How Long Does Waffle Batter Last? How to Store It?
Waffles are a great way to satisfy your snacking peckishness and get as creative as possible. They are tasty, versatile, and require just basic cooking skills. You can make the batter from scratch or buy it in a box. However, you can easily get carried away and make a little too much. So, how long does waffle batter last?
Waffle batter lasts up to two hours at room temperature, up to two days in the fridge, and up to a month in the freezer. It is highly perishable as it contains eggs and milk. Whether you make it from scratch or activate it from a dry, ready-made boxed mix, waffle batter has a ticking clock.
It is a shame to let your waffle batter go to waste, so proper storage is the key to making the most of it. Therefore, in the following paragraphs, I will explain how to keep your waffle batter safe as long as possible and how long it lasts under different conditions.
How Long Does Waffle Batter Last?
Waffle batter is highly perishable. It contains eggs, milk, and butter, so whether you make it from scratch or use a dry boxed mix, you need to store it properly if you don’t use it all for your waffle batch.
Boxed waffle mixes usually contain flour, baking, powder, sugar, and salt, but even if you don’t add milk, eggs, and butter, it will still start spoiling soon if stored improperly. The sheer contact between the water molecules and the flour will trigger a chemical reaction that develops faster than you think.
Therefore, to keep your waffle batter safe, you must store it correctly. Don’t leave your waffle batter at room temperature for too long. An average batch of 10 waffles takes about half an hour to bake in a waffle iron.
So, your batter is already at room temperature for at least half an hour. It won’t last much longer if you don’t store it after you finish the waffles. If your waffle batch is larger, it will take maybe an hour, so your waffle batter will be out even longer.
Therefore, don’t wait too long after finishing your waffles, and store your waffle batter in the fridge as soon as possible. You can leave it in the same bowl where you made it or transfer it to an airtight container.
Either way, you should reduce the air penetration to a minimum by using an airtight lid, tightly wrapping the waffle batter bowl with plastic foil, or closing the opening with a silicone lid. Don’t let your waffle batter sit at room temperature for more than two hours, including the time you took to make it.
In the fridge, your waffle batter will last up to two days. Place it on the top shelf to avoid the fridge moisture and fridge smell penetrating the batter. Don’t touch the waffle batter while it is in the fridge.
Don’t open it, and don’t stir it. Once it settles, opening or stirring could decrease its quality, making it thinner. Also, they could reduce their shelf-life due to the air penetrating the batter.
If you didn’t use your waffle batter during the two days it was spent in the fridge, you either need to discard or freeze it. Check the batter for spoilage before freezing it. If it starts to spoil, there will be signs, so you will quickly notice them.
Even if the spoilage has just started and the signs are very discrete, don’t freeze the batter, but discard it immediately. If the batter is safe, freeze it, and it will be safe for about a month. If the waffle batter is still in the bowl where you made it, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the freezer.
If you don’t have an airtight container, you better get one, as the other plastic containers don’t do as well in this case. It is of utmost importance that air doesn’t penetrate the waffle batter, as it will significantly decrease its quality.
Frozen waffle batter is good for a month. However, it stays safe for longer than that but loses its quality. Still, if you tweak it a little, you may be able to return it to its former state.
When defrosting the waffle batter, let it thaw naturally on its own, and don’t place it in hot water to speed up the process. If you rush to defrost the waffle batter, it will thin up, and your waffles won’t be good.
What Is the Best Way to Store Waffle Batter?
The best way to store waffle batter depends on the length of the storage period. The safest way is the freezer. If you don’t plan on making waffles in the next two days, freeze the waffle batter, and you will keep it safe for a month.
The fridge is good for short-term waffle batter storage for up to two days.
Regardless of your chosen storage method, you need to use airtight containers to safely store your waffle batter. This is non-negotiable for the freezer, while the fridge method is more open to other options.
If you don’t have an airtight container, you can refrigerate your waffle batter in the bowl where you made it; just make sure you cover the opening well. You can use plastic foil or a silicone lid.
You can also transfer it to a regular plastic container, but wrap a plastic foil around the top part to secure the lid.
How to Store Waffle Batter From the Box?
The same rules apply for a developed boxed waffle mix, i.e., two hours at room temperature, two days in the fridge, and a month in the freezer, ensuring no air can penetrate the batter.
A dry-box waffle mix can be stored for much longer. Whether you opened or didn’t open the box, the dry ingredients are durable, so they will last practically indefinitely, though the mix is at its finest for six to eight months.
An unopened waffle mix is very easy to store. Just pop it in the pantry and ensure its surroundings are dry. Even though warmth cannot harm it, better play it safe and store it in a dry place.
Moisture is the most harmful element for boxed waffle mixes. Since the package is cardboard, which easily absorbs moisture, it can easily trick you into thinking that it is dry by seeming dry on the outside while retaining moisture inside its walls.
Therefore, you need to ensure that the storage area is dry before storing your boxed waffle mix there.
An opened boxed waffle mix is also simple to store. Transfer it to an airtight container and leave it in a dry and cool place. Stored this way, it will keep going as if you never opened the box.
How to Tell If Waffle Batter Is Bad?
Waffle batter shows very obvious signs if the spoilage process has taken place. The first thing to keep an eye on is the smell. A spoiled waffle batter has a slightly acidic smell mixed with that of dough.
The color is another sign. While a good waffle batter has a light, eggshell color, a bad waffle batter has a yellowish color, with visible darker yellow spots.
The third sign is the bubbles. Waffle batter naturally has a few bubbles on the surface; however, if you see many tiny bubbles in the bowl, it is a sign of spoilage.
Can You Eat Waffle Batter That Sits Out Overnight?
Never leave your waffle batter out overnight and if you do, never eat it the next day. A waffle batter sitting out for over two hours is no longer safe. Even if the spoilage signs are still not noticeable, rest assured that the spoilage process has begun.
A waffle batter sitting out overnight will probably have some spoilage signs, such as bubbles or a funny smell. However, even if it looks ok, don’t risk it.
What to Do With Waffle Batter Leftovers?
You can always use your waffle batter leftovers to make more waffles, but you can also repurpose the batter. For example, you can add some more milk to thin it up and make delicious pancakes.
You can also add sparkly water and turn your waffle batter into a crepe batter. You can also make mini muffins, add some more flour and chocolate chips, and make chocolate chip cookies.
All you need to do is figure out what you feel like making, as waffle batter is very adaptable to many desserts.
