Many ingredients for baked goods can stay good for a long time, but when it comes to baking chocolate, it’s important to know when it will spoil. The Pioneer Woman notes that an average milk chocolate candy bar can last for a year at most, but baking chocolate has its own specific shelf life.

Baking chocolate bars contain cocoa butter, a saturated fat which means it has an expiration date but can also last longer than you might think. These bars have no dairy, which means they can stay fresh for two years worth of cakes and pies, per The Pioneer Woman.

It’s important to store your baking chocolate in a dry, room-temperature area and to make sure it’s completely covered and sealed. Keeping your chocolate sealed will also ensure its flavor isn’t tainted by other odors in your pantry, as Martha Stewart reports.