How to Store Whole Grains

Adding whole grains to your diet is a smart way to increase heart and digestive health. Whole grains keep their natural oils during milling and don't keep as long as regular grocery store refined flours and grains. Storing whole grains correctly can increase shelf life and ensure full nutritional content is kept for longer periods of time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Buy from a source that has rapid turnover. Whole grains lose freshness more quickly than refined flours, so buy the freshest product possible.

2. Refrigerate whole grain flours and most grains if you cannot use all of the package in two months. In the summer store whole grain flours in the refrigerator all the time. Warm temperatures can quickly turn whole grain flours rancid.

3. Store whole grains in a cool, dry and dark location.

4. Wrap whole grains tightly in plastic before storing in another container. This extra step can extend shelf life for a few weeks or even months. This step is important for grains stored in the refrigerator or in cupboard shelving.

5. Use plastic or glass containers with tight lids.

6. Read packaging to find the shelf life of the grain. Some grains even when stored perfectly only have a shelf life of a few months, while others like popcorn can keep for several years if stored correctly.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep whole grains away from stoves, ovens or dishwashers to prevent spoilage from heat produced by these appliances.
• Whole flax seeds or ground flax seeds lose omega-3 fatty acids when exposed to light so buy flax seed sold in colored plastic bags or containers.
• Grains like buckwheat or quinoa that are not as common should be bought in a specialty or health food store. They will have a higher turnover rate here and may be more fresh than buying them at a superstore or grocery store.
• Smell grains if they are not sold in sealed containers or bags. If grains smell bad don't buy them they could be rancid.
• If you see flying insects around grains you are buying do not buy them from that retailer. This could mean an infestation of some kind and even though the grain you buy looks fine, bugs could be in a larval state and hatch later in the grain. Once an infestation of bugs start in your home pantry it is difficult to contain.

Resources

• Buy airtight containers at this online store.

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