How Long Do Macarons Last? A Sweet Guide and Preserving Tips
Have you tried the little bundles of delight?
And by that, I mean those little colorful, burger-like sweets offering multiple variations that will tingle your taste buds— namely macarons!
No?
Well, you’re in for a treat!
Warning: What you might learn for today might push you to the local store, taking up boxes by boxes of macaron, only to have leftovers.
But, not to worry though, we also got your back— that in case you got a bit hyper on buying these sweet delights, you are also well-informed on how long they last and how you can properly store them so that they’re deliciousness last.
But, first
Is it the macaron you are thinking about?
MacarOn or MacarOOn?
If you think it’s just a matter of spelling, then you are completely wrong.
You see, although they are both delicacies, macarons (pronounced as mack-a-Rohn) are very much different than macaroons (pronounced as mack-a-roon).
How so?
Macaroons are small meringue cakes made of shredded coconut and condensed milk. Its shape may vary, and the traditional detail of macaroon design is that they are usually dipped in chocolate.
The macaron that we are talking about, on the other hand, looks like a small hamburger (a sweet hamburger, if you’d ask me). It is made of icing sugar, egg whites, and almond meal. Typically, it comes with various fillings such as cream cheese, chocolate fondue, and fruit jams in between two-colored cookies.
They feature a crispy outside and soft and smooth filling inside.
Where And When Macarons Appeared?
A French dictionary, Larousse Gastronomique, dates the creation of these sweet bundles of joy to the year 1971 in a convent near Cormery, France. However, some traced its French debut back to the arrival of pastry chefs whom Catherine de’ Medici brought with her from Italy in the year 1533 upon her marriage with Henry II, King of France.
In any case, it wasn’t until the year 1972, when macarons gained popularity in France, when 2 Carmelite nuns asking for asylum during the French Revolution, decided to bake and sold macarons to support themselves. Those macarons were just a simple combination of sugar, egg whites, and ground almonds, without flavors or filling—just a hundred percent biscuit.
Today’s macarons were created during the early 20th century when Pierre Desfontaines of the famous pâtisserie Ladurée decided to join together two macaron shells and squeeze in a flavored ganache which is a layer of jam or buttercream.
How Long Do Macarons Last?
So, if you ever experienced a situation where you stare at all the yummy macarons you bought or baked, thinking how your estimate has gone out of the box, you might be wondering how long they will last?
I’ve got some bad news:
Macarons do not have the longest shelf life. They can get spoiled easily when left at room temperature. As such, I recommend that you consume any macaron that is left in the pantry within the day.
Because of their rather short lifespan, macarons are not exactly a suitable dessert for garden parties. Macarons with chocolate buttercream filling, in particular, can quickly melt when exposed to the high temperatures of the great outdoors.
Though, I got some good news for you:
If you really can’t consume all the macarons for the day, you can always store them in the fridge. They should stay fresh for 3 – 4 days.
But. Longer than that, and these yummy desserts will start to lose their freshness and get all crumbly.
What About Freezing?
If you get super hyped that you bought or baked hundreds of macarons with only you to eat those (which seems highly unlikely), I still got some good news for you!
Macarons can be stored in the freezer and stay in good shape for at least three months.
How To Store Macarons?
So, if you plan to store the macarons in the fridge or freeze them for dessert supply, an airtight container is required. It should help the macarons maintain their form, not lose the ridges and prevent the biscuits from absorbing the filling.
I suggest that you use a plastic or glass container for this purpose. Also, make sure that the container is dry and clean. The last thing you want is macarons that are too soft to enjoy.
Some people also use ziplock bags. However, the problem with this storage solution is that the macaron shell can easily break apart when it bumps or get stuck with other heavy food items in the fridge. Still, you can use ziplock. Just make sure that it will not get crushed by other items on the fridge.
When storing macarons, layer or line up the macarons in the container. Usually, you should place parchment paper in between. Don’t even think about using wax paper since the macarons will stick on it.
Also, you must place the macarons somewhere in the middle or at the back of the fridge or freezer to avoid fluctuating temperatures. Give the container a little space, and do not place anything large or heavy near it.
Eating Frozen Macarons
So, after a while, you started craving macarons and remembered those goodies hidden away in your freezer.
There’s no need to re-heat frozen macarons. Once ready to eat them, pull out the container and set it on the counter for about 30 minutes. You only need to allow the macarons to come to room temperature before eating or serving them.
If you only want to eat or serve a portion of what is inside the container, take out what you want and hurriedly put the container back in the freezer or fridge.
Sweet Thoughts
Macarons are amazing sweet delights that offer an endless variety of fillings and challenge your taste buds. Although they do not last that long when left at room temperature, I’m sure that their sweetness and heavenly, melt-in-the-mouth yumminess guarantees that there won’t be leftovers anytime soon!
Do you have any questions or recommendations? Voice it out and fire up the comment section below.
Until then, have a very lovely day!