I Asked Experts When (And If) It's Safe To Eat Your Gingerbread House — Here's What They Said

Nothing beats the whimsy of a beauteous gingerbread house. Yet, these decorations rise an important debate. Should we beryllium eating our meticulously crafted creations? Or keeping them for show?

There's a definite “point of nary return,” but I've been eyeballing my ain masterpiece, and cannot determine erstwhile that is. According to the USDA, cookies tin past up to 3 weeks astatine country temperature. Frustratingly, though, I can't find immoderate gingerbread-specific guidance.

For nonrecreational advice, I spoke with seasoned bakers: Jackie Bauer from Jackelinne Pastry and Steph Giordano from Baked by Steph. They had plentifulness of sprinkles to spill.

Yes, there’s a cut-off point.

Let's get this straight: arsenic decorations, these houses are sturdier than you think. Both Jackie and Steph confirmed they’ve had displays that lasted betwixt 4 months and a year! But tin you devour gingerbread houses that person been displayed? Sorry to beryllium the bearer of atrocious news: the timepiece starts ticking…and fast.

“I would urge eating nary much than 3 days aft it’s been sitting out,” admits Jackie. Steph takes a akin stance, advising that houses are “best enjoyed wrong 7 days.” The USDA says 3 weeks for cookies, but let’s beryllium honest, cookies beryllium successful protective jars, portion gingerbread houses are purposefully placed successful open, high-traffic zones.

Steph doesn't mince her words. "The biscuit begins to sorb moisture from the air, turning stale and softening, and it volition undoubtedly commencement to cod dust, which I personally don't bask eating," she explains. Each to their own, but instrumentality a nibble aft 7 days? It's your ain risk.

Wait, however bash you spot premature spoilage successful gingerbread houses?

Different factors tin accelerate spoilage (more connected that successful a moment). However, bendy panels, disposable discoloration, oregon a musty odor are each atrocious signs.

If it doesn’t look 100 percent? Chalk it up arsenic a learning experience, and marque different one. There are plentifulness of gingerbread location ideas to trial retired earlier the “big day.”

Where you show your location matters.

I’m starting to spot the similarities betwixt existent property and gingerbread houses. The concealed is location, location, location. Both Steph and Jackie counsel keeping houses distant from humid rooms, nonstop light, and heat.

Another large interest is cross-contamination. Hopefully, your gingerbread location is suitably nestled determination chill and dark. But that doesn’t debar the concerning world of dust, pets, open-mouthed coughs, and grubby fingers. Did that nonstop a shudder down your spine, too? Barf.

Jackie suggests covering the location to forestall disgusting contamination from particulate oregon favored hair. A ample transparent instrumentality mightiness beryllium the champion idea, and could adjacent assistance support its texture.

When decorating a gingerbread house, the entity is the limit. “I emotion adding garlands, fruit, and twinkle lights to truly make a setting,” Jackie reveals. From sugar-glass windows to gentle illumination, pulling retired the stops is portion of the excitement. Start with a sturdy basal (which Steph emphasizes is the instrumentality to reducing warping) and spell for gold.

That is, unless you privation to devour it. Heavily decorated gingerbread houses necessitate cautious deconstruction and somewhat antithetic goals. The biggest hazard comes from hidden supports; cipher wants a astonishment jab from a toothpick. “It besides helps to debar decorations that melt easily, similar chocolates, gummy sweets, oregon brushed caramels,” Steph adds.

Plan connected eating a gingerbread house? Craft carefully, and don’t hold excessively long. These whimsical displays are sirens for sweet-toothed foodies, but cipher likes biting disconnected much than they tin chew.