The Best Salt Water Taffy to Order Online in 2023

What to Look for in Salt Water Taffy

Manufacturers

Though salt water taffy originated in the Eastern United States, it’s also made in other places. If the history of salt water taffy as a celebratory treat at boardwalks on the Atlantic Ocean matters to you, choose a taffy made by a company located in one of those areas. There are, additionally, a number of manufacturers in other parts of the U.S. that make excellent products, many of which have made a name for themselves without ever going near an ocean boardwalk. The more salt water taffy you eat, the more you’ll recognize the same names that stand for quality.

Types

The original salt water taffy was made by pulling and stretching the candy during the preparation process for a final product that had a specific texture: soft, but slightly chewy. Many of the newer brands of salt water taffy are made by whipping the candy during the preparation process, which makes a softer texture that’s easier to bite. 

Packaging and Freshness

It’s usual practice to wrap pieces of salt water taffy individually since they’re sticky and can become a big mess if each piece is not wrapped.

Generally, if you’re ordering salt water taffy from a vendor that has a good turnover, the candy will be fresh. You might want to double-check for freshness if you’re buying from a local store that doesn't have the same turnover.

Shape

The baton shapes are more traditional and old-fashioned, but the trend among the newer brands is toward the bonbon shape.

Flavor

Discovering a favorite salt water taffy flavor is part of the charm of what this candy’s all about. There’s a wide range of flavors in most brands of salt water taffy so that after learning the basics, you can explore endlessly to find the special flavors you’ll love.

Allergens

Though salt water taffy is a fairly simple recipe based on a blend of sugar, cornstarch, corn syrup, glycerine, water, butter, salt, flavoring, and coloring, it may have other ingredients, depending on the manufacturer and the recipe. Always check for allergens if it matters to you, unless the product specifies that it’s allergen-free.

FAQs

What is salt water taffy? 

Salt water taffy is an iconic American candy that became popular in the early 1900s when it was made and sold by a few vendors on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. One of the vendors came up with a marketing scheme to package the candy in an attractive souvenir take-home box, and over time salt water taffy became an important part of a trip to the beach. It’s a soft, easily eaten candy with seemingly endless possibilities in terms of how many flavors can be invented.

How is salt water taffy made? 

The basic ingredients are brought to a boil, and then the taffy is either "pulled" (by hand or by machine) or whipped until it cools. The two methods produce different textures. It’s then cut into bite-size pieces and individually wrapped.

Does salt water taffy go bad? 

The general answer to this question is: No, it can’t go bad. It can, however, melt if left at high temperatures, and if left for many months or years the flavors can become less intense and the texture of the candy can become harder. There are some salt water taffies being made that have ingredients that are not in the traditional recipes, such as egg whites or milk powder. These products have the potential to degrade more quickly than the traditional taffies.

Can you freeze salt water taffy?

Yes. You can freeze salt water taffy and defrost it when you’re ready to eat it. 

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best salt water taffy on the market, evaluating its key features—like size, flavor, and price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Karen Resta is a writer specializing in food culture and history, cooking, pastries, and restaurants. She's also a former pastry chef and has traveled to Budapest, Kyiv, and Paris during their Fashion Weeks as a photographer and writer, always finding the best authentic pastries along the way. She now spends a lot of her free time baking at home and always recommends quality within your given budget. Native to New England, she prefers the traditional, baton-shaped, pulled salt water taffy over the whipped bonbons, but has been known to quickly eat many pieces of the bonbon type if nobody’s looking.

Amanda McDonald is an editor at The Spruce Eats and has over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food — from what new products are at the grocery store to chef-approved hacks that keep tricky leftovers fresh for days. She updated this article to include the most up-to-date information.