Do Twinkies last forever?
You are searching the pantry, desperately for a good and sweet snack. You can’t decide if you want to listen to your mom who says, “Eat fruits, they’re sweet,” or to your guts which is begging for a sugary snack. You then find a Twinkie and you immediately feel satisfied. You wonder, do Twinkies last forever? Lets pop this balloon to find out!
What is a Twinkie?
The Twinkie is made by American company, Hostess. It is a small, golden, vanilla, finger-shaped sponge cake filled with sweet white cream on the inside. It is considered to be one of the most recognized snacks in the United States. It is also one of the most nostalgic processed foods, that was created in the 1930’s.
Do Twinkies last forever?
No, they do not last forever, because they are delicious and they contain dairy which spoils faster. Although they do contain very less moisture for mold to grow. The normal sponge cake lasts three days in room temperature, but because of sorbic acid they last for 45 years which seems like a long time. This long period of time makes it seem it will last forever. Twinkies do not rot the same way bread does, it becomes stale and dries out. That does not mean you should eat an expired Twinkie!
Fun Facts
When Twinkies were launching in the 1930’s they used banana filling, instead of the vanilla filling we are familiar with, because of the cutoff from banana trades during World War II. The name of Twinkies was inspired by the billboard for Twinkle Toe Shoes.
Sources
Snopes – "Twinkies Shelf Life"
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/forever-twinkies/
NBC News – "If you thought Twinkies lasted a long time before, you ain't seen nothing yet"
NPR – "The Science Of Twinkies: How Do They Last So Darned Long?"
