We all love and enjoy soft and chewy cookies. But alas, they can’t stay fresh forever! They will harden quickly, if not stored properly. But why do they harden? How can you make them as soft and as tasty as the day you received them? We want you to enjoy your delicious cookies for as long as possible. Learn about Why Do Cookies Harden Over Time, How to Quickly Soften Hard Cookies: Two Simple Methods, and How to Prevent Cookies from Hardening with Félix & Norton. Let’s go!
Why Do Cookies Harden Over Time?
The reason cookies go from soft to hard is that they start to dry out, and this starts as soon as you take them out of the oven. The moisture remaining in the cookies will continue to evaporate until they are eaten. The sugars and starch are the ingredients responsible for this process, solidifying and hardening the cookies.
Not all cookies are made the same. At Félix & Norton, we only use real ingredients with no additives. We also know that too much sugar can cause cookies to harden faster. That’s why we, at Felix & Norton, make our cookies with just the right amount of sugar, so they’re soft & fresh for days!
Most of the cookies available in stores contain artificial ingredients to increase their shelf life. However, when you use natural ingredients like butter, which hardens after baking, the cookies tend to become hard within 3-4 days. Despite the fact that natural cookies taste significantly better, they only last for a few days, and it is quite unlikely that you will need that much time to finish them.
But don’t worry. We have a couple of tricks up our baker’s sleeves to keep cookies softer for longer, and we’ll share them with you, fellow cookie enthusiast.
How to Quickly Soften Hard Cookies: Two Simple Methods
There are several ways to reheat and soften up cookies; these are the most effective.
Use a Microwave
Most people have a microwave! This is the quickest and probably the simplest way to reheat your hard cookies to make them soft again. Reheating cookies in a microwave can be tricky as they tend to overheat in the middle and remain hard on the outside. Here is the simplest method to soften hard cookies quickly in a microwave.
- Wrap the cookies in a paper towel.
- Place in the microwave for 1 minute.
- The paper will absorb any excess moisture.
- That's it! Your cookies are as deliciously warm and crisp as the day they were baked.
Re-Bake Them in an Oven
If you're not a fan of microwaves, you can reheat them in an oven. For optimal flavour, we recommend following these instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spread your cookies on a parchment sheet or a silicon mat.
- When the oven is ready, put the cookie pan in the oven.
- Cook for 1 to 2 minutes and enjoy your warm and gooey days-old cookies.
How to Prevent Cookies from Hardening
Cookies will harden quickly if they're not properly baked or stored. But with these tips, you can delay the hardening process for up to a week.
Store them Properly After Cooking
Baking cookies is a fun and rewarding experience, but it's not always easy to gauge how many cookies to make. Often we end up with more than we can eat in one sitting. If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry! There's an easy way to keep your cookies fresh and delicious for days to come.
The secret to maintaining the perfect texture of your cookies is to store them properly in an air-tight container. This container could be made of plastic, or you could use a cookie bin or a tin box. However, if you want to ensure that your cookies stay soft and chewy, a tin box is the way to go. Tins are especially effective in preventing air and humidity transfer, which can cause cookies to dry out or become stale.
When choosing a tin box, make sure it has a tight-fitting lid. This will prevent air from entering the container and affecting the texture of your cookies. It's also a good idea to line the tin with parchment paper or wax paper to prevent any moisture from building up inside.
Storing your cookies in a tin box will not only keep them fresh for longer but will also preserve their taste and texture. Whether you prefer your cookies soft and chewy or crispy, a tin box is a great way to ensure that they stay that way. So the next time you make too many cookies, don't worry - just store them in a tin box, and enjoy them for days to come!
Here are a couple of tips to ensure you get the most out of your cookie shelf life:
- Leave your cookies to cool COMPLETELY and stack them between parchment paper sheets to separate them and prevent them from sticking together.
- Wrap your stack of cookies in plastic film and place in an airtight bag or container, filling any empty spaces with parchment paper or a paper towel to minimise air circulation.
- Store in a cool, dry place like your food or snack pantry. Most cookies will keep for up to a week. Beyond that, it's best to refrigerate or freeze them.
- It’s also really important not to OVERCOOK your cookies. Follow the cooking time with a grain of salt; some ovens cook faster than others. If your cookies are starting to brown on the outside and there are still 2 minutes left to bake, take them out and let them finish cooking outside the oven. Maybe try turning the temperature down next time.
Add a Slice of Bread to the Container
You might find it surprising, but adding a slice of bread to your cookie container can help keep the cookies moist for a while! The cookies will absorb the moisture from the piece of bread, preventing them from drying out. So, whether you've stored your cookies in a metal cookie tin or a tightly sealed plastic container, all you have to do to extend the shelf life of your freshly-baked cookies is slip in the end slice of bread that nobody wants to eat.
Slice Up an Apple
If you have ever experienced the disappointment of biting into a cookie that has gone stale, you know how crucial it is to keep them fresh and soft. A simple yet surprising trick to achieve this is by adding a few slices of apple to the container. The bread slice trick is well known, but the apple trick is lesser-known, and it works wonders.
When you place a few slices of apple in the container with the cookies, they start to absorb the moisture from the apple. This process is similar to the bread slice trick. However, the apple slices release moisture at a slower pace, making it more effective in keeping the cookies soft for longer.
For best results, it's recommended to leave the apple and cookies overnight in the container. The moist apple will help humidify the air in the container and create the perfect environment to keep the cookies soft and chewy. It's like magic!
In conclusion, if you want to keep your cookies fresh and soft for a more extended period, add a few slices of apple to the container alongside them. This lesser-known trick is easy to do and guarantees a soft and chewy texture that you'll love.
Enjoy your delicious cookies!
To summarize, we have learned that cookies tend to lose their moisture quickly if they are not stored properly. The key is to ensure that the moisture levels are maintained within the cookies. If you anticipate not being able to finish all of your delicious Félix & Norton cookies on the day you bake them or receive them fresh, then follow our tips to keep them fresh and chewy for up to two weeks! Or order a bag of ready-to-bake cookie dough to enjoy whenever you please.