Q.: This week I have been cleaning kitchen cupboards and putting in new shelf paper. One shelf contained all my cookie cutters and decorating supplies. I have numerous jars of colored sugar and other seasonal sprinkles. Do these decorating supplies have a shelf life? I have not made Christmas cookies for the past two years and have had the supplies for a while.
— Linda Sullivan,
Wadsworth
A.: Colored sugar, sprinkles and other similar cookie decorations have an indefinite shelf life, as they are made of pure sugar for the most part. Sugar does not support bacterial growth, so it rarely goes bad. Unless there are clumps in your sugars that would indicate moisture has found its way into the bottles or containers, they should be fine to use for a long time to come.
Lisa Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or at labraham@thebeaconjournal.com. Find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter @akronfoodie or visit my blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/lisa.