If oatmeal isn’t one of your go-to breakfast choices, finding a bag of oats that’s stored for who-knows-how-long isn’t anything unsual. Can oats or oatmeal go bad?
Oats come with a date on the label, sure, but it’s not like they’ll spoil a day or two later. Is it okay to eat oats past the date on the package?
If either of those questions have brought you here, you’re in the right place. Read along.
How To Tell If Oats or Oatmeal Are Bad
When checking if your oats are safe to eat, look for the following:
Mold. If you notice any, throw them out. But mold doesn’t always grow on the top of the oats. That brings us to the second option.
Smell. If the oats smell moldy or off in any way, discard them.
Discoloration or other changes in appearance. If there’s something off in the way they look, assume they’re gone.
Pantry pests. If you can see any bugs, either dead or alive, get rid of the oats.
As you can tell, the process is pretty much the same as for other dry goods, like rice or pasta.
When in doubt, throw it out.
When it comes to prepared oatmeal, look for:
Mold. It forms on top and is easy to spot.
Off smell. If it smells bad, you know it’s spoiled.
Storage time. If it sits in the fridge for longer than like 5 days, it probably is not safe to eat anymore.
How Long Do Oats and Oatmeal Last
Most manufacturers suggest that you should consume their oats within about a year or so. That’s reflected in the “best-by” date on the package.
The best-by date on the label is only an estimate of how long the oats should retain top quality.
If you take decent care of your oats (more on that in the storage section), yours will last months past the mentioned date.
How long do oats last after “expiration”? It depends on the variety.
Minimally processed ones like steel cut and rolled oats can retain quality for another year or even more.
More fancy varieties, like instant oats and those with dried fruit and other flavorings will start losing quality much sooner, like a couple of months past their date.
If you make a bowl of oatmeal, and it tastes kind of stale, it’s time to open a new pack. Same thing with breakfast cereal.
If you make oatmeal in bulk (e.g., in a slow cooker or you’re a fan of overnight oats), make sure you eat everything within five days.
Please note that if you add to your oatmeal some ingredients that might spoil sooner, the storage time shrinks accordingly.
How To Store Oats and Oatmeal
Oats should sit in a cool and dry place, away from sources of heat. The pantry or a kitchen cupboard works well for that purpose.
Additionally, make sure the package is sealed tightly when not in use.
That protects the oats from moisture, odors, and any pantry pests that might find their way to the storage location.
It's usually safe to eat oats past the date on the package. But if they smell or look funky, toss them out and start from scratch. Store them in an airtight container away from heat and moisture, and use them up in recipes like overnight oats and oatmeal cookies.
Between baked oatmeal, granola, and overnight oats, there are many pros and cons of consuming oatmeal everyday. However, like all food items, oatmeal does have an expiration date and can go bad. Consuming expired oatmeal is generally okay, though it may affect taste and nutritional quality.
If you see any type of mold growing on your oats — whether cooked or dry — do not eat them. If you're unsure whether your oats are still good, start by inspecting the color, texture, and scent. If you notice any dark spots, strange odors, or clumping, it's probably best to throw them out or add them to the compost bin.
Unopened dry oatmeal should be stored in a cool, clean and dry place. Opened oatmeal ought to be stored tightly covered in a resealable plastic bag or in a plastic or glass container. It is best practice to use opened oatmeal within one year. Dry oatmeal can also be stored in a freezer bag in the freezer for one year.
If you leave your oats in an area that fluctuates in temperature, moisture will develop inside the package. This will lead to a growth in mold, in turn, spoiling your oats. Yuck! If your oats are prepared, it's best to store the oats in your refrigerator set at 40°F immediately after use.
As noted above, the date printed on a package of oats isn't truly an expiration date. "Oats can be safe to eat for several months to even a few years past the date on the package, provided they've been stored properly," says Revell.
Depending on the type, oatmeal can last from 6 months to 3 years with proper storage. Oatmeal that's flavored with fruit or dry cream lasts 6 months on average and instant oatmeal lasts about a year. Similar to other dried foods like pasta, steel cut and rolled oats last for 1 to 2 years.
But what happens when you just don't get around to eating it and your oatmeal gets old and stale in your cupboard? Don't throw it out! Put it to use to improve your skin, soothe your pets, neutralize odors, make crafts, and more. Oatmeal isn't the only multitasking item in your kitchen.
Most food safety resources confirmed that oats rarely go bad before you've finished the container. They will stay fresh if kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for at least 12 months once the container has been opened.
With the oatmeal and the container prepared, transfer the oatmeal to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag to be refrigerated. Ensure the container is clean and dry to prevent moisture buildup.
You just open the fridge and grab the container with the food for the day. Using meal prep for oatmeal you don't have to eat the oatmeal reheated and can be consumed cold. Often oatmeal is cold for breakfast. Add-ins like honey or fruits can be put separately or prepared in the container with the oatmeal.
We recommend consuming them within 36 hours of putting them in the fridge for the best experience. If you don't consume an entire serving and plan on eating it later, make sure to put it back in the fridge with the lid closed.
On average, steel-cut oats have a longer shelf life than other types of oats, such as instant and rolled oats, and can last 2 years when correctly stored. Flavored oatmeal differs slightly due to its added ingredients, and therefore, lasts an average of 6 to 9 months.
Opened peanut butter will generally go bad after about nine months in the fridge. While it should stay good longer in the fridge as opposed to stored in the pantry, it will go bad eventually. Once you refrigerate peanut butter, don't forget about it indefinitely.
If it's rancid, it will smell and taste “off” - having an odd and unpleasant bitter odor and flavor. It isn't particularly harmful, but it isn't pleasant to eat. Rolled oatmeal generally lasts longer than the “steel-cut” variety.
If not refrigerated and left at room temperature, bacteria can start to grow in cooked oatmeal, which is a concern for food safety. As such, any cooked oatmeal left outside of the fridge for 2 or more hours should be considered as expired, and consequently, put in the trash.
Prior research with oats has shown that bitterness and associated off-flavours are linked to the accumulation of free fatty acids, their volatile oxidation products, and possibly amino acids and certain phenols.
#10 cans of rolled oats will store for up to 30 years if stored in a cool, dry location. Once opened rolled oats will stay fresh for about 6-9 months. The plastic buckets are also a good option for storing oats but shorten the shelf life to about 25 years when stored in a cool, dry place.
Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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