Mooncakes, as a traditional food for the Mid-Autumn Festival, are loved by many people, especially among the middle-aged and elderly groups. However, after the festival, there are often many mooncakes left at home, making proper storage a concern. Placing mooncakes in the refrigerator is a common practice, but is it appropriate?
In fact, mooncakes are best stored in the refrigerator’s cold storage. As a food rich in various nutrients, mooncakes can easily spoil at room temperature. A refrigerated environment can effectively reduce the activity of bacteria and other microorganisms, thereby extending the freshness of the mooncakes.
In contrast, freezing mooncakes is not advisable. Although freezing can further prolong their shelf life, the moisture in mooncakes will crystallize into ice during the freezing process, and when thawed, the moisture loss may leave holes inside the mooncakes, severely affecting their taste and flavor.
It is worth noting that even when stored properly, mooncakes should not be consumed in large quantities. Mooncakes are high in calories, often representing additional energy intake, which can lead to weight gain. Moreover, many commercially available mooncakes contain artificial additives, so from a health perspective, it is more appropriate to consume them in moderation.
The shelf life of mooncakes is usually affected by the type of filling and packaging method. Fruit-filled mooncakes have a shorter shelf life, lasting about a month; sweet mooncakes like red bean paste and date paste have a slightly longer shelf life; while snow skin mooncakes have the shortest shelf life, typically only 15 to 20 days, and require refrigeration. Overall, the shelf life of mooncakes generally ranges from about 20 to 90 days.
