Editing Meringue (section)

==Shelf life==
Meringue is not a stable structure and has a short shelf life of about two weeks if stored properly. Meringue is a [[hygroscopic]] food, thus it absorbs water from the air. The high sugar concentration in the meringue absorbs moisture from the air and will cause the meringue to become soft and chewy. The more water that is absorbed, the heavier the meringue becomes. After enough water is absorbed, the meringue will become too heavy for the foam structure to support itself, and it will start to collapse. Meringue is so susceptible to absorbing water that a rainy day may disrupt the foam structure formation and make it impossible to form a meringue.<ref>{{cite web |last=Christensen |first=E. |date=May 5, 2008 |title=Quick Tip: How To Keep Meringue Crispy |access-date=December 5, 2017 |url=https://www.thekitchn.com/quick-tip-keeping-meringue-cri-49807 |archive-date=November 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129065604/http://www.thekitchn.com/quick-tip-keeping-meringue-cri-49807 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Storing meringues in an airtight container will prevent humidity from affecting the sugar. It is also recommended to store the meringue in a cooler area. If the meringue is stored in these conditions, its shelf life will be about two weeks. To extend the shelf life up to about three months, the meringue can be stored in the freezer. The colder temperatures in the freezer decrease the humidity. The meringue should still be stored in an airtight container, preventing water from affecting the meringue.<ref>{{cite web |title=3 Simple Steps on How to Store Meringues |url=https://dilesia.com/how-to-store-meringues/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091259/https://dilesia.com/how-to-store-meringues/ |first=Tiffany |last=Watts |date=November 1, 2017 |access-date=December 4, 2017 |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>