How come it's OK to use royal icing decorations months after they're made? Why doesn't the raw egg content go bad?

I use weringue powder. But I think its the amount of powered sugar that goes into it, that is a perservitave. I make potato candy (potato and icing sugar) and they dont go bad

Golly, I thought I was the only one who knew about potato candy!

Sorry, I dunno why. I supposed it's because everyone says they're not really meant to be eaten because they're so hard. However, I eat them; but I'm a sugar hound. I do know that my Royal, and I use meringue powder,too, does go bad. It gets musty tasting and smelling if left on the counter for more than a few days.

how do you store your potato candy Cheatize? Also I find that if my Royal is not stored air stight it gets watery and such

I mainly use Glace, which i have kept in the fridge for a month or so and it has been fine ")

I read somewhere, I think the "Cake Bible" that sugar is it's own perservetive. Must be why Twinkies are good after 20 years!

It's usually on a plate so I wrap the plate in plastic wrap and it sits on the counter. It doesn't last very long so I've never tried to freeze it.

The thing that makes eggwhite go bad, is bacteria. Bacteria does not like sugar (nutcases!). When the royal dries, the water evaporates. Bacteria need water.

All sugar, no water = no bacteria = the dry decorations won't spoil.

awesome, thanks guys!

What about listeria and salmonela though, are they classified as bacteria?

Correct... I really know NOTHING about germies!

Actually if you let unused royal sit long enough, it does grow mold.

If you are talking about decorations made with royal- they are dried, not wet. Wet promotes bacteria growth