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.