Cereal is typically the most consumed breakfast food that everyone just loves. Most of the cereals have a best-by date printed on the package. If the cereals are past their best-by date, is it safe to use them? This is a question that needs a fix and solution to enlighten us.
Plain cereals are believed to have a longer shelf life and invariably last 6 to 12 months in the pantry.
Depending on the mix and type, many cereal types last for 3 to 6 months in the pantry. It can also be stored in the fridge, increasing its shelf life.
In this article, we will clearly elaborate on how you store the cereal and what is its natural shelf life. How can we extend its shelf life, and what needs to be done to enjoy cereals for a long time? We will also elucidate the indications to tell if the cereal has gone bad.
Does Cereal Expire?
Cereals can last forever, but it does have a longer shelf life. It can last many days, even past the best-by date, if stored properly.
The date printed on the package is the best-by date, implying that it is not an expiry date. The product does not expire after this date but might lose its quality.
The taste or flavor must have come down, in which case you may not want to even have a bite of it by any means.
If stored properly, it can still be used beyond the expiry date unless you definitely see signs of spoilage.
How Long Does Cereal Last?
The durability of cereal depends largely on the type and brand it belongs to. Plain cereals are believed to last a longer time than flavored ones.
Another major factor that directly impacts its shelf life is how it has been packaged. An unopened cereal will last longer than an opened packet of cereal. The cereal would last longer if the package is tight enough to hold off any external air or dirt.
You should validate the best-by date to determine if it has expired. Fortunately, you can use the cereals even past the best-by date if the condition is good enough to be consumed.
Expired cereal may not keep up the best quality as it was initially. The quality would have dwindled to a large extent and thus it would not serve the purpose or taste the same as it used to.
Flavored cereal has this problem: it will turn bad sooner when it is not stored properly.
Plain cereal lasts for 6 to 12 months. Cereals with fruits or chocolate will last for about 3 to 6 months. The opened cereal will stay up to 4 to 6 months. The prepared cereal will stay in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days.
How To Tell If The Cereal Has Gone Bad?
Cereals generally have a longer shelf life; thus, the best-by date is also mentioned far ahead of your purchase date. So it is unnecessary to finish the cereal instantly as you will have a longer time to complete it.
Sometimes, the cereal you bought would have timed out but you will never know when you purchased it or how long-standing it would be.
There are some indications to identify that it has gone bad. The below signs will immediately warn you that it has already become spoiled.
1. Mold
Mold can easily get to your cereal, and that is an indication that it has gone bad. If it is stored in a moist environment, then make sure it is absent of any mold. Molds can easily get settled on the surface of the cereal and thus turn it bad.
2. Insects
Cereals are prone to get attacked by insects in some way or another. It tends to breed on untouched oats which have been sitting out for a long time. Especially if you have chocolate or fruit-flavored cereal, the chances of insect attack are considerably higher.
3. Smell
Cereals made from oil or flavored can start smelling rancid after a while to indicate that they have turned bad. Storage deems to be an important factor in extending the shelf life of oats to a large extent.
The first thing to do is sniff the package for once and decide whether it has turned bad. It is most likely that the odd-smelling cereals taste bad as well.
Tips For Storing Cereal
Cereal is easy to store. It can be preserved in a cool dark place without access to light or heat.
Proper storage helps extend the shelf life of cereals to a large extent. An improperly stored cereal won’t even last a week. So putting the best effort into storing the cereals effectively can prolong their shelf life.
1. Dry Place
A dry place is an ideal location to store cereal. The place has to be bereft of any moisture or wetness so that it remains dry and cool at the same time. Any amount of air intrusion or water intrusion can strip off its crunchiness rendering it tasteless.
2. Airtight Container
Storing the cereal in an airtight container with the lid closed can actually help retain its freshness for a long time. Cereals are inevitably a dry product, and keeping them sealed can evade any moisture or air intrusion to a large extent.
Even a plastic bag that can be sealed tightly would be the best way to store the cereals.
A sealing clip would not be that helpful when it comes to cereals. Even if there is a slight hole or if it is not sealed properly, there is a high chance of microbes or insect attacks on the package.
3. Prepare Less
Prepared cereal won’t last more than 3 days even if refrigerated. So it is best to prepare less and finish it then and there without prolonging its stay for a long time.
If you extend its stay, you can transfer the contents into an airtight container and store it in the fridge. This will also prevent any odors from emanating out.
Risk Of Consuming Expired Cereal
As mentioned before, cereals tend to have a longer shelf life and can be pretty much used even after their best-by date. However, consuming expired cereal will have its own consequence, which is irreversible.
Flavored cereals like chocolate or fruity ones will go bad sooner, and they will radiate a very bad taste when consumed. Spoiled chocolate induces a vomiting sensation and will, also some ways, hamper your health through the food poisoning effect.
Moldy cereal or stale cereals are best avoided as eating them could be detrimental tour digestive health. It might give some nasty aftereffects in your body and cripple you with symptoms like diarrhea or dysentery.
So you have to be careful about consuming bad cereals.
Prepared cereal is more bound to bring drastic consequences and be completely unhealthy when consumed. So staying away from spoiled cereal would be the right approach going forward.
Can You Freeze Cereal?
Freezing cereal is not a problem, but it will not help a great deal to extend the shelf life by any means. It would make the cereal more crunchy and probably somewhat improve the texture.
Freezing will help if you are going to make a smoothie. If you prefer to add milk, that will be ideal for frozen cereal. It does not require defrosting.
Conclusion
Cereals are the ideal breakfast item that people invariably consume. So eating it fresh deems important and thus very valuable as well.
To keep it fresh and clean, one has to be wary about preserving it right and abide by the best-by date as much as possible. This article will clearly elaborate on how long you keep the cereals and how you effectively preserve them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does cereal expire?
Cereals can last forever, but it does have a longer shelf life. It can last many days, even past the best-by date, if stored properly. The date printed on the package is the best-by date, implying that it is not an expiry date. The product does not expire after this date but might lose its quality.
How long does cereal last?
Plain cereals are believed to have a longer shelf life and invariably last 6 to 12 months in the pantry. Depending on the mix and type, many cereal types last for 3 to 6 months in the pantry. It can also be stored in the fridge, increasing its shelf life.
How to tell if the cereal has gone bad?
The presence of molds, insects, and an off smell will indicate that the cereal has gone bad.
What are the risks of consuming expired cereal?
As mentioned before, cereals tend to have a longer shelf life and can be pretty much used even after their best-by date. However, consuming expired cereal will have its own consequence, which is irreversible. Flavored cereals like chocolate or fruity ones will go bad sooner, and they will radiate a very bad taste when consumed. Spoiled chocolate induces a vomiting sensation and will, also some ways, hamper your health through the food poisoning effect.
Can you freeze cereal?
Freezing cereal is not a problem, but it will not help a great deal to extend the shelf life by any means. It would make the cereal more crunchy and probably somewhat improve the texture.
