Pantry or fridge? The official verdict on where your Tim Tams should be kept

Tim Tams are a beloved sweet treat favoured by millions across Australia.

The iconic chocolate biccie is a mainstay on shopping lists, coffee tables and couches.

Yet, one question rages: where is the best place to store them, the pantry or the fridge?

The folks at Aussie biscuit giant Arnott'sbelieve they have the answer, and they should know.

Arnott's employee and food technologist, Ian Norris, created Tim Tams in 1958.

As the story goes, Norris wanted to create a chocolate biscuit, something completely different to anything that was on the market at the time. Thus, Tim Tams were born.

Norris named the biscuit after a horse that won the Kentucky Derby in 1958. The biscuits first appeared on supermarket shelves in 1964.

Today, 62 years later, the demand for Tim Tams remains strong. In fact, Arnott's produces 3000 of the biscuit every minute to keep up with demand.

But back to the question at hand – where to store Tim Tams during summer?

For some, this question might seem redundant, because, well, a packet of Tim Tams might not last long enough for them to be stored.

But for argument's sake, let's say you need a place to keep them between snack breaks.

Given Tim Tams can melt – the cult tradition of the Tim Tam Slam is proof of this – it makes sense to keep them in a cool place. (For those needing a reminder about the Tim Tam Slam – it's when you bite off the opposite corners of the biscuit and use it as a straw in a hot drink, usually a coffee.)

A dry cool place is also needed to keep Tim Tams fresh, but this could just be an airtight container stored away from the sun.

But, then again, even though Tim Tams can expire, like some foods, they can also be eaten after an expiry date.

Let's use Tim Tams versus milk as an example. You're not going to keep drinking milk past its expiry date, but a Tim Tam is more likely to have an extended home shelf life.  

So where does that leave the fridge or pantry question? Perhaps it's best to leave it up to the experts.

"Tim Tam biscuits are delicious no matter how you like to enjoy them," Rebecca Chan, Senior Marketing Manager at Arnott's, told nine.com.au.

"Whether you prefer a crisp, chilled bite from the fridge, or the combination of crunchy and velvety textures straight from the pantry, each Tim Tam biscuit promises an experience that's simply irresistible."

But let's get down to brass tacks.

"Personally, I love the melt-in-your mouth moment of a Tim Tam biscuit straight from the pantry, which also is perfect for a Tim Tam slam," Chan said.

"However, a cool, crunchy Tim Tam from the fridge is always nice on a warm summer's day."

There you have it.