Product Help & Guides

Product Storage & Shelf Life

Learn how to store Fun Foods Direct powders, slushy syrups, soft serve mixes, coffee syrups, toppings, seasonings, popcorn products, bakery mixes and other food products before and after opening.

Always check your product label: Storage requirements and shelf life can vary between individual products. The product packaging, best-before date and any specific storage directions provided for your product should always take priority over this general guide.

Find Your Product


Select a product category to jump directly to the relevant storage information.

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Powdered Mixes
Soft serve, bakery & powders
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Slushy Mixes
Syrup & prepared mix
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Syrups
Coffee, drink & cocktail
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Toppings
Sauces, crunch & add-ons
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Seasonings
Spices, salts & shakers
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Popcorn
Kernels, oil & supplies
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Fairy Floss
Flavoured sugar
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Opened & Prepared
After mixing or opening

General Food Storage Guidelines


Good storage practices help protect product quality, flavour, texture and food safety.

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Store in the Correct Conditions Unless the product specifies otherwise, shelf-stable products should generally be kept in a cool, dry location away from excessive heat.
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Keep Away From Direct Sunlight Direct sunlight and excessive heat can affect colour, flavour, texture and overall product quality.
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Protect Dry Products From Moisture Moisture can cause powders, sugars and seasonings to clump and may reduce product quality. Always reseal dry products securely after use.
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Keep Packaging Properly Sealed Once opened, close or reseal the package securely between uses. Where the original package cannot be resealed, transfer the product to a suitable clean, food-safe airtight container where appropriate.
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Use Clean, Dry Utensils Avoid introducing water, food residue or other contaminants into powders, sauces, syrups and bulk containers.
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Check the Best-Before Date Refer to the date printed on your individual product packaging. Different products and production batches may have different best-before dates.
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Powdered Mixes


Soft serve powder, thickshake mixes, bakery mixes and other dry powdered products.

Unopened Powder

Keep unopened powdered products in their original sealed packaging in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture and strong odours. Refer to the best-before date printed on the package.

After Opening

Reseal the package securely after each use and protect the powder from moisture. Use only clean, dry utensils when measuring product. If transferring the powder, use a clean, dry, food-safe airtight container and retain the original batch and best-before information.

Powder has become lumpy? Small lumps can sometimes develop when dry powders are exposed to humidity. Significant moisture exposure, unusual odour, discolouration or other unexpected changes should be investigated before using the product.
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Prepared Soft Serve Mix


Storage changes once dry soft serve powder has been mixed with water, milk or another liquid.

Prepared product is different from dry powder: Once soft serve powder has been prepared with liquid, it should no longer be treated as a shelf-stable dry product. Keep prepared mix refrigerated as required and follow the product instructions, machine manufacturer's food-safety guidance and applicable food-handling requirements.

❄️ Keep Cold

Prepared soft serve mix should be maintained under appropriate refrigeration and should not be left at room temperature for extended periods.

🧼 Keep Equipment Clean

Soft serve machines, mixing containers, whisks and utensils should be cleaned and sanitised in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's instructions and applicable food-safety requirements.

🏷️ Follow Your Product

Individual formulations can differ. Always follow any preparation, refrigeration and use-after-preparation directions supplied with your particular product.

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Slushy Syrup & Prepared Slushy Mix


Storage guidance for concentrated slushy syrup and syrup that has already been diluted for use.

Concentrated Slushy Syrup

Store the product according to the directions on the bottle. Keep the lid securely closed and avoid contamination by using clean equipment when measuring or dispensing syrup.

Prepared / Diluted Slushy Mix

Once slushy syrup has been diluted with water, its storage characteristics differ from the original concentrate. Prepare only the quantity required where practical and follow appropriate food-handling, refrigeration and machine-cleaning procedures.

If slushy mix is being held inside a commercial machine, follow the machine manufacturer's requirements for cleaning, sanitising, product holding and shutdown procedures.
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Coffee, Cocktail & Drink Syrups


Keeping syrups properly sealed and stored helps maintain flavour and product quality.

Before Opening

Keep unopened syrup in accordance with the storage instructions on the bottle, away from excessive heat and direct sunlight. Check the product's best-before date before use.

After Opening

Keep the bottle securely closed and follow any after-opening storage directions on the individual label. Avoid allowing drink ingredients, milk, water or other contaminants to enter the bottle.

Using a syrup pump? Keep pumps and dispensing equipment clean. Follow appropriate cleaning procedures and avoid topping up a contaminated bottle or container with fresh product.
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Dessert Toppings, Sauces & Crunch


Storage requirements vary between sauces, dessert toppings, dry crunch products, nuts and other dessert additions.

🍫 Sauces & Toppings

Check the individual bottle or container for after-opening instructions. Some toppings may have specific refrigeration requirements after opening.

🥄 Dry Crunch Products

Keep dry Crunch and dessert mix-in products securely sealed and protected from humidity and moisture to help maintain their texture.

🥜 Nuts & Dry Garnishes

Keep products properly sealed and store according to the individual label. Protect them from heat, moisture and contamination and observe allergen-handling requirements.

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Seasonings, Spices & Salts


Dry seasonings are particularly sensitive to moisture and humidity.

Keep Dry

Store seasoning containers tightly closed in a cool, dry location. Moisture can cause powders to clump and affect their ability to dispense evenly.

Avoid Steam

Avoid holding or shaking the container directly over steaming food, fryers or boiling equipment. Steam entering the shaker can introduce moisture into the product.

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Popcorn Products


Storage guidance for popcorn kernels, popcorn oil and seasoning products.

🌽 Popcorn Kernels

Keep kernels sealed in a cool, dry place. Proper storage helps protect the natural moisture within the kernel that is important for effective popping.

🧈 Popcorn Oil

Store according to the instructions on the individual container and keep securely closed when not in use. Protect the product from excessive heat and contamination.

🧂 Popcorn Salt & Seasoning

Keep tightly sealed and dry. Avoid introducing steam or wet utensils into bulk seasoning containers.

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Fairy Floss Sugar


Humidity and moisture are particularly important when storing fairy floss sugar.

Keep Sealed & Dry

Store ready-to-use fairy floss sugar securely sealed in a cool, dry place away from humidity and moisture. Sugar can absorb moisture from the surrounding environment, causing clumping and potentially affecting machine performance.

Keep the container closed when not actively filling the fairy floss machine, particularly during humid weather or in high-moisture environments.
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Opened, Mixed & Prepared Products


Opening a product or adding water, milk or other ingredients can change how it needs to be stored.

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Opened Dry Product

Reseal securely after use. Keep dry, use clean utensils and retain the original best-before and batch information.

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Product Mixed With Water

Once water is added, do not assume the shelf life of the original dry powder or concentrate still applies. Follow the specific preparation and storage instructions for that product.

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Product Mixed With Milk

Products prepared with milk or other perishable ingredients require appropriate refrigeration and food-safety controls. Follow the requirements applicable to the ingredients used.

Understanding Best-Before Dates


What is a Best-Before Date?

A best-before date generally relates to the period during which a food is expected to retain its intended quality when stored as directed. Always inspect the individual product and follow the information provided on its packaging.

Where Do I Find It?

Best-before or other date-marking information is generally printed, stamped or labelled on the product packaging. Its location can vary depending on the type of package.

Important: A best-before date should not be confused with a use-by date. Where a product carries a use-by date, follow that date and the storage directions on the product.

When Should I Not Use a Product?


If you are unsure about the condition of a food product, check it carefully before use.

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Unexpected Odour

Do not use a product if it has developed an unexpected or abnormal odour that is not characteristic of the product.

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Unexpected Appearance

Investigate unexpected mould, significant discolouration, foreign material, unusual separation or other signs that the product may have deteriorated or been contaminated.

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Damaged Packaging

If packaging is significantly damaged, leaking, unsealed or appears to have been compromised, contact us before consuming the product where there is any concern about its condition.

Storage & Shelf Life FAQs


Answers to common questions about storing Fun Foods Direct products.

How long will my Fun Foods Direct product last?
Shelf life varies by product and batch. Check the best-before or use-by information printed on the individual package rather than relying on a universal timeframe.
Do your products need to be refrigerated?
It depends on the product. Many unopened dry powders and shelf-stable products do not require refrigeration when stored as directed, while some products may require refrigeration after opening. Prepared products containing water, milk or other perishable ingredients can have different storage requirements. Always check the individual label.
Does soft serve powder need refrigeration?
Unprepared dry soft serve powder should be stored according to its label directions. Once the powder is mixed with water, milk or another liquid, the prepared mix has different food-safety and storage requirements and should be handled accordingly.
How should I store opened powder?
Keep opened powder securely sealed in a cool, dry place and protect it from moisture and contamination. Always use clean, dry utensils.
Can I leave prepared soft serve mix in the machine?
Follow your soft serve machine manufacturer's instructions for product holding, refrigeration, cleaning and sanitising. Commercial equipment varies considerably, so do not assume that every machine is designed to safely hold prepared product for the same period.
Can I leave slushy mix in the machine?
Follow the operating, product-holding and cleaning requirements supplied by your slushy machine manufacturer. Requirements can vary depending on the machine and product.
My powder has gone lumpy. Is it still okay?
Powder can clump when exposed to humidity or moisture. The cause and extent of the change should be considered before use. If there has been significant moisture exposure, an unusual smell, discolouration, damaged packaging or another concern, contact us with the product and batch details before using it.
Can I transfer products into another container?
Where appropriate, dry products can be transferred to a clean, dry, food-safe container with a secure lid. For commercial use, retain the original product name, allergen information, batch or lot identification and best-before information for traceability.
Where can I find the batch or lot number?
Batch or lot information may be printed, stamped or labelled on the package. Its location varies depending on the product and packaging format. Keep this information if transferring product to another storage container.

Not Sure About a Product?

If you are unsure how to store a product or have concerns about its condition, contact our team. Please provide the product name, batch or lot number, best-before date and photos of the product or packaging where relevant.