How to Store Cereals

Keep breakfast cereal fresh by storing it properly.

If you have stocked up on boxes of breakfast cereal due to a sale, store them correctly to avoid spoilage. If your family has several boxes of cereal open at one time, transfer them to sealed containers to keep them fresh and tasty. Boxed breakfast cereal is convenient but may be costly if you and your family eat a lot of it. Buying cereal in bulk will allow you save money and time. If you store the product correctly, everyone in the household will have a crunchy bowl of cereal each morning.

Things You'll Need

• Cereal
• Plastic chip clip
• Plastic cereal storage container
• Masking tape
• Writing utensil

Instructions

1. Store an unopened box of commercially packaged cereal in a cool, dry location, such as a cupboard, for up to a year.

2. Fold the top of a small, opened cereal bag and seal it with a plastic chip clip. Store the bag of cereal in a cool cupboard for up to a week. Keep the cereal in a refrigerator if you live in a humid climate.

3. Pour the contents of a large box or bag into a plastic cereal storage container if you don't plan on eating it all within a week. Store the cereal in a 13- or 20-cup plastic storage container featuring an easy-to-pour spout and an air-tight seal for up to a month. Pick a clear container so you can easily see the contents.

4. Write the storage date on a piece of masking tape and place it on the container for convenience. Store the cereal container in a cool, dry cupboard or pantry.

References

• Still Tasty: Cereal Storage
• Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Selecting & Storing Cereals & Grains