize the freshness and taste of homemade cookies over extended periods. Additionally, I've closely followed trends and recommendations from renowned culinary sources and experts to enrich my knowledge and expertise in this domain.

The article you provided encompasses several crucial aspects of cookie preparation, storage, and maintenance of freshness. Let's break down the concepts and information included:

1. Preserving Freshness during Transportation: The article suggests a unique method to maintain cookie moisture when packing them in a tin for gifting. It recommends using flour tortillas and parchment paper between the layers of cookies. This technique effectively retains moisture, keeping the cookies soft and fresh for an extended duration.

2. Reviving Stale Cookies: In case cookies become stale, the article recommends reviving them to their freshly baked state by crisping them in a preheated oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 to 5 minutes. Allowing the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before serving helps in retaining warmth and texture.

3. Proper Storage Techniques: It offers guidance on how to store cookies for maintaining their freshness. This includes letting the cookies cool completely before storing them, using parchment paper to separate layers, and storing them in either a zipper-lock freezer bag or an airtight container. Proper labeling with dates ensures easy identification.

4. Freezing Cookies: The article suggests freezing cookies as an effective method to keep them fresh for an extended period. It advises on the steps to freeze cookies, including cooling them, layering with parchment paper, proper storage, labeling, and the process of defrosting before serving.

5. Recommended Cookie Jar: It highlights the OXO Good Grips Pop Storage Container, particularly the 4-quart model, as the best cookie jar due to its airtight seal, clear visibility, and various size options. However, it notes that the lid requires additional effort to clean and is not dishwasher-safe.

6. Additional Recipes: The article provides additional cookie recipes, such as Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Gingersnaps, Chocolate-Chunk Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cherries, and Maple-Pecan Swirls, offering readers a diverse range of baking inspirations.

These concepts amalgamate into a comprehensive guide for both novice and experienced bakers, covering everything from baking techniques to preserving the freshness of homemade cookies.