Make Stale Snacks A Thing Of The Past By Pulling The Plug On Pantry Storage

Ever open a big bag of popcorn, store the leftovers in the pantry, and find it going stale within a day or two?  Soft, chewy popcorn is no fun, so maybe it's time we uncover a new storage tip to keep your popcorn from going stale. 

Over on Reddit, folks swear by skipping the pantry and storing their opened snacks, including crackers and hard pretzels, in their freezers. Yes, you read that correctly — the freezer, next to the frozen bags of peas and ice cream. In addition to dry snacks, you can even freeze your gummy bears for a delightful snack later. To freeze snacks, first close the opened bag of popcorn, candy, or chips, making sure there isn't excess air within. Then, simply keep the bag in the freezer until you're ready to eat the snacks again. 

Remove the bag from the freezer and keep it on the counter so the snack can warm up for a few minutes. Then enjoy the chips and popcorn. They may still be a little cold, but you'll likely notice that they aren't soggy or wet. In fact, they could be even crispier or crunchier.  Folks online feel freezing snacks make them taste better. One commenter on Reddit reports, "A buddy recommended we keep crunchy Cheetos in the freezer because the cold temperature enhances the taste..."

Maybe a little food science will make for a compelling case to freeze your potato chips. Why exactly do snacks like Cheetos and hard pretzels not get stale and wet after you freeze them? First of all, dry snacks stay crisp in the freezer because they contain very little water. With such low water content, they don't freeze solid or form ice crystals the way high-moisture foods, like meats, do. Since there's no ice to melt when they're removed from the freezer, they don't become soggy. 

Secondly, you should know that moisture in the air or in your pantry is what usually causes chips and popcorn to go stale. The freezer is cold and not humid. There's little moisture for the snacks to absorb, and thus, your hard pretzels, chips, and popcorns will stay crisp longer.

Freezing is a process that can preserve almost anything, and not just your pans of lasagna and poultry. So, the next time you're staring at a half-eaten bag of chips or popcorn, consider sealing it well and tucking it into the freezer, and not a corner in your pantry.