The first is; Go ahead and eat the gingerbread houses we make. Kelly (our moderator) followed up with this well. As a chef myself, the length of time leaving anything out in the open is always, always questionable. I tends to push the limit and I have never gotten sick with anything I, personally, have had control over.
Regarding my initial question of preserving gingerbread houses. I want to save my first one, which is blogged here. I did a lot of research and have decided to cover it with a Krylon spray. From their Crafts and Decor product line it is as follows: KrylonŽ UV-Resistant Clear Coatings.
I hope it does what I want. I will cover it in plastic and box it up in a dry storage area.
I know this was a long response but I am very glad to see this question format at this site and want to share what I have learned from the internet, friends and colleagues.
Richard
Feb 05, 2008
Let Them Eat Gingerbread! by: Kelly
You can definitely eat gingerbread houses made from the recipes on this site. How long can it sit out in the open is a tougher question though. Everyone seems to have their own answer.
I personally tend to continue eating (or letting my kids eat) the kit houses a little longer than the ones that I make from scratch. I just figure that they have enough preservatives to last a LONG time. The homemade houses are certainly tastier than the kits though of course.
I DO cover any house that we plan to eat with plastic wrap to keep it free of dust and critters.
When I make more extravagant houses, I'll make a bunch of simple cookies or tiny houses at the same time so the kids can decorate their own cookies/houses and eat those over the next week or so. They are told up-front that the "big house" will not be eaten. However, between Christmas and New Years (sometimes the "big" house has been sitting out for a few months even,) I'll try a small piece and, if it tastes fine, I'll let the kids have some. Sometimes the icing just tastes too "off" to feel safe. We've never gotten sick from any though - knock on wood ;-)
I've personally never tried to store a house over a year like some people do. We just don't have the storage room and it's more fun to make a new one every year and just take lots of photos.
One more tip on eating: If it feels a little stale or too hard when you break off a piece to eat, wrap it in a damp paper towel and microwave for a few seconds. It will turn it warm and soft.
