Personally, I am a fan of oatmeal because you can prepare it in different versions; in addition, it contributes to good health, so it is quite normal to ask yourself how to keep oatmeal longer.
You can use the pantry for 6-12 months to preserve oatmeal in flakes and raw flour. And if you have cooked oatmeal, you can choose to refrigerate in the fridge for up to 5 days and freeze it for three months. Additionally, you can dehydrate to extend their shelf life.
If you want to dig further into each method, stay with me and enjoy a better quality of oatmeal in its different presentations.
How to preserve raw oatmeal in flakes/flour in the pantry
Oatmeal is a cereal that can last long if you keep it in good storage conditions. That’s why, when storing raw oatmeal in the pantry, you must be careful that it is a suitable place to prevent moisture or insects from damaging this cereal.
Here you have the procedure to preserve oatmeal in flakes and flour in the pantry correctly to maintain its quality and flavor for several months. I also invite you to check the flour storage post.
- Step 1. Find an airtight container.
The first thing you must do is look for an airtight container which can be plastic or glass.
You should not leave it in its original container, because it is usually a bad that insects can easily open.
- Step 2. Add the oatmeal to the container.
Place all the oatmeal contents in flakes or flour in the container. Once wholly filled, you must close it tightly.
- Step 3. Store in the pantry.
Make sure the pantry is completely dry and away from moisture. Also, this place should not be near the stove or sun rays because they can negatively affect the oatmeal.
You can store the oatmeal in the pantry for 6-12 months in good condition. [1]
How to preserve cooked oatmeal
Did you prepare oatmeal, and have you had enough? There are two ways to preserve it, the first is to refrigerate, and the other is to freeze it. These two methods are perfect for maintaining the quality and taste of oatmeal for a few more days.
Below I show you the steps and tips in each of the ways to preserve cooked oatmeal.
How to preserve refrigerated cooked oatmeal
- Step 1. Let the cooked oatmeal cool.
Leave the cooked oatmeal at room temperature for an hour to cool.
You can not leave cooked oatmeal unrefrigerated after 2 hours because there is a chance of bacteria development that can cause problems when consumed.
- Step 2. Find a glass container.
Use a glass container that is clean and sterilized to store cooked oatmeal.
- Step 3. Pour the oatmeal in containers.
Once the cooked oatmeal is cold, pour it into the glass container and seal it well.
- Step 4. Take the oatmeal to the refrigerator.
Place the cooked oatmeal in the refrigerator on the bottom where the temperature is lower.
This method of preserving cooked oatmeal makes it last five days refrigerated in perfect condition.
How to freeze cooked oatmeal
If five days for you is not enough to store the cooked oatmeal, you can freeze it. Here is how:
- Step 1. Let the cooked oatmeal cool.
You can not store the oatmeal while it is hot because the steam will condense and generate moisture.
Remember not to leave oatmeal cooked for more than 2 hours without freezing because it is damaged.
- Step 2. Distribute oatmeal in freezer bags.
You will use ziplock bags to freeze and distribute the oatmeal in portions. Remove all the air left in the bag and seal it tightly.
- Step 3. Place them in a giant bag.
If you do not want oatmeal bags everywhere in your freezer, it is convenient to store them all in a more oversized bag.
- Step 4. Label the bags.
Stick a label to the bag with the current date to control the shelf life.
- Step 5. Place them in the freezer.
Place the bags at the bottom of the freezer.
An additional tip is that you can stack the bags with the oatmeal on top of each other to save space.
You can keep frozen cooked oatmeal with all their nutrients for about three months.
How to dehydrate oatmeal
Dehydration is an ancient technique that allows the conservation for a long time of various products, which is perfect for preserving oatmeal.
So today, I will teach you how to dehydrate oatmeal into flakes/flakes and oatmeal. Take notes and follow the steps I give you.
How to dehydrate oatmeal flakes
- Step 1. Find a large airtight container.
Look for a large container that is clean, dry, and with an airtight lid to refrigerate the oatmeal.
- Step 2. Soak oatmeal.
In a large bowl, pour 1 cup of water, 1/3 cup of whole wheat flour, and one tablespoon of whey and mix it well, then add 3 cups of flake oatmeal and stir.
You must place this mixture in the airtight container, and in the end, must seal it well.
- Step 3. Refrigerate oatmeal.
Take the oatmeal to the fridge and let it soak for 12 hours.
- Step 4. Find a baking sheet.
Look for a large baking tray and spread a piece of parchment paper that covers the entire bottom. Turn on the oven at 250°F (120°C) to heat up.
- Step 5. Drain the oatmeal.
Drain the water from the soaked oatmeal. You can do it with the help of a colander and press until it is well squeezed.
- Step 6. Pour the oatmeal into the baking sheet.
Spread the oatmeal evenly on a baking tray where you previously placed the parchment paper.
- Step 7. Bring the oatmeal to the oven.
Take the oatmeal to the oven and place it in the middle. You must leave the oven door slightly open.
Wait between 3 or 4 hours approximately so that the oatmeal is crispy.
- Step 8. Store in glass containers.
When removing the dry flake oatmeal from the oven, please wait a few minutes for it to cool, so you can take out portions and store them in glass containers with an airtight closure.
- Step 9. Store in the fridge.
Place the container with the oatmeal inside the refrigerator away from other foods with strong odors.
By keeping oatmeal dehydrated, you can preserve them for about three months refrigerated.
How do you know when oatmeal is bad?
As with all foods change shape as they expire, but what about oatmeal? Recognizing when oatmeal are in poor condition is very easy. So let’s look below at those signs of decomposition in oatmeal.
- You notice mold in the container where you have stored oatmeal as black or greenish dots.
- Oatmeal has a very unpleasant rancid smell.
- Refrigerated cooked oatmeal have bubbles or foams on top.
- It changes the texture and is very dense with a stinky liquid.
How long does oatmeal last?
| Product | Shelf life |
| Oatmeal flakes or flour in the pantry | 6-12 months. |
| Cooked oatmeal in the fridge | 5 days. |
| Frozen cooked oatmeal | 3 months. |
| Dehydrated oatmeal | 3 months. |
What is the best way to store oatmeal?
When oatmeal is natural, it can be preserved long-term in the pantry for about 6-12 months.
If you have cooked oatmeal, you can keep it in the fridge or frozen; both methods work well. If you refrigerate the cooked oatmeal in airtight containers, they will last us about five days, and if you freeze them, their shelf life extends by three months.
I hope you liked the ways to preserve oatmeal; each one is straightforward and quick to do, which will allow you to enjoy it for longer. I also invite you to read other articles I have prepared with different conservation recipes.
[1] https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-011-0015-1_12