Mooncakes come in a variety of types, such as traditional flavors like five nuts and bean paste, which are loved by the masses. When making mooncakes at home, the preservation of the filling is a little trick. Putting the filling in the refrigerator for storage is a good choice, but it is important to note that different fillings have varied storage times and should not be refrigerated for too long to prevent nutrient loss and flavor deterioration.
If you want to quickly use up the remaining filling, you can try using it to make red bean buns or pancakes, especially commercially available red bean paste with preservatives, which can be stored in the refrigerator for about 1 to 2 weeks, although this is not a verified practice.
Reusing mooncake fillings, although seemingly economical, is not recommended from a nutritional standpoint. Mooncakes are already high in sugar and oil, and using the filling again after freezing will further reduce the minimal nutrients, leaving almost only calories with significantly diminished nutritional value.
As for the overall storage of mooncakes, environmental temperature has a significant impact. At 25℃, almond and mixed nut filling mooncakes can be stored for about 15 days; soft fillings like bean paste and lotus seed paste, which have high water content, are recommended to be consumed within 5 to 7 days, ideally not exceeding 10 days. When the temperature rises above 30℃, the storage time should be reduced to within 7 days. Mooncakes with fresh meat, chicken shreds, and similar fillings are best bought and consumed immediately.
There are several key points to consider when storing mooncakes: due to their high oil and sugar content, they are easily affected by heat and humidity, leading to deterioration. Therefore, they should be placed in a cool, ventilated environment away from direct sunlight. Traditional high-sugar, high-oil mooncakes are more storage-resistant; some varieties can be stored for over two months. In contrast, low-sugar, sugar-free mooncakes, and those with high moisture content like fresh meat and egg yolk mooncakes have a shorter shelf life, usually around two weeks.
In conclusion, proper storage can effectively extend the shelf life of mooncakes, so you can enjoy the delicious treats while also ensuring food safety.
