This article was co-authored by Chef Jeff Woodward. Jeff Woodward is a Private Chef and the Owner of The Rogue Chef based in Branson, Missouri. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he has cooked for esteemed clients including The Harlem Globetrotters, Peyton Manning, Mark Wahlberg, and Justin Timberlake. Chef Jeff won the Branson Tri-Lakes News Reader's Choice Award 2023 for Best Catering. He has been the Featured Chef Demonstrator for 2 years in a row for The Women's Show in Springfield, MO. The Rogue Chef has been the Hollister Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Chef, an award published in Tri-Lakes News. Chef Jeff's food has been featured on KY3 Television. He publishes a recipe weekly in the Branson Globe newspaper and monthly in Lost on the Lake Magazine. He published a feature article for Chef Talks in Discover Home and Style Magazine. He has an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College and a Culinary Arts degree with a Certification in Baking from Ozark Technical College.
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Rice crispy treats are delicious, easy to make, and just as easy to store (you can store the container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze the treats for up to 6 weeks!). Once you’ve cut up your extra rice crispy treats, stack them in an airtight container. Place a sheet of wax paper in between each layer to keep them from sticking, then seal the top. Enjoy!
Steps
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Cut the rice crispy treats into individual squares. For quicker, easier access, go for smaller squares that you can just grab and eat. If you’re storing a lot of leftover rice crispy treats, cut them into larger slabs that will fit in your largest airtight container.
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Put the leftovers in an airtight container or zip-lock baggie. Choose a container that will hold all of the leftovers without leaving too much extra space for air at the top. The less air space, the longer the treats will stay fresh! Stack the treats into the container or baggie in single layers. Press out any extra air from the baggie, then seal up the treats either with a lid or zip-lock.[1]
- Containers should be able to hold several layers, while baggies will probably only hold 1 or 2.
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Place a sheet of wax paper between each layer to prevent sticking. The wax paper will act as a buffer and keep the rice crispy treats from bonding and sticking together. Measure out the size of your container or baggie, then cut the wax paper to fit.
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Store the treats at room temperature for up to 3 days. Store the container on the counter, in a cupboard, or anywhere that will stay room temperature.[2] Room temperature can fall anywhere between 64 to 73 °F (18 to 23 °C).[3] After 3 days, you should throw away the old rice crispy treats and just whip up a new batch!
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Eat the treats as soon as possible for the best flavor and texture. If you wait too long, the rice crispy treats will lose their soft, gooey consistency. Once they go stale, they’ll turn rock-hard. Make sure to eat these treats right away to enjoy them at their best![4]
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Cut the rice crispy treats into even squares. Use a knife to cut the pan of rice crispy treats before you store them. This will help each piece to freeze evenly and make it easier to pull out individual treats once they’re frozen.
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Place the squares in an airtight container or freezer bag. If you use a container, fill it up layer by layer with the treats, then seal the top. Freezer bags are a great alternative for when you can’t find the right size of container or don’t want to leave your containers in long-term storage. Simply fill a freezer bag with 1 or 2 layers of treats, press out any extra air, and seal it up tight.[5]
- If you’re using a container, look for one made of either plastic or glass pyrex to store your squares.
- Try to find the right size of container that won’t leave too much extra space at the top. Eliminating extra air will help keep the treats fresher for a longer amount of time.
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Lay a piece of wax paper between each layer of treats. This will help prevent the rice crispy treats from sticking and bonding. Measure your container or freezer bag, then cut the wax paper to about the same size. This will make stacking and sealing much easier.
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Use a piece of tape to mark the date on the container. To help you keep track of the treats’ freshness, make sure to place a piece of tape on the top of the container and write down today’s date. These labels will help you easily determine whether or not the treats are edible when you find them in your freezer later.
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Place the container in the freezer and keep the treats for up to 6 weeks. Up until 6 weeks, you can keep enjoying these sweet treats. After 6 weeks, the treats will likely lose most of their moisture and turn rock-hard. If you see any containers with a date label from more than 6 weeks ago, just throw away the old rice crispy treats.
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Let the frozen treats thaw for 15 minutes before eating. To eat a frozen rice crispy treat, take it out of the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before eating or serving. This thawing period will bring back some of the rice crispy treat’s original softness and gooeyness.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhy can't I keep them stored in a container for more than 3 days? Do they go bad or just get stale?Community AnswerYou can keep them for longer, but after 3 days, they begin to taste stale. The Rice Crispy treats are made with butter, which is a fresh ingredient that changes flavor after storing at room temperature. The treats also begin to get softer the longer they're stored. These treats are definitely just better eaten quickly, for maximum freshness.
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QuestionHow do you keep rice crispy treats fresh longer?Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerYour best bet is to avoid sticking them in the fridge or freezer. Rice crispy treats will actually taste best if they're stored at room temperature. or quicker, easier access, go for smaller squares that you can just grab and eat. Choose a container that will hold all of the leftovers without leaving too much extra space for air at the top. The less air space, the better. Stack the treats into the container or baggie in single layers. If you're using a plastic bag, squeeze out as much of the air as you can. If you're stacking multiple layers, place a sheet of wax paper between each layer to prevent sticking. The wax paper will act as a buffer and keep the rice crispy treats from bonding and sticking together. Store the container on the counter, in a cupboard, or anywhere that will stay room temperature for up to 3 days. Any longer than that and they could spoil.
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QuestionHow do you freeze rice crispy treats?Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerFreezing rice crispy treats is a super easy way to store them until you're ready to serve them. Use a knife to cut the pan of rice crispy treats into even squares before you store them. Then, place the squares in an airtight container or freezer bag. If you use a container, fill it up layer by layer with the treats, then seal the top. Freezer bags are a great alternative for when you can’t find the right size of container or don’t want to leave your containers in long-term storage. Simply fill a freezer bag with 1 or 2 layers of treats, press out any extra air, and seal it up tight. o help you keep track of the treats’ freshness, make sure to place a piece of tape on the top of the container and write down today’s date. Then, place the container in the freezer and keep the treats for up to 6 weeks. When you're ready to eat them, simply take the treats out of the freezer and let them thaw on the counter for 15 minutes and enjoy!
Tips
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Don’t refrigerate your rice crispy treats--this will make them harden and dry out more quickly.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about storing food properly, check out our in-depth interview with Chef Jeff Woodward.
References
- ↑ https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/microwave-rice-krispie-treats/
- ↑ https://www.browneyedbaker.com/ultimate-rice-krispies-treats/
- ↑ https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Room_temperature
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-making-rice-krispie-treats-tips-from-the-kitchn-211694
- ↑ https://www.browneyedbaker.com/ultimate-rice-krispies-treats/
About This Article
You can store rice crispy treats at room temperature for 3 days or in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Before you store your rice crispy treats, cut them into squares so they’re easier to grab and eat. Place the squares in a ziplock baggie or an airtight container. Make sure to place a sheet of wax paper between each layer so the rice crispy treats don’t stick together. You can keep the container out on the counter, in a cupboard, or anywhere else that will stay room temperature. Or, throw them in the freezer, where they’ll be good for a few weeks. When you want to eat them, just let them thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes. To learn how to find the right kind of container to store your treats, read on!