How Long Are Wilton Icing Colors Good For?
Decorating By yinyangmama Updated 21 Aug 2008 , 1:10am by yinyangmama
Do they expire? My mother-in-law gave me some older, unopened colors and the copyright on the bottom of the box says 1998. I was just wondering if they can go bad.
Thanks!
Yes, it's still good.
They should last for a very long time as long as grease doesn't come in contact with them..then they will start to harden.
The official answer:
All shelf life information is based on unopened packages and proper storage of the product.
Proper storage includes dry conditions and no exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures. The more ideal the storage conditions, the longer the shelf life.
Icing Decorations...............................24 months
Tubed Icings and Gels.......................18 months
Meringue Powder..........................12-24 months
Gum-Tex..........................................12-24 months
Color Flow.......................................12-24 months
Liquid Colors..................................12-24 months
Flavors..............................................12-24 months
Glucose.............................................12-24 months (will darken with age)
Piping Gel..............................................12 months
Ready to Spread Icing..........................12 months
Whipped Icing.......................................12 months
Creamy White Icing..............................12 months
Gum Paste Mix.......................................12 months
Wafer and Fondant Mix........................12 months
Ready to use Fondant............................12 months
Sprinkles and Sugars.............................12 months
Sparkles....................................................Indefinite
This is a handout I give out to all my students.
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The unofficial answer...darn near forever. If it thickens add some glycerin until it's a nice texture again.
I strongly belive that the only things that will survive a nuclear war are cocroaches and the gel coloring.
i have had my colors for about a year and a half and theyre still good so im pretty sure they last a while
In my experinece not all that long. When i first started decorating cakes all i bought was wilton color pastes because that's all i could find around here. I was always careful to take out what i needed with a clean toothpick making sure not to contaminate the paste. I even tried leaving some of the foil seal ontop to see it that made them last longer BUT nope still they turn to a gritty unusable paste in no time. I store them in my wilton caddy and still i have this problem.
I finally found a cake shop across the border that i travel to just for my cake supplies...americolor gel is on that list now. I love the stuff and have yet to have a problem with them. I am slowly throwing out all my witon pastes..waste of money in my opinion.
well thank you for all your responses! i guess the real proof will be when i crack them open... but as long as i know they won't kill anyone, i'm satisfied! 
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