# Ways to store chewed gum for later chewing / What surfaces won't gum stick to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2018, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777 "2018-11-19T08:16:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![squish7](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squish7/32/104_2.png) [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/1 "2018-11-19T08:16:27Z")
If you chew gum for awhile, then put the chewed gum on a plate or something, then come back in a few hours or days and pick the gum up and put it in your mouth again, is it contaminated? What ways can you think of to store chewed gum to best preserve the chewiness/flavor? Like what surfaces won’t gum stick to? Thanks gang! ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/2 "2018-11-19T08:25:22Z")
You could wax your bedpost and place it there but it will lose flavor overnight. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/3 "2018-11-19T12:44:01Z")
Maybe a [pill case](https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Briefcase-Medicine-Storage-Container/dp/B075WTB4BD?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_9) or small pill bottle? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/4 "2018-11-19T14:52:27Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > You could wax your bedpost and place it there but it will lose flavor overnight. [I believe the loss of flavor is still an open question.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXp0i7Y1eVo) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/5 "2018-11-20T22:49:25Z")
Reuse the wrapper your gum came in. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/6 "2018-11-20T23:12:19Z")
Cyrogenically freeze it. It won’t stick to anything and no bacteria will grow. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/7 "2018-11-20T23:39:57Z")
Ewww. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/8 "2018-11-21T00:51:09Z")
PTFE (teflon), Silicones, and probably smooth nylon sheet should work. A little Japanese ceramic dish with a picture of a cat, or pussywillows on it, lightly oiled, should also work ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/9 "2018-11-21T01:07:01Z")
Package of 10 mini-storage containers from Dollar Tree, for a dollar. They’re around half the size of a credit card. [https://www.dollartree.com/sure-fresh-mini-storage-containers-with-lids-10ct-packs/206990](https://www.dollartree.com/sure-fresh-mini-storage-containers-with-lids-10ct-packs/206990) ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/10 "2018-11-21T01:50:57Z")
Wax paper? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/11 "2018-11-21T02:09:19Z")
In my experience, it seems that the flavor in modern\* gum only lasts for about a half-hour or so anyway. So why bother storing used-up, tasteless gum for re-use? \*I swear that the gum I chewed as a child lasted much longer in flavor. And I’m pretty sure it isn’t age-related deterioration of my taste buds – other foods still taste as good as ever (to the detriment of my weight-loss attempts). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/12 "2018-11-21T02:12:13Z")
In my experience, it seems that the flavor in modern\* gum only lasts for about a half-hour or so anyway. So why bother storing used-up, tasteless gum for re-use? \*I swear that the gum I chewed as a child lasted much longer in flavor. And I’m pretty sure it isn’t age-related deterioration of my taste buds – other foods still taste as good as ever (to the detriment of my weight-loss attempts). ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/13 "2018-11-21T02:48:38Z")
I remember the girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie (the one with Gene Wilder) put it behind her ear. Try that? ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/14 "2018-11-21T02:55:06Z")
Remove the gum from you mouth, eat a cracker and drink water to cleanse your palate and wait a few minutes. You’ll be surprised how much flavor is still there, though not as much as a new stick. As far as gum lasting longer when we were young, it’s possible the sweetness has been reduced, especially since sour gum and candies are all the rage now. However, it’s more likely because our sense of taste and smell decreases with age (this is true for all animals). In his 50’s and 60’s, my Dad would eat and drink sweet things (especially Mountain Dew which to me has always been overly sweet) that he never did when he was younger. As I’m nearing 60, I find that I don’t like overly sweet or overly salty things that I enjoyed when I was young. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/15 "2018-11-21T03:03:38Z")
For those who point out that some expert tasters (e.g. the judges on Food Network shows) are older, I suspect it’s because they’ve developed their memories of taste and smell to overcome the losses with age… Sometimes , the challenge on some TV cooking shows is that the contestants can’t taste or smell what they’re cooking, but their memories and experience allows them to still cook great food. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-store-chewed-gum-for-later-chewing-what-surfaces-wont-gum-stick-to/824777/16 "2018-11-21T16:22:19Z")
The coated paper backing from a self adhesive label would probably work alright.