Hershey’s Chocolate Miniatures Bulk Candy, 265-Piece

Whether you’re planning ahead for a party or an event, when you’re buying candy for a crowd, buying in bulk is the economical way to go.

No judgment if these treats are all yours, but let’s assume you’re buying for company. In this case, variety packs are a great choice to make sure all your guests have something sweet to graze on.

Of course, there’s a crucial difference between house parties and trick-or-treating. At parties, it may be easier to buy unwrapped candies that you can empty into a bowl. If you’re going that route, check to see that your bag can be resealed. Unwrapped bulk candy might last about 3 months, but that time frame dwindles much quicker if it’s left in an open bowl for days.

Don’t be afraid to buy ahead of time if you find the right price. Wrapped candies last much longer than the unwrapped kind, provided they’re stored at roughly room temperature and humidity. Milk chocolate can last seven or eight months, while dark chocolate can stay tasty up to three years. Most hard candies and caramels will last up to a year.

Unless you’re throwing a big get-together, bags of bulk candy are going to take a while to get through. At some point, you might wonder how to store these treats for maximum staying power. Generally, the answer is simple: in the pantry, at room temperature. You might be able to freeze gummy candies and get a bit more life out of them. Just make sure you thaw them for a while before serving.

On the other hand, you may want to rethink that chocolate shelf in your fridge. Refrigeration won’t do much to extend the shelf life of your chocolates, and it might even make them taste worse. This particular treat doesn’t like too much variation in temperature and humidity, and that’s exactly what can happen once you take your chocolate out of the refrigerator. It can result in a telltale accumulation of sugar crystals on the surface of the candy, and that’s a sign that you’re in for a less-than-perfect bite.