Oats, whole oats, are a versatile and healthy ingredient used to make a tasty breakfast porridge or baked into some delicious muffins. However, sometimes we need to store our oats for a few days or weeks. We want your day to be full of joyous moments, so we’ve compiled a collection of tips and tricks on storing oatmeal to prolong its shelf life and make them easier to use.
How to Store Oats and Oatmeal for the Long Term
1. Avoid Exposing Your Oats to Refrigeration and Freezing
One of the worst ways that you can store oats is to put them in the fridge or freezer. The cold temperature will cause the fat in the oats to separate from their proteins, making them taste bad. Also, after putting oatmeal in the fridge, when you take it out to use it, your oatmeal will be covered with a layer of frost which looks unappetizing and is quite challenging to remove.
2. Keep Them Cool
Oats should be stored in a cold spot and refrigerated under 40 degrees F (4 C). If you do not have a fridge, you can use a container with a lid in the freezer and place it on top of the oatmeal so that the air does not go in it by itself. But make sure that there is no open seal around it otherwise water will rush into it while they are frozen, and it will eventually spoil.
3. Store Them Air Tight
Everyone knows that the best way to keep most foods from spoiling is to buy them in airtight containers. But with oats, this might be a problem because the bag inside is quite loose. You can buy an airtight container and create one to solve the problem.
4. Store Them in a Cool, Dark Place
Oatmeal can stay cool for more than a month in the freezer, and the best place to store them to prolong its shelf life is in a cool, dark place. The room you keep your oatmeal in should be dark because light will spoil it faster. This is also one of the best places for storing other foods like bread and fruit.
5. Move Your Oats from the Original Packaging to Another
When you bring your oats from the grocery store, they are usually stored in a plastic bag with a zip lock top. In order to keep them fresh, you should transfer the oats into another airtight container before storing them away. When moving the oatmeal, ensure that you share all parts of it (the bag and its content) into the new airtight container; otherwise, any contaminants on the original packaging will also move over and contaminate your oatmeal once again.
6. Keep Them Away From Light
Oats contain antioxidant properties which help guard them against oxygen damage caused by light. If they sit around in sandy areas, they could start to go wrong, which is why you should move them away from the windows and other sources of light.
7. Avoid Cross Contamination With Other Foodstuffs
If you have oatmeal and bread or other bread products in the same container, it is going to be contaminated with bacteria from the other foods. However, this does not apply if you store your oats in a sealed container such as a mason jar or glass jar. And to be safe, it is always suggested that you wash your hands before touching the oats after taking them out of the grocery store bag.
8. Do not Store Oats in the Refrigerator
Also, as mentioned before, oatmeal is not meant to be stored in the Refrigerator or freezer. If you live with a roommate or are moving into a new home shortly, you should ensure that they do not put their oatmeal in the fridge and freeze it. Otherwise, your old favorite instant oats might become germy. And even if they don’t go bad immediately, you will eventually end up with some lousy-tasting oatmeal when it is time to use it again.
9. Keep Them Away from Strong Smells
Even if you are careful where you keep your oats, strong smells can still affect them, especially if they are in a poorly sealed container. For example, if you store your oatmeal in a plastic bag just used to store some old onions, the onions will transfer their smell onto the oatmeal and give it a sour taste.
10. Place Them in an Air-Tight Container
Suppose you do live in an area where there is condensation which often occurs during the colder seasons. In that case, you should buy an airtight container or make one using Tupperware or other airtight seals. Place the airtight container where there is no direct sunlight or heat.
11. Do Not Store Them Together With Dry Goods
It is important to note that even though oats are not meant to be stored with other dry goods such as some spices, sugar, or salt, they still might become contaminated with these items because they are too close. To avoid contamination from these items, you should slowly separate your oats from the rest of your dry goods and store them on their own. Also, when placing the oats in another airtight container, it is recommended that you refrain from stacking them on top of each other directly to keep them separated from each other and prevent cross-contamination.
12. Keep Them Away From Cats, Dogs, and Other Animals
Because of the nature of oatmeal, it is possible for small pets, such as cats and dogs, to get into them. To prevent this from happening, you should keep your oats in a place they cannot reach or invest in some locks that will restrict access to them. It is also recommended that you keep the container on a high shelf so your pet cannot jump up to it.
It is important to note that oats will keep fresh for up until six months from the day of purchase. However, it is best to transfer them into an airtight container and keep them in a spot away from other foods, light, and moisture as much as possible. Your containers should be placed in a cool area where the temperature is consistent. It is also essential to check your containers at least once every couple of months and remove any ones contaminated with dampness or if they have developed mold. These instructions can be applied not only when you are storing your oatmeal but also while storing anything else.
