Cornmeal is one of the most versatile kitchen staples that you probably have right now. Whether you’re making cornbread, some kind of casserole, cookies, polenta, porridge, or anything else, it is a nutritious and filling ingredient.
I go through tons of the stuff, and accordingly, I keep a lot of it on hand in storage. But if you are like me, there’s little doubt that you’ve opened up that bag to find a bad batch before: moldy, musty, or even swarming with little critters. Gross!
Stop throwing out cornmeal that you could have saved, and stop wasting money: if you follow the right procedures you’ll find that you can keep cornmeal fresh and usable for well over a year.
Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Keep reading and I’ll show you how…
What Causes Cornmeal to Go Bad in Storage?
The place to start when solving a problem is always with the root cause. In our case, if we’re trying to stop spoilage, we need to know what causes our cornmeal to spoil in the first place.
This, at least, is simple: cornmeal typically goes bad due to rancidity, that is, the oils breaking down from a combination of moisture and heat.
If that isn’t the case, it’s usually because of pest infestation. All sorts of weevils, beetles, and other creepy crawlies would love to make a banquet of your stored cornmeal, and rodents like mice and rats will also home in on it if it isn’t stored properly. Obviously, that means you’ve got to throw the whole thing out!
But regarding the former, whatever moisture can get to your cornmeal, by whatever means, this is highly likely to facilitate spoilage. And even if it doesn’t go rancid, it can cause mold or other microorganisms to start growing in it!
None of these are good outcomes, obviously, but the good news is that we can control them easily enough…
What’s the “Sell-By” Date of Cornmeal?
If you care to examine the brand-new package of cornmeal you just brought home from the grocery, what would the sell-by date be on the package? Typically, it’s anywhere from 6 to 12 months depending on the brand.
And note that I say sell-by date and not expiration date because that’s what it is: the date that the manufacturer recommends the product be sold, or consumed, for the best freshness and taste.
It just so happens that, in my experience, this timeline is actually a good one for the spoilage of cornmeal if you take no additional steps to protect it and increase the shelf life. Nonetheless, it isn’t out of the question that it could stay totally fresh and safe for longer than a year if you do nothing at all, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Can Cornmeal Last Longer Than a Year in Your Pantry?
Certainly. It’s possible that it can last over a year doing absolutely nothing except keeping it in the bag that it came in, but it can definitely last longer than that, a lot longer, if you pay attention to proper storage conditions and put it in the right container.
I’ll tell you all about those factors in what follows…
Storing It in a Good Container is Essential
If you do nothing else but transfer your cornmeal into a proper container for long-term storage, you’ll go a long way to getting more shelf life out of it. The following are traits of an ideal container for its storage.
Clean
I know, it seems trivial , but you’d be surprised how many people pick a container that isn’t truly clean for storing their cornmeal.
Specifically, don’t pull a container out of storage that you’ve had knocking around in a cabinet or the pantry for months on end and then just dump your cornmeal in there; it will be contaminated with dust, germs, and who knows what else.
Start with a container that you thoroughly deep clean right before you transfer the cornmeal to it. Of course, you also need to make sure it is absolutely dry before doing so!
Sturdy
No, our cornmeal isn’t hazardous materials or anything. We don’t need a bulletproof container, but we do want something that’s good enough to keep bugs and, hopefully, rodents out of it. A paper sack just isn’t going to cut it…
I always prefer to use a metal, glass, or ceramic container for pantry storage, but there’s nothing wrong with a good plastic tub or jug, either; as long as it meets the other standards on this list it will work.
Airtight
This is a big one! Keep air and the moisture it carries from getting to your cornmeal, and you’ll be a long way toward winning the war against early spoilage. This means that containers with simple snap-on lids, stoppers, or simple screw-on tops are probably not adequate.
Use a specialty container that has a tightly fitting, gasketed lid or other top that will completely prevent air from getting in and degrading the cornmeal.
Even if you have to spend a few dollars more, believe me, you’ll save that much the first year on cornmeal that you normally throw away!
Opaque
A proper cornmeal container will also be opaque, meaning it will not be transparent or translucent. We don’t want light to get at the cornmeal because it will heat it up and subsequently start to break down those oils I talked about previously.
That will start it going towards rancidity, and once the process starts it is a domino effect that you won’t be able to stop. No clear containers!
That being said, some of the containers to consider using (either alone or in conjunction) include:
- original packaging
- Tupperware container
- airtight jar
- cardboard box
- wooden or plastic crate
- Mylar bag
Each of these has its pros and cons as discussed.
Ideal Storage Conditions
Choosing the right container is only half of the spoilage-beating battle. The other half is proper conditions. Wherever you are storing your cornmeal, and whatever you are storing it in, make sure you account for the following…
Cool
Cool temperatures are your friend for preventing spoilage. For room temperature storage, anywhere between 50°F and 70°F (10 °C to 21°C) will do. Cooler is better, and warmer temps will speed up spoilage due to it going rancid.
Temperature Stable
Part of the temperature calculus is keeping cornmeal cool, but the other part is keeping the temperature steady! Temperature fluctuations promote condensation, and condensation can be the kiss of death, easily leading to mold which will mean total loss.
Do everything you can to prevent the temperature from spiking near your cornmeal, and repeated fluctuations are especially to be avoided. Don’t keep it near the stove or oven, near other appliances that produce heat, or anywhere that is exposed to drafts.
Dark
Light is not your friend as described above. An opaque container will obviously block light from getting to the cornmeal, but light that strikes the container itself can still start to raise the internal temperature.
Keep the container out of direct sunlight at all times if you want the longest possible storage life.
Dry
This would by now, I hope, be obvious. No matter the container, never, ever try to keep your cornmeal in humid or damp environments, and this is doubly important if your container does not have a truly airtight seal.
High-humidity environments can cut your storage life in half, or even worse, so choose carefully and try to remediate any moisture problems at the storage location if you have no other choice.
Use Oxygen Absorbers or Vacuum Storage for Maximum Shelf Life
If you really want to go for the gold with cornmeal shelf life, you’ve got to use oxygen absorbers or vacuum storage…
These are little packets or canisters that do exactly what they say; they remove oxygen from the container they are in, and in conjunction with an airtight container, can work wonders.
The same thing goes for vacuum packing using specialty food storage bags and the appropriate kitchen gadgets. This will allow you to pack the cornmeal in a jar, jug, or bag and then suck out all the air with an electric appliance.
Either way, using these in conjunction with a good storage location can give your cornmeal an astonishing 10 to 15-year shelf life!
You Can Also Freeze It for Long-Term Storage
Another storage option, and one that is sadly underused, in my opinion, is freezing.
Frozen cornmeal will last indefinitely as long as it’s in a sturdy container. Obviously, you’ll have a few special considerations, namely frost accumulation and freezer burn if you are constantly opening and closing your freezer.
This is an especially big deal if you are keeping the cornmeal in one large container. A better solution is to parcel it out into small plastic freezer bags containing individual portions between one and three cups depending on your needs.
That way, you can reach in, grab the quantity you need, and leave the rest inside! This is my preferred way to keep cornmeal now, with no question!
Should You Refrigerate Cornmeal?
You can, and it’s a workable way to extend the shelf life (you should get up to a year), but I don’t prefer to.
Compared to freezer storage, cornmeal kept in the fridge is far more vulnerable to moisture unless it’s vacuum-packed. I wouldn’t try it if I was just going with a regular food storage container.
Never Eat Moldy or “Off” Cornmeal!
One last word of wisdom: never, ever eat cornmeal that is moldy, discolored, or showing signs of having gone rancid, and that includes the odor.
That’s a great way to come down with food poisoning! Don’t try to sift out the bad part and use the good part or anything like that. Just throw it away, and get fresh, then resolve to do better next time when storing it.
Get your gift and learn things like:
- how to make this really quick pest spray
- how to prevent egg waste
- two cheap automation devices that will make your life easier
Tom has lived and worked on farms and homesteads from the Carolinas to Kentucky and beyond. He is passionate about helping people prepare for tough times by embracing lifestyles of self-sufficiency.