Food coloring does not really go bad, as long as it’s been stored safely. It’s not an actual food, but rather water plus dyes and other ingredients, including preservatives which keep it good to use for a long time.
What are the main ingredients of food coloring?
Many food coloring products contain natural or organic colors that come from vegetables. Others come from synthetics known as coal-tar dyes. You have probably seen, and even consumed, all of these in lots of different products.
The main elements of food coloring are these artificial dyes, as well as water and other synthetics to hold everything together and keep the colors fresh.
From bakery products to toothpaste, from candies to cosmetics, the products we use every day usually contain some food coloring ingredients.
Food coloring doesn’t contain a lot of additives. This is what gives it its long-lasting characteristic. There isn’t a lot in food coloring that can go bad, as long as it’s been stored safely. Because of this, most protected containers of food coloring will last months and even years.
What could cause it to go bad?
Usually, the worst thing that will happen to food coloring is the color will fade. This isn’t unsafe in most situations. It does mean your baking project will be a little less vibrant, though.
Sunlight is the main culprit when it comes to making food coloring fade. To avoid this, keep the food coloring in a dark, cool location like your kitchen pantry.
Other factors to consider are moisture and outside contaminants. If your food coloring has been sitting open or exposed to the elements, you can be less sure of its safety over time. Check for any visual signs of mold or other problems. Smell the food coloring. If anything seems off, or if you simply don’t feel sure, stay on the safe side and toss the bottle.
What about gel vs. liquid coloring?
These are made using similar ingredients, which means they’re both going to stay good for months or even years. As long as you store your bottles safely, you can rest assured they’ll be good long after the date printed on them.
How should food coloring be stored?
A lot of people like to buy their food coloring in bulk. If you’re a baker, you may run through bottles of food coloring pretty quickly. But if you’re just hoarding them for the apocalypse so you can keep coloring your cupcakes long after the fall of modern society, here are some tips:
Dark
Sunlight is the ultimate enemy of food coloring. This isn’t because it will make it dangerous to eat. It will make the color fade over time, though. To keep everything vibrant and pretty, keep it away from the sun. Usually a pantry or cabinet with a door on it is the best spot.
Humidity
The area should be dry. As with any edible materials, moisture will cause it to decay faster. It may even encourage mold to grow in certain circumstances.
Keep your food coloring containers closed. You may even want to transfer the coloring to air-tight containers, if you have a lot to store.
