You might have come by a sale and bought a big bulk of grits. Now you might think to yourself how to store all these grits so it can be used later on. This is a good question since you probably can’t eat a big bulk of grits right away.
So, how to store grits long term? The best way to store grits for the long term is to put them in a freezer for a few days to kill any bugs inside the package. It would be in your best interest to repackage the grits in a separate airtight container with oxygen absorbers as well. After that, put them in a cool, dry place.
So, whether you’ve got a lot of grits on you or you’re thinking of buying some to store, we’ve got something for you. Let’s dig into more detail.
The first step to store grits long term is to put them in a freezer first. Chances are, there are some small bugs that made their way inside the container. The freezing temperatures will kill the bugs off and prevent any further breeding. I like to store my grits in the freezer for four days to be safe.
Now, you’ll need to open up your grits and pour them into portion-sized mylar bags or containers. Keeping them in the original cardboard container isn’t safe because insects can easily tunnel through it.
Finally, you’ll want to ensure that you put in an oxygen absorber for every portion of grits you have. Oxygen will make your grits go bad much faster, so this is one way to easily double the shelf life of your grits.
Now, as an optional step, you can put your grits back into the freezer to further increase their shelf life. I find that I have other food that I’d rather use my freezer space for, but if you think you’ll be eating grits for many years to come and have some extra space, this is a good choice for you.
If you don’t store them in a freezer, you should store them in a cool, dry place because moisture and heat will make them rot within weeks.
Tips to Store Grits Long Term
When storing your grits, you should label the mylar package with “grits.” You should also include the estimated expiration date with the given shelf life information below.
Shelf Life of Grits
Grits vary in shelf life depending on the conditions they’re stored in and the type of grits.
Under normal 68F temperatures with no sunlight, Instant grits will last around two years. Uncooked grits last nearly five years if stored in a mylar bag with an oxygen absorber. Mylar bags are one of the best ways to store any type of food. When in doubt, use them.
The expiration on the Instant grit container will say one year. “Expired grits” will last longer if you store them properly in a cool, dry place.
However, I know many of you may not be fans of Instant grits since they don’t provide as much nutritional value. In that case, you’ll want to store stone ground grits.
Stone ground grits last around half the amount of time Instant grits last. Under normal conditions, they’ll last around one year. Under ideal conditions, they’ll last close to two years.
How Long Do Cooked Grits Last?
If you have some leftover grits, you should store them in the freezer or the fridge. Don’t keep them there for too long – expect it to go bad in under one week.
Are Black Specs in Grits Normal?
If you store your grits for several months or more, you’ll probably find a few black specs in your grits. You might ask yourself – is this normal?
Yes, the black specs in the grits are 100% normal. If you look at the ingredients, you’ll see “degerminated white corn grits.” This means they have a corn germ coating on them, similar to wheat germ coatings.
This should not concern you if you only see a few black specs. It may actually be healthier for you, with the added fibers.
Why Should You Store Grits?
If you don’t have grits in your food storage or only have a few packs of them, you should consider getting some grits.
Grits are a nice change from things like rice. They can add some interesting variety to your meals. They’re also super easy to prepare. All you need is some boiling water which you can make with a stove or fire.
Finally, I personally love grits because they’re incredibly cheap. You can buy some affordable ones right here.
How to Tell If Your Grits Have Expired?
If you have some really old grits or forgot to eat your grits by your expiration date, you’ll want to check if it went bad. Here are some tell-tail signs to spot spoiled food:
- You see mold on the cardboard packaging or on the grits
- It has an off-putting stench
- The color is off
- It is incredibly stale
Last Words
Overall, grits are a fantastic food to store long term, and all you need to do is repackage it with an oxygen absorber and put it in a cool, dry place. If you do that, your grits will last for many years.
But you should always check for expiry signs on your grits if you’ve stored them for a while.
If you found something helpful in this article, let us know. If you have any extra advice or think something here is off, comment on that too. Either way, have a nice rest of your day, and keep prepping!
