The Storage Mistake That's Ruining Your Freshly Baked Cookies

It's happened to all of us: You bake up an absolutely perfect batch of old-fashioned oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, wait the appropriate amount of time for them to cool, and dutifully stack them in the correct container, only to later find them broken or, even worse, stuck together. Improper storage methods are one of the most common cookie baking mistakes because it's something that seems like it should be simple, but actually requires close attention to detail. 

In the case of broken or stuck-together cookies, odds are that you neglected to place anything between the layers as you stacked them, which is a crucial part of storing both chewy and crispy varieties of homemade cookies. Adding waxed or parchment paper between layers creates a barrier that prevents them from sticking. Paper liners also create a more even surface between layers of cookies. Instead of breaking as the cookies gradually succumb to gravity and sag against the mounted tops of the cookies below them, the paper provides a flat surface (and often more surface area) to keep them intact. 

This is an especially important step if your cookies are decorated. Placing paper between the layers helps protect delicate frosting, sprinkles, and colorful sugar, and prevents it from transferring to the bottom of the cookie above it. A little may still occur, but it's less likely because the paper is less moist and sticky than a fresh-baked cookie. To reduce the chances of transfer even more, make sure your cookies are cool and any frosting is fully dried before storing them. 

Since those flat layers of parchment or waxed paper are so crucial to protecting your cookies from disaster, that means stacking your favorite butter pecan cookies atop one another in a tall, round cookie jar is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Not only is it impossible to stack them in neat layers, they're more likely to stick or crumble apart every time they're jostled as you reach in to grab a few. Additionally, most cookie jars aren't airtight, which can lead to your cookies becoming stale or even moldy. Instead, stick to flat cookie tins and glass storage containers with lids featuring a silicone seal.

Note that even the recommended layers of baking paper won't save your cookies if you store them while they're still warm. As baked goods cool, they release moisture in the form of steam. In an enclosed tin, this steam will have nowhere to go, instead condensing into droplets on the inside of the container. This extra moisture can turn crisp cookies soggy, adhere chewy cookies to the paper separators, and cause cookies of all varieties to spoil that much faster.

It's also a huge faux pas to store different types of cookies in the same container. Cookies of different shapes will cause the layers to be uneven, risking damage. Additionally, cookies stored together tend to share moisture and leach flavor into each other, which could ruin cookies intended to be a specific texture or strong flavor.