Well this is about the coolest study ever.

Windisch, Windisch, and Popescu (a trio of badass Austrian scientists) wrote a paper detailing the best way to enjoy spherical candies like M&Ms and Skittles.

The researchers placed whole and fractured candies into bowls of tap water (tap water has approximately the same pH as saliva) and mechanically agitated the water slightly to mimic movement in the mouth. They videotaped the candies from above to observe their dissolve rates.

As might be expected, they concluded that to maximize the life of the candy, consumers should try to maintain the candy’s spherical shape for as long as possible. Fracturing the shape increases the surface area, causing the pieces to dissolve faster.

But the best part is their conclusion: “Even though we now know  how candies dissolve in time we stress that the best thing to do when eating a candy is to forget about these considerations, since they draw your attention away from what candies are made for: enjoyment.”

Read their paper and stats here.