How Long Do Sprinkles Last?

How long do sprinkles last? Sprinkles last for 3-5 years beyond the "best by" date stamped on the container, this is if they have been handled properly. The shelf life of sprinkles depends on the production date or the best before date and how the sprinkles are stored. Sprinkles are basically just sugar. They are tiny candy that are mainly used for decoration when they are sprinkled over the top of baked goods. They provide a variance in texture and color to the icing.

Sprinkles go by many alternate names, including (but not limited to); jimmies, nonpareils, confetti, decors, hundreds and thousands, and candy pearls.

So, do sprinkles expire? When properly stored, the shelf life of sprinkles past their sell by date or other printed date is ...

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Sprinkles Expiration Date

(Unopened/Opened) Pantry
Past Printed Date
Candy Sprinkles last for 3-5 Years
Jimmies last for 3-5 Years
Colored Sugar Crystals last for 3-5 Years

This is regardless if they are open or unopened, as long as they have been sealed and stored properly. Sprinkles are good for 3 years beyond the code stamped on the bottle.

Betty Crocker brand (actually made by Signature Brands) uses a code on the side of the plastic container instead of a use by date. The code appears in this format H014C where the H stands for August (ie. A=January, B=Feb, etc), the 0 could be the year 2000 or 2010 (ie. the last digit of the year that the sprinkles were bottled), the 14 is for the 14th day of the month and the C is the plant where they were produced. So, the sprinkles in the case of H014C were made on 8/14/2010 and are at their peak quality until 8/14/2013 according to the manufacturer. Sprinkles may be safely used for a few years after that, but the taste will be slightly compromised as the years pass.

But remember that sprinkles, like a lot of other baking products, usually have a best before date or production date and not a use by date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use sprinkles after the best before date has lapsed.

How to tell if Sprinkles are bad, rotten or spoiled?


It is the texture and/or color of the sprinkles that will change. Some that have been on the shelf for 10 years changed from a dark green to a lighter green due to a general whitening and drying throughout. A bad taste also developed over that many years.


How to store Sprinkles to extend their shelf life?

The best way to store sprinkles is in their original container or a similar airtight container in the pantry.


How long are Sprinkles good for when prepared in a dish?

How long are sprinkles good for?That depends. How long do cookies last? In general, sprinkles will be the last expiring ingredients in any dish but can only last as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in any dish.

What are our shelf life resources?


*An important note about expiration dates...


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