Does Cornmeal Expire or Go Bad? What to do with expired cornmeal?: Cornmeal is a staple product in a kitchen pantry. It is used to make many delicious foods like pizza, bread, and bagels. As it has so many uses and health benefits, the single package can be used for months or even years.
If your cornmeal pack crosses best by date, then you might ask someone like this ‘Does corn meal go bad’. The answer depends on many factors.
Here you will get solutions for various problems like how long does corn meal last if opened, whether can you freeze cornmeal, what happens if you eat bad cornmeal, what uses for expired cornmeal, how can you tell if cornmeal has gone bad, and so on.
- Can Cornmeal Go Bad? How To Tell If Cornmeal Is Bad?
- How To Store Cornmeal Long Term?
- Can you Freeze Cornmeal?
- How Long Does Cornmeal Last? | How Long is Cornmeal Good For?
- What Happens If You Eat Rancid Corn Meal?
- Surprising Facts About Cornmeal
- What does bad cornmeal smell like?
- Can expired cornmeal make you sick?
- What does bad cornmeal look like?
- What’s the difference between whole-grain and degerminated cornmeal?
Can Cornmeal Go Bad? How To Tell If Cornmeal Is Bad?
Yes, cornmeal can go bad. The two different types of cornmeal available are whole grain and degerminated. The whole grain con meal has the germ and degerminated doesn’t have the germ. Those two have a different shelf life as the germ has a higher percentage of kernel fat.
These are the signs to tell that cornmeal has spoiled.
- Mold or big wet clumps are present. If you find moisture or bacteria growth inside the cornmeal, then it is not safe to consume it.
- Odd aroma. Like with pretty much any other food, make sure it passes the sniff test.
- Some insects or bugs are present in the package. If you observe dead or alive insects or eggs in the cornmeal, then discard them.
- Rancid or bitter smell or taste. It is applied to whole grain cornmeal as it has a high oil content.
How To Store Cornmeal Long-Term?
Cornmeal should be stored in a dark and dry place just like other flours. It should be placed away from moisture because the moisture makes your product clump. So, it is always better to store it in a sealed bag or container.
You can even store the unopened cornmeal in the pantry at room temperature. Once the package is opened, you can place it in the refrigeration or freezer. If you want to store cornmeal in the fridge or freezer, then it should be sealed tightly. Or use a freezer bag to store the cornmeal in the freezer.
Ingredients: Cornflour
*Nutritional Information
Per 100 g of the product
| Nutrients | Per 100 g |
| Energy (kcal) | 350 |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 87.2 |
| Total Sugar (g) | 0.0 |
| Added Sugar (g) | 0.0 |
| Protein (g) | 0.0 |
| Fat (g) | 0.0 |
| Saturated Fat (g) | 0.0 |
| Sodium (mg) | 14.7 |
*Approximate values
Allergens: This product is manufactured in a Factory that uses Wheat Products (Gluten), Milk, and Nuts.
Can you Freeze Cornmeal?
Yes, you can freeze cornmeal to increase its lifespan for more days. It will be the best option if you don’t use the cornmeal package for more days. The only thing you have to do is transfer the bag or cornmeal components into a ziplock or sealed container. Squeeze the air out of the container and place it in the freezer.
When you want to use the cornmeal, take the bag out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator for the whole night to thaw. Once cornmeal is thawed, it is not recommended to freeze it again.
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How Long Does Cornmeal Last? – Cornmeal Shelflife
The whole grain corn meal will last for 6 to 12 in the freezer and degerminated cornmeal shelf life is up to 5 years in the freezer. Every cornmeal package has the best-by date on the label which means that the product maintains its quality by that date.
But we can easily store either opened or unopened cornmeal after the expiration date. Degerminated cornmeal has a higher shelf life than whole-grain cornmeal at room temperature.
You can store the cornmeal packages in the pantry if you want to use them 3 months after the best-by date, choose the refrigerator for more months. Or else go for the freezer to maintain the cornmeal quality for even 1 year or more.
| Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degerminated cornmeal | Best by + 1 year | Best by + 5 years | |
| Whole-grain cornmeal (unopened) | Best by + 3 months | ||
| Whole-grain cornmeal (opened) | 3 – 6 months | 6 – 12 months |
What Happens If You Eat Rancid Corn Meal?- Is Expired CornMeal OK to Use
Can you use Expired Corn meal? and does it make you sick? are the common questions among people consuming cornmeal after a long time? In general, expired cornmeal is prone to insects and mold growing inside. If at all, you eat the expired cornmeal by any chance then you might get sick.
You might experience the symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and headache. If the portion consumed is less and if you have a strong immune system you might not get sick that easily.
Surprising Facts About Cornmeal
The different fun facts regarding cornmeal food items are provided here:
- Cornmeal is a gluten-free product.
- It has good sources of fiber.
- Cornmeal is the grounded powder of dried corn.
- When compared with other corn-based foods, cornmeal is higher in carbohydrates and has few vitamins and minerals.
- Cornmeal has heart health and digestion benefits.
- Cornmeal products like grits and polenta are good sources of vitamin B6 and folate.
- It comes in yellow, blue, and white varieties.
FAQs on Does Cornmeal Go Bad – Can I Use Expired Cornmeal
1. What does bad cornmeal smell like?
The bad cornmeal smells bitter or rancid and bad taste.
2. What happens if you eat expired cornmeal?
By eating rancid cornmeal, you may get stomach pain and nausea.
3. What does bad cornmeal look like?
The black and grey specs in whole-grain cornmeal are normal. Other than this, if you found any other color, then it has gone bad.
4. What’s the difference between whole-grain and degerminated cornmeal?
Corn meal is a coarse flour of dried corn. It can be available in white, yellow, and blue colors. Corn kernels have germ, hull, and endosperm parts. While degerminated corn meal has the germ removed. So, degerminated corn meal has less nutrition.
Summary
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