Does oatmeal ever expire? Oatmeal has an extremely long shelf life and if it is still in the package it can last up to 2 years. Unprocessed oats and steel oats can last up to 12 months. Unstabilized oats are oats that haven’t been steamed in processing and it can last up to 4 months. Any oatmeal that contains fruit or dry milk can last anywhere up to 4 to 6 months.
Oatmeal is one of the healthiest grains in the world. It is loaded with lots of fiber and important vitamins and minerals. If you eat oatmeal regularly that is a great healthy dietary meal. It is one of the most common breakfast meals. In fact, I always have this meal in my diet plans for my weight-loss and fitness clients.
Does Oatmeal Ever Expire? Photo Credit: iStock-Nodar Chernishev
Once you prepare or cook oatmeal the expiration life is about 3 to 4 days then the oats will go bad. After that amount of time if you don’t eat it is best to throw it away. But if it is in the fridge or freezer it can last up to 90 days. The longer your oatmeal stays in the original packaging while you are storing it the more the flavor and taste will change. It is just like anything you can’t expect the quality to be the same. Especially if it is just sitting there in the package for 9 to 12 months until you finally decide to open it.
The best way to check if your oats are any good is to check:
- Taste
- Color
- Texture
- Smell
- Potential molds
The best storage tips for oats are to keep it in dry place which helps to minimize any air, light, or exposure. A cupboard or pantry are suitable food storage places. If you cook oatmeal and you want to save it, then it is best to save it in an airtight container. And that container can be glass or a stainless-steel jar which helps keeps it fresh.
“Oatmeal has an extremely long shelf life and if it is still in the package it can last up to 2 years.” With Celebrity Fitness & Nutrition Expert Obi Obadike
The Bottom Line is dry commercially processed oatmeal can last anywhere from 1 to 2 years. Cooked oatmeal kept in a container can last up to 4 days and if you freeze them it can last up to 90 days. If the color or texture changes then that oatmeal has gone bad.
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References
- Rasane P, Jha A, Sabikhi L, Kumar A, Unnikrishnan VS. Nutritional advantages of oats and opportunities for its processing as value added foods – a review. J Food Sci Technol. 2015 Feb;52(2):662-75. doi: 10.1007/s13197-013-1072-1. Epub 2013 Jun 25. PMID: 25694675; PMCID: PMC4325078.
- Rasane P, Jha A, Sabikhi L, Kumar A, Unnikrishnan VS. Nutritional advantages of oats and opportunities for its processing as value added foods – a review. J Food Sci Technol. 2015 Feb;52(2):662-75. doi: 10.1007/s13197-013-1072-1. Epub 2013 Jun 25. PMID: 25694675; PMCID: PMC4325078.
- National Center For Home Food Preservation National Center for Home Food Preservation | How Do I? Dry (uga.edu)
