Cereal is the ultimate breakfast for people who have busy routines and cannot manage cooking in the morning. However, the most common issue with cereals is that they become stale and lose their crispness. In addition, the flavor becomes bland. For this reason, it’s essential to follow the correct storage guidelines to keep the cereal fresh and we have some important points to share!
How To Keep Cereal Fresh?
- Using Airtight Containers
One of the best ways of storing the cereal is to use an airtight container and put the container in a dark, cool, and dry place, such as the pantry. In case you will consume the entire cereal box in a week, you can simply wrap the plastic bag and use a plastic clip (one week won’t make the cereal stale). However, if the cereal has to be stored for a longer time period, you must use sealed and airtight containers to prevent exposure to air and moisture.
As far as the container’s material is concerned, we recommend that you use plastic containers because they are not prone to breakage and are available at an affordable rate. There are BPA-free airtight containers available in the market, so look for those. In particular, the BPA-free containers have numbers between one and seven printed beside the recycling symbol (the triangle symbol). On the other hand, if you aren’t worried about breakage, you can use glass containers as well.
- Using The Refrigerator
The second option is to put the cereal in the refrigerator and it’s actually a recommended choice for people who live in a humid environment or if you don’t have access to a dry and dark pantry (the moisture results in staleness). Moreover, if the cereals are made from whole grains, they will have more natural fats, which is why refrigerator storage is essential to store them for longer. This is because the fats become rancid at room temperature quickly.
Having said that, if you use the refrigerator, you must use a sealed container to store the cereals because the cereals can absorb the moisture and smell from other food items, which changes the texture and flavor of the cereals. So, use a lid-closing container to store cereal in the refrigerator.
- Using Mylar Bags
In case you have to store the cereal for a longer time period, we recommend using Mylar bags but make sure they have oxygen absorbers. It will help extend the shelf life of the cereals. These bags are known to create a strong and sturdy barrier between the environment and cereal. That’s because these bags are extremely durable and prevent the penetration of pests, water, and air into the cereal, which helps prevent sogginess.
However, before you store the Mylar bag, you must add the oxygen absorber as it removes the oxygen because it’s the primary culprit behind the staleness of cereal as it initiates oxidation. Once the oxygen is removed, the cereal will remain fresh and crispy. In addition to this, you can also use vacuum packs but they can crush the cereal.
Does Cereal Really Get Bad?
Usually, the cereal doesn’t get bad like bread as it doesn’t develop mold or become unsafe to consume. However, they can become soggy when they are exposed to moisture and oxygen. The stale cereal has a loose texture and weird flavor. In simpler words, the cereal won’t be crunchy. Such cereal is safe to consume but you should discard it as soon as the taste becomes off.
Secondly, you should discard the cereal if there are small insects inside the pack because the dried foods can attract small insects like moths and weevils. Last but not least, you’ve to be extra careful about storing whole grain and nut-based cereals because they have a higher oil and natural fats content – the oils and fats make the cereal become rancid. So, always use airtight containers to store the cereal once you open the pack.
The Bottom Line
The cereals are shelf-stable if you live in dry climates because the cereal won’t be exposed to humidity. However, if you live in humid conditioners, use an airtight container and put it in the fridge to retain the flavor and texture!