You must learn the proper methods for storing oatmeal if you want to make sure that it stays fresh and maintains its nutritional value.
Oatmeal is best purchased in bulk and prepared in larger quantities to save money and time, but frequently people do not know how to keep it fresh and end up discarding a significant amount of oatmeal that has spoiled or become stale.
How should cooked oatmeal be stored? In the refrigerator, keep cooked oatmeal in an airtight container. You can prevent spoilage and bacterial growth in this way. In the refrigerator, cooked oatmeal can be safely kept for up to 5 days. Additionally, cooked oatmeal can be frozen for up to three months.
Making the most of your oatmeal at home and preventing wastage are both possible benefits of learning how to store it correctly. To learn more, including the ideal ways to store cooked oats, continue reading.
Cooked Oatmeal Storage
It is so simple to make more oatmeal than you can eat, and you wouldn’t want to waste any good oatmeal by throwing the extra away.
You can even prepare a larger quantity to save some for meals throughout the week. There are some fantastic ways to store cooked oatmeal to enjoy at a later time.
If stored properly, cooked oatmeal can be kept for up to 5 days, allowing you to have oatmeal every day of the workweek without having to prepare it first thing in the morning.
Cooked oatmeal can be kept in three different ways, each of which is ideal for a specific period of time:
- The simplest way to store oatmeal is in the refrigerator, especially if you intend to consume it within the next few days. The oatmeal can be divided into individual servings and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- When you don’t intend to consume the oatmeal within the next few days and want to further extend its shelf life, you should freeze it. Up to three months’ worth of oatmeal can be kept in the freezer.
- Dehydrating - You can put your oatmeal in a dehydrator if you have a reason why you don’t want to keep it in the refrigerator or freezer. Oatmeal that has been dehydrated can be stored for three months in a cool, dry, and dark location. To make sure it keeps its best quality, use an airtight container.
For plain oatmeal, any of these techniques will do just fine, but keep in mind that the toppings must be added later. If you store certain toppings together, they might not keep as well and will change the texture and flavor of your oatmeal.
Selecting the Best Container for Cooked Oatmeal Storage
You must pick an airtight container when you’re storing leftover cooked oatmeal. By doing this, it is possible to prevent the oatmeal from becoming spoiled by excess moisture and air contact.
Freezer bags - Freezer bags are an excellent option because they are strong and can be stacked to save space. They do help to protect the oatmeal from moisture because they have a semi-permeable membrane. Freezer bags have drawbacks in that they may not be reusable and do retain unpleasant odors.
Glass jars: Glass jars are a common option for cooked oatmeal. They are completely airtight when closed, do not retain odors, and can be repeatedly used. There aren’t many drawbacks to using glass containers, but you should keep in mind that glass is heavier than plastic and that it could break easily.
Containers made of plastic - Using containers made of plastic is very convenient. Good ones are stackable, airtight, and long-lasting. Although plastic containers can be reused, you should be cautious when using them to store cooked oats because they tend to retain unpleasant odors.
After the oatmeal has been cooked, it must be chilled within two hours. It must not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours as this encourages the growth of bacteria that may cause foodborne illnesses.
You can simply leave the oatmeal out at room temperature until you’re ready to eat it, at which point you can stir it, add more liquid, and heat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until it’s piping hot.
Take it off the heat, give it one more stir to make sure all the oatmeal is heated through, and then serve.
How to Long-Term Store Dried Oatmeal
How long dried oatmeal will last depends on where and how it is stored. Oatmeal’s shelf life can be greatly increased with just a few straightforward precautions.
You should keep your dried oats in the following conditions:
- Cleanliness - To prevent pests from destroying the oatmeal, it’s crucial to keep the container and the surrounding area clean.
- Maintain a cool temperature to ensure that the oatmeal’s nutrients are preserved.
- Dark - To preserve the nutrients, there should be little light exposure to the oats.
- Dry – Oatmeal readily absorbs moisture, which can lead to the growth of mold. Keep the oats somewhere dry.
Knowing how to store oatmeal will help you choose where to keep it. The best storage solutions are as follows:
Pantry: As long as it is well-ventilated, dark, and cool, the pantry is a good place to store dried oats.
Refrigerators are cool, dark, and dry, which makes them the ideal environment for dried oats.
Freezer - You can freeze dried oatmeal to further increase its shelf life, but this method is not recommended if your freezer is small.
Dried oatmeal can be kept for up to 24 months in the right storage conditions.
They might be safe to eat after this, but they won’t be as good as they were prior to 24 months. They should all be eaten in this amount of time.
Oatmeal: Can It Go Bad?
There is no precise way to determine whether oatmeal is bad. To determine whether the oatmeal is still safe to eat, you must rely on your senses.
You should be safe and toss the oatmeal if it appears off or discolored, or if it tastes or smells strange. See if there are any obvious mold stains or if the oatmeal has become mushy.
You could always use old oatmeal for a face mask, body scrub, or bath bomb if you have it lying around.
Related Issues
Although we sincerely hope that we have addressed all of your pressing inquiries about how to store cooked oatmeal, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions for you to review below, just in case.
Can you freeze the toppings for oats?
It is preferable to cook the oatmeal plain before freezing and then add the extra ingredients when you reheat it if you like your oatmeal with some apples and cinnamon or any other additional ingredients.
When thawed and reheated, these ingredients may become soggy and mushy if they were cooked with the oatmeal at the beginning and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
When frozen and thawed, spices also change in flavor, so the cinnamon or nutmeg in the oatmeal might not taste the same as it did when you first ate it.
Simply allow the oatmeal to thaw before adding the extra ingredients and spices before heating it in the microwave or oven to soften and flavor the entire bowl.
Is it possible to prepare oatmeal in advance and reheat it?
Oatmeal can be prepared in advance and warmed up. To avoid having to make oatmeal from scratch each day, many people opt to do this.
On a Sunday, you can prepare a large batch of oatmeal, store single-serving portions in airtight containers in the refrigerator, and consume a serving of oatmeal each morning throughout the week.
The oatmeal can be quickly heated in the microwave or on the stovetop with any additional ingredients you choose.
Can I eat the day-old oatmeal?
Oatmeal that has been sitting out all day should not be consumed. Never leave oatmeal out for more than two hours.
If you leave it out at room temperature for any longer than this, bacteria could grow and cause foodborne illnesses.
Can oats be kept in a can?
If you have the right canning tools, you can store leftovers in a can. A can can only be used once and cannot be resealed, which is its one drawback.
But it’s a good way to maintain the oatmeal’s safety, dryness, and darkness.
What are the ideal methods for cooking oats?
Oatmeal can be prepared in a number of ways, including the stovetop and microwave.
Although using an oatmeal cooker is our preferred method, there are many other ways to cook oatmeal to perfection if you’re looking for a quicker fix or don’t want to add another appliance to your kitchen.
There are numerous ways to flavor and top your oatmeal in addition to these various cooking techniques, ranging from savory ingredients like eggs and avocado to sweet ingredients like cinnamon sugar and berries.
The Simply Quinoa YouTube channel has a fantastic tutorial on how to cook oatmeal in six different ways, which you can find below.
Keeping Cooked Oatmeal: Closing Remarks
If properly stored, dried oatmeal can be kept for up to a year in the cupboard. If kept in the freezer, cooked oatmeal can be consumed up to three months after it has been prepared.
You never have to throw leftover or spoiled oatmeal away because there are several ways to store both dried and cooked oatmeal.
Oatmeal that has been cooked should be stored in an airtight container. By selecting the ideal storage setting, you can extend the oatmeal’s shelf life even further. This safeguard on its own is very effective.
Oatmeal can be prepared in bulk, properly stored, and then used for quick and simple breakfasts throughout the week.