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Sadly, the tasty treat that is marzipan doesn’t last indefinitely – but wouldn’t it be nice if it did? If you’re currently in the process of making a delicious cake, or getting a few recipes together to make a delicious cake, you’re likely asking a very important question: How long does marzipan last?
I’m going to answer that question, and many other marzipan-related questions, today.
Are you ready for them?
Does Marzipan Go Off?
Yes, marzipan does go off.
How fast or slow your marzipan will go off or turn bad will depend on a wide variety of factors, including:
- how it is stored
- whether it is store-bought or homemade
- where it is stored
- the ingredients
Homemade marzipan will go off or turn bad quicker than store-bought marzipan, but they both do go off at some point. The latter contains a high sugar content, so it preserves well, much in the same way that sugar makes jam – a preserve – preserve well.
Take a peek at Morrisons Natural Marzipan and you’ll see the following ingredients:
- sugar
- almonds (25%)
- glucose syrup
- invert sugar syrup
Vegan & vegetarian-friendly
No artificial colours or flavours
None of the ingredients are fresh, so they won’t go off quickly. There’s no dairy, no eggs, and no other quickly-perishable items.
Before marzipan goes off or turns rancid, it will dry out. At this point, it will be very difficult to work with. It won’t shape or roll well; instead, it will crack and break. It will dry out quicker when left out, obviously. Storing it in an airtight container will delay the drying-out process, but it won’t put it off indefinitely.
How Long Does Unopened Marzipan Last?
If you have a packet of marzipan that you haven’t yet opened, storing it in the right way will ensure that it lasts for quite a long time.
Firstly, take a peek at the best before date. This is also known as best by date, eat before date, sell by date, and various other names. This date is how long the manufacturer will guarantee that product will stay at peak quality. Past that date, the manufacturer accepts that the product will start to decline in quality and will eventually harden, become rancid, and be classed as unsafe to eat.
If the product goes out of date on 31/08/2022, it won’t all of a sudden be gross and unsafe to eat on the 1st of September 2022. Nothing will likely change on that date. Going beyond that date, however, the quality of the product will slowly start to decline.
I’ve made cakes with packets of store-bought marzipan that I found in the back of the cupboard, and the marzipan was at least 9 or 10 months past the sell by date. It was absolutely fine. Neither myself nor anyone else eating the cake noticed a reduction in taste, texture, or quality.
Image by silviarita from Pixabay
How Long Does Open Marzipan Last?
If you have opened a packet of marzipan and not used it all, you can save the leftovers for later. You will need to wrap it in cling film, however, or pop it in a bag that you can properly close up and make airtight. An airtight container, such as a Tupperware tub, is another option. It is still recommended to wrap the marzipan in cling film if you are using a Tupperware tub or similar.
Pop your marzipan in a cool, dark and dry place, such as the kitchen cupboard. Alternatively, you can keep it in the fridge.
The marzipan will start to harden before it actually turns rancid – but the hardening makes it practically unusable. Unlike fridge-hardened marzipan, you cannot turn old, dry marzipan into soft, workable marzipan again. You’ll need to dispose of it.
Opened store-bought marzipan will last for up to 4 to 6 weeks, if you store it in an airtight bag or container.
Do You Need to Refrigerate Store-Bought Marzipan?
No, you do not need to refrigerate store-bought marzipan, open or unopened.
As long as you store the marzipan in an airtight container, you can store it in either the kitchen cupboard or the fridge.
It’s always recommended to read the label, however. The packaging will tell you how best to store it.
Image by TheUjulala from Pixabay
How Long Does Store-Bought Marzipan Last in the Fridge?
Store-bought marzipan will last for up to 4 to 6 weeks in the fridge.
You will need to store the marzipan in an airtight container, such as a Tupperware tub or a Ziplock food bag.
Refrigerated marzipan will need time to reach room temperature when you want to use it, so make sure you take it out of the fridge at least half an hour to an hour before you plan to incorporate it into your recipe or cake. You will also need to give yourself a few minutes of kneading time to help soften it up, too. It will be too firm to work with, otherwise.
How Long Does Store-Bought Marzipan Last at Room Temperature?
Marzipan can last for much longer than you’d think at room temperature, provided it is stored in an airtight container, an airtight bag, or the original (airtight) packaging you bought it in.
If the marzipan is unopened, it can actually last for a long time past the sell by or best before date. As previously mentioned, I had an unopened packet of marzipan in the cupboard that was 9 or 10 months past its sell by date, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.
If the marzipan is opened, it will still last for 4 to 6 weeks in an airtight container or bag at room temperature…
…provided it is not in direct sunlight and the ambient temperature isn’t too hot.
How Long Does Marzipan Last on a Cake?
If you have already put your marzipan on the cake, depending on the cake inside, the marzipan should last for up to 4 to 8 weeks.
You must allow for appropriate drying time between the marzipan layer of the cake and the icing part of the cake. The recipe will usually tell you how long you should leave the marzipan to dry first.
If you don’t leave the marzipan to dry for long enough, you run the risk of trapping bacteria inside, especially with homemade marzipan that often contains raw eggs.
You will need to store a marzipan-covered cake in a cool, dry and dark place, out of direct sunlight and in an airtight container.
How Long Do Marzipan Decorations Last?
Just like other marzipan items, marzipan decorations will last 4 to 6 weeks when stored appropriately.
You’ve probably guessed how to store them at this point: place the marzipan decorations into an airtight container or sealable bag, then place them in the back of the cupboard (or fridge), where heat and sunlight can’t get to them.
Image by missingpinky from Pixabay
How to Store Marzipan
The best way to store marzipan is in a container or bag that can be sealed and made completely airtight. This could be a Tupperware container, a Ziplock-style bag, or various other items. Whatever it is just needs to be airtight.
The marzipan should be stored in either the fridge (not necessary) or the kitchen cupboard/pantry/larder. It needs to be a cool space, away from heat sources. It also needs to be a place where the sun doesn’t shine, because that will heat the product up and degrade it quickly.
Direct sunlight will also bleach and fade your marzipan, which could ruin any colouring you may have added.
If you have not yet opened your store-bought marzipan, simply place it in the cupboard or another cool, dark place. Don’t take it out of the wrapper or open the wrapper unless you’re ready to use it.
Those super-organised household videos might look great, where everything is taken out of the original packaging and then placed into obsessively-stacked glass jars, but sometimes, the packaging is the best place and way to store it. That is definitely the case with marzipan. (And with eggs, actually.)
How to Store Marzipan Fruits
Marzipan fruits, just as with other marzipan decorations, can be stored for up to 4 to 6 weeks. Just make sure they’re kept in an airtight container or bag, wrapped in cling film, and kept in a dark and cool place.
How to Store Marzipan Figures
The same rules apply to marzipan figures as other marzipan decorations. You can simply wrap them in cling film to help them keep their shape, pop them into an airtight tub or container/sealable bag, then place them somewhere dark and cool, like the kitchen cupboard.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
How Long Does Homemade Marzipan Last?
Marzipan that is made from scratch at home usually doesn’t last for quite as long as the stuff you can buy in shops and online. The stuff you can buy without having to make it, usually has a fair amount of sugar and other preservatives in it, and this is what helps to make it last for a long time before turning bad.
If your homemade marzipan contains ingredients that go off quite quickly, such as eggs and/or dairy products, you should consume it within 7 days.
Most homemade marzipan recipes do require eggs, and I always recommend having a check of the website or recipe book to see whether or not storage suggestions have been included.
Do You Need to Refrigerate Homemade Marzipan?
If you have followed a recipe that doesn’t require eggs or other items that turn bad quickly, you should not need to refrigerate your homemade marzipan.
However, it’s always recommended to take a look at what has been suggested for storage with the recipe. (Most recipes online come with a section on how to store, etc., or so I’ve found.)
Most recipes for homemade marzipan do contain eggs and will likely need refrigerating.
How Long Does Homemade Marzipan Last in the Fridge?
Homemade marzipan will usually last for 5 to 7 days in the fridge.
Some recipes say that you can keep it in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
I recommend checking your specific recipe to see how long it suggests. I’ve found that it varies a lot from recipe site to recipe site.
You will need to wrap the marzipan in cling film, however, and it is best to shape it into a log or ball first. You should place your wrapped marzipan log or ball into an airtight container or sealable bag afterwards. Alternatively, you can give it another layer or two of cling film to make it airtight.
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
Can You Store Homemade Marzipan at Room Temperature?
Although the risk with most homemade marzipan recipes (that contain eggs) is quite low, the egg ingredient does make room temperature storage quite risky.
It is not recommended to store homemade marzipan at room temperature for prolonged periods of time.