Don't Feel Bad About Eating That Old Halloween Candy

If you always manage to find old holiday candy hidden away in cupboards months after Easter or Halloween festivities have passed, you can feel better about sneaking a bite, or even giving it away to some lucky trick-or-treaters this Hallow's Eve.

Nine-month-old candy corn? Feel free to chow down. Some of this rejected candy is good for up to a year, according to the National Confectioners Association.

Here are some tips from the association on how to extend the life of Halloween candy:

Chocolate

Dark chocolate can be kept for as long as one year or even two if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark, and dry place, according to the association. Milk and white chocolate can only be stored in similar conditions for about eight months.

Hard candy

Lollipops, lifesavers, and butterscotches can last up to one year when stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place.

Jellied candy

Soft candies, such as Starbursts, should be kept in packaging away from heat and light at room temperature. When stored in this manner, they should last about nine months.

Candy corn

If the candy has been opened, store it in the same conditions as jellied candy and it should last about three to six months. But if it remains unopened, it will last about nine months.

Gum

As long as the packaging is kept sealed, most gum products last about six to nine months. To keep it fresh, store the gum in a cool, dry place.

Caramel

Caramels should be kept covered, away from heat and light, and stored in room temperature for a shelf life of about six to nine months.