How to store cereals: rules and selection of the best containers at home, timing

Gone are the days when buckwheat stood in bags in cellars next to peas and pasta. Today there is no shortage. Cereals belong to the cheapest category of products. They are not purchased in bulk; this happens extremely rarely. But even a small supply must be stored correctly. Otherwise, unexpected guests will arrive and the taste will suffer.

Today we’ll figure out how to store cereals at home, and where it’s best to store them. Let's look at the pros and cons of different packaging. Is it worth driving away insects?

How to choose the right one in the store

Before purchasing, it is important to carefully examine the condition of the cereal. It is worth making sure that it was stored in the store under normal conditions. Humidity indicators and the tightness of the packages are of no small importance. If there are dark spots, lumps or insects in the packaging, you should refuse such a purchase. However, such problems can only be identified if the cereal is in a transparent bag.

If it is packaged in paper or cardboard packaging, freshness can only be assessed by the date of release of the product. It is advisable to choose cereals no older than 2-4 months.

Treatment methods to prevent bugs from getting in

People often encounter situations where pests infest cereals. They lead to grain spoilage. Therefore, after purchase, it is recommended to subject the product to special processing.

Roasting

A good way to kill harmful insects is to expose them to high temperatures. To do this, just bake the cereal in the oven. This should be done for 10-15 minutes. With this processing you can make the product more tasty. Calcining cereals in the microwave is considered equally effective. The duration of this procedure should not exceed 1 minute.

Freezing

To preserve the freshness of the product for a long time, it should be kept in the refrigerator for some time. When exposed to low temperatures, harmful insects will die. This will increase the shelf life of the product. An equally effective way is to freeze cereals.

Ventilation

It is recommended to ventilate the cereal periodically. To do this, every week you should open containers with cereals for at least 5-10 minutes. During this procedure, it is recommended to check for pests in the products.

Optimal storage conditions

To preserve the freshness of cereals for a long period of time, it is worth creating suitable conditions for them.

Temperature

It is recommended to store cereals at a temperature of no more than +10 degrees. If the cereals are in the kitchen cabinet, you should choose the lowest shelf. It should be as far as possible from the stove and other heat sources. Semolina, oatmeal, millet and pearl barley need a cooler place. If stored warm, they may develop a rancid taste. Therefore, the best storage option would be a pantry or refrigerator.

The temperature should not exceed +5 degrees.

Humidity

The maximum permissible air humidity is 70%. Large indicators lead to the fact that the cereal begins to rot and deteriorate.

Illumination

The product requires storage in a dry and dark place. A kitchen cabinet or refrigerator is perfect for this. When exposed to direct sunlight, the product quickly deteriorates.

How to choose a container

For cereals, you should definitely choose a high-quality container. This will help preserve the product for a long time.

Glass container

Such containers are sold in almost all stores. They are great for storing food. It is also quite acceptable to use ordinary glass jars.

Plastic dishes

The indisputable advantage of such dishes is their low weight. This allows you to reduce the load on the cabinet shelf.

Stainless steel

This is a high-quality and reliable material that is suitable for storing cereals. When choosing metal containers, it is important to ensure that there is no rust on the surface. Only stainless steel is suitable for storing food.

Ceramics

This is the most suitable container for cereals. Natural material perfectly preserves the freshness of cereals. The only drawback is its impressive mass. Therefore, placing such containers is only allowed on strong and durable shelves.

Canvas bags

Bags made of natural material are suitable for storing cereals. It is recommended to put a piece of foil in them. A metal spoon also works great.

Package

Under no circumstances should supplies be stored in opened original packaging. Oxygen ingestion leads to fat oxidation. As a result, the cereal spoils and acquires a rancid taste. If there is no special storage container, the factory bags must be tightly closed with a clothespin or clamp.

The ideal container for cereal is glass. These can be jars or containers with tight lids.

All other materials have significant disadvantages:

Plastic containers quickly become cloudy, and flour (cereal dust) concentrates on them.
In plastic bags, the grain “suffocates”, becoming tasteless. In addition, it will not be difficult for pests to chew through such a package.
Metal boxes can quickly rust and deteriorate without providing proper sealing. Any metal container is opaque and not very convenient to use.
Using perforated bags can result in grain becoming damp or infested with bugs.

It is recommended to indicate on the container the date of manufacture and expiration date of the cereal, marked on the original packaging.

General storage rules at home

To preserve cereals, it is worth considering the following rules:

Avoid purchasing goods by weight. This method of storing cereals in stores does not guarantee compliance with sanitary standards. Dust, mold, and larvae penetrate into the cereal.
It is better to buy cereals in transparent packages. It is recommended to evaluate it visually before purchasing. The product must not contain lumps or unpleasant odor.
It is important to consider the expiration date. It is advisable to buy a product no older than 2-4 months.
It is important to choose the right storage location. Cereals are allowed to be kept in the kitchen cabinet.
Take measures to prevent the appearance of insects. To do this, you can use folk recipes.

Where should you not store cereals and spices?

It is impossible to begin deciding on the placement of bulk products without understanding which places are best to avoid.

First of all, you need to remember that storage in bags and cardboard boxes is strictly prohibited. Avoid this if you don't want bugs in your grains. Please note: Spices also do not tolerate such storage conditions well - they quickly lose their aroma. And in general, the taste of products deteriorates if they are not stored.
Drawers and shelves above the kitchen sink are a bad choice. High humidity promotes the formation of dampness and, as a result, mold. And if cheese with it can be considered a delicacy, then hardly anyone would consider moldy buckwheat a gourmet delicacy.
Storing cereals in the refrigerator is not the best option. Firstly, condensation may form there and they will become damp. Secondly, they will simply take up space there - bulk products do not need to be kept cold for preservation, just a dry place and sealed containers are enough.

Having figured out where it is better not to place cereals and spices, let's choose the nine best options that will help organize them in a small kitchen.

There are many interesting ideas for storing cereals and spices that are easy to implement with your own hands. Let's see the most original and convenient ones?

Expiration dates

It is recommended to store cereals in the same conditions. However, their expiration dates differ. Porridges that boil quickly can be stored for 6-12 months.

Cereals

The shelf life of this product does not exceed 4-5 months.

Millet

This product can be stored for up to 9 months. In summer, the shelf life is reduced to six months.

Semolina and corn flour

These products are allowed to be consumed for 8-9 months.

Wheat of various processing

Cereals such as bulgur or artek can be stored for 12-14 months.

Barley grits

Such cereals can be stored for 14-16 months.

Barley, buckwheat, polished rice

These products retain their freshness perfectly for 18 months.

Split peas and buckwheat

Such products store well for 20 months.

Polished peas

Its shelf life is 24 months.

Parboiled rice

This product can maintain its freshness for 2.5 years.

How long can dishes prepared from it be stored?

The quality of dishes prepared on the basis of cereals (porridge, casseroles, meatballs) can be determined by smell and color. Each dish should have its own consistency. The taste of the dish corresponds to boiled cereals. Bitterness, the smell of rancidity and mustiness are unacceptable.

Semolina and rice porridges of any consistency, casseroles are white.
Buckwheat dishes are brown in color; millet in finished products gives a pleasant yellow color.
Hercules, oatmeal, barley and pearl barley give a grayish tint in finished products. Such porridges are called “gray”.

In cereal dishes, a pronounced taste of the product should be felt. Foreign odors indicate low-quality raw materials.

Cereal dishes cannot be stored for a long time.

Liquid porridges are eaten immediately after preparation.
Viscous - no more than 2 hours.
And crumbly ones - a maximum of 4 hours.

Boiled cereal without adding seasonings and oil can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days. Special containers are used for this. A spoiled finished product produces an unpleasant odor and the appearance of mucus. It is not recommended to store porridge. If necessary, boiled cereal is divided into portions and placed in the freezer.

Signs of product spoilage

If the storage rules of the product are violated, its color changes to darker. You can also judge the freshness of the cereal by its smell. To do this, it is recommended to take a small amount of porridge, breathe on it, and then smell it.

It is important that the product does not have any foreign odors. If there is mold or a musty smell, you should not eat such a product.

You can also evaluate the freshness of the porridge by taste. It should not contain bitter or sour notes that arise due to the oxidation of fats. It is important that the taste is characteristic of this type of porridge.

Hanging shelves for refrigerator

If you have easy access to the side wall of the refrigerator, a wall-mounted structure that can accommodate sealed jars for bulk products can be a great solution for a small kitchen.

This way they won’t take up precious space on the shelves, but will always be in order and in sight. This method is a kind of organizer that will greatly facilitate the search for the necessary ingredients for cooking.

Tip: For a white refrigerator, choose shelves that match the color scheme in the kitchen. If you bought a more original colored unit, choose a suspended structure in a contrasting shade.

Interesting ideas for choosing a location

To store cereals, it is permissible to choose interesting places that will help maintain its freshness and save space in the kitchen.

Secret sliding panel

To hide your supplies, you should build a pull-out shelf into your kitchen unit. In appearance it resembles an ordinary decorative panel. This is an unusual method that does not require significant costs.

Hanging shelves

This option is well suited for a small kitchen. Moreover, it is quite acceptable to place hanging shelves on the refrigerator. This will help save space and become an unusual design solution.

Retro cabinet

A hanging wooden cabinet, complemented by glass doors and metal handles, looks good. This design will fit perfectly into a classic kitchen. In this case, the boxes can have a symmetrical or chaotic arrangement.

Alchemy laboratory

Small corks with spices and flasks with cereals look good on a hanging shelf. To make the design even more impressive, add mystery vessels filled with vegetable oil or vinegar. Such a structure will look very mysterious and interesting. However, it is not recommended to hang such a shelf above the stove. Constant exposure to high temperatures negatively affects the performance of products.

Hanging stand

A non-standard option are containers that are hung with strong hooks. They can be fixed on metal or wood. It often has to be made protruding in order to organically arrange dishes with cereals. It is best to choose elongated narrow containers.

This technique fits organically into the design of kitchens that are decorated in a modern style. In addition, it will be difficult to accommodate containers of different sizes.

Magnetic board

This method is more suitable for spices, since large dishes will look a little strange. In addition, it is much easier to place small containers on the board. To implement this solution, it is worth attaching a magnetic sheet in a convenient place. Then you should choose small jars with metal lids or magnets. They should be attached to the canvas in any order. To use this method for cereals, you will need a lot of space and powerful magnets. However, the containers should not be too heavy. They are placed so that you can comfortably reach each can.

Rack with pull-out shelves

An unusual option would be a small narrow cabinet with pull-out shelves. It is worth making several spacious drawers for pasta and cereals. It is also permissible to provide space for tea, coffee and spices. A cabinet designed to match a kitchen set will look very organic. Pull-out shelves greatly simplify the search for products and organize their placement.

As decor in the kitchen

Fans of rustic design should place beautiful containers for cereals and spices on small shelves. It is recommended to choose beautiful covers for them - they can be wrapped in fabric. You should not place more than 2-3 containers on one shelf. In this case, the interior will be overloaded.

Drawers

An interesting solution would be many small sealed boxes that have transparent side doors. At the same time, you should allocate a separate area in the kitchen for containers or order an unusual set with built-in drawers. Thanks to this, the room will look more original.

Secret sliding panel

It is not necessary to put your culinary supplies on public display - they can be disguised. For example, by building a retractable shelf into a kitchen set, which will look like an ordinary decorative panel.

This method is quite unusual, but requires significant costs: you will have to purchase a custom-made kitchen. However, the final result is worth it - few people can hold back an exclamation of surprise when they see how you take out pasta or seasonings for it from the seemingly solid wall of the set.