Can Granola Go Bad?: Are you wondering how to lose weight? Eating Granola for the breakfast and following the perfect diet plan which suits your body gives amazing results. Have you stopped your diet plan and wondered about can granola go bad if left out? Don’t worry, we got covered you and answered all your queries on granola and granola bars. Excited to see the details? Let’s dive into the guide.
- Does Granola Go Bad? | Does Granola & Granola Bars Expire?
- How Long Does Granola Last?
- How To Store Granola To Retain Crunch & Flavor
- Can You Freeze Granola?
- Interesting & Must-Know Granola Facts
- FAQs on How to Tell if Granola Is Bad?
Does Granola Go Bad? | Does Granola & Granola Bars Expire?
No, Granola can’t go bad without getting into contact with pantry pests or moisture in the bags. After opening the store-bought granola packets keep it safe and avoid opening the bag in the air for a long time.
If you smell rancid or off from your granolas then it’s time to discard the packet. When you find any moldy or bugs in the bag or container of granola then get rid of them. If you taste the expired granola and it tastes stale, throw it away.
Do granola and granola bars expire is the most common question asked by the people who consume granola on the daily basis. Yes, then can expire but it’s okay to eat if it looks and smells okay. One more key point to know is granola bar doesn’t go rancid like regular granola so check other signs of spoilage before eating the bars.
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How Long Does Granola Last?
After baked, granola stays fresh for 6-12 months and it can be printed as a best-by date on the package. If it is opened, the quality of the granolas lasts for 1-4 months based on the items used in the mixture of granolas.
Some brands used preservations or additives for longer shelf life but some brands’ shelf life can be estimated depending on the quality of the ingredients like dry fruits or nuts.
When your granola passes the expiry date then it doesn’t mean it has spoiled. It just slowly losing its quality and at some point, it becomes tasteless and unacceptable to consume.
Do you have a bag full of granolas that are outdated? Want to know how long past the date the granola be good for? It’s unpredictable from brand to brand. If the ingredients used last for a long time then it stays quite good for another 2-3 months. If the shelf life of ingredients is short then it becomes stale or rancid within a month. Check the below table and get to know the shelf life of granola in various conditions:
| Conditions | Fridge | Pantry |
|---|---|---|
| Granola (unopened) | Best-by + 3 to 6 months | Use-by + 3 – 6 months |
| Granola (opened) | 3 to 6 months | 3 to 6 months |
| Homemade granola | 1 month | 1 month |
| Granola bars | Use-by + 3 – 6 months | Best-by + 3 to 6 months |
| Homemade granola bars | 7 – 10 days |
Hoping that the brief shelf life of granola varieties helped you a lot, if you want to share this information with your dear ones then you can simply download the below shareable image of How Long Does Granola Last table on your social handles or in their inbox.
Does Homemade Granola Go Bad? | How Long Does Homemade Granola Last?
No, Granolas last for a long time so homemade granolas can’t go bad too quickly unless it contains the ingredients that can spoil too fast. The shelf life of homemade granola is a couple of months when it is stored at room temperature. If it is stored in the freezer then the storage time is for a few months. You can estimate the homemade granola shelf life based on the recipe you’re using.
Also, it depends on the ingredients that you use in the recipe of granola at home. If you don’t know the details clearly, the best estimation that you can assume is two weeks in a pantry or cabinet and three months in the freezer.
Do Refer:
Ingredients:
Rolled Oats (25.1%), Candied Fruit and Nut (24%) (Candied Cranberry (15%), Almonds (9%)), Sugar, Oat Flour (0.7%), Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein), Rice (4.2%), Whole Wheat (3.9%), Rice Flour (2.7%), Liquid Glucose, Corn Meal (1.8%), Honey, Cereal Extract, Wheat Bran (0.6%), Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (0.5%), Iodized Salt, Dextrose, Flavours {Nature Identical and Artificial (Cream)), Barley Flour (0.1%), Vitamins, Raising Agent (INS 500ii), Minerals, Antioxidant (INS 320)
Contains Wheat, Barley, Oats, and Nut (Almonds). May Contain Soy and Milk.
Nutrition Information
Total Number of Servings Per Pack: Approximately 11.5
Serving Size: 40
| Per 100g | %RDA Per Serve (40 g) | |
| Energy | 444 kcal | 9% |
| Total Fat | 16.0 g | 10% |
| Saturated Fatty Acids | 5.0 g | 9% |
| Trans Fatty Acids | 0 g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | |
| Total Carbohydrates | 70.6 g | 18% |
| Of Which Total Sugars | 28.0 g | |
| Of Which Added Sugars | 23.0 g | |
| Of Which Dietary Fibre | 5.0 g | |
| Protein | 7.0 g | |
| Sodium | 300 mg | 6% |
RDA: Recommended Dietary Allowance
Values in the Nutrition Information Panel are Based on the Composition of Individual Components, May Vary due to the Heterogeneous Mix of the Components in the Random Sample
Can Granola Bars Go Bad? | How Long Do Granola Bars Last?
No, it can’t go bad in a short span. The best quality Granola bars can last for 6 to 12 months as per the brands and utilized ingredients. And few of them can last their original quality and tastes for an extra 3-6 months after the use-by date printed on the label.
Checking the signs of spoilage after opening the expired bar can easily make you realize whether to trash it or eat it. If it looks good and smells favorable then eat a bit to know the taste of it. If the taste is also fine then you can enjoy the granola bar.
How To Store Granola To Retain Crunch & Flavor
- A cool, dry, and dark area work best for storing granola. They are pantry and kitchen cabinet places.
- If the granola package is unopened, then it can be stored anywhere and it stores for a longer time. But manage to avoid any moisture conditions and heat sources.
- When it gets opened, then store it properly by tight sealing or transfer the granolas into airtight containers and enjoy for an extra couple of months.
- If you store-bought the small packet of granolas which can be finished in weeks is good enough to store in the original package.
- Some brands recommend their granolas or granolas bars to refrigerate. In that cases, follow the instructions on the label and store it in the fridge for longer shelf life.
Can You Freeze Granola?
Yes, Granola can be frozen. Freezing the granola after opened can retain its freshness and quality. Also, it extends the shelf life for an extra month so store in the freezer at the instructed temperature on the label. If you don’t know how to freeze it then follow the instructions or tips here.
- Take the air-tight container or resealable bags to pour the left granola.
- Seal it tightly after pouring the product and keep it in the freezer. Simple right!?
When you freeze the mixed granola that contains other ingredients. You should check for the changes in the texture when it’s thawing. So, remember to freeze the plain granolas for good quality and longer life.
Do you want to know how long granola can freeze? You can freeze granola for a couple of months as suggested by the brands on the packaging. Some are recommended for an extra period of months such as 6 months. Probably you can freeze it closer to 6-9 months.
Must See:
Interesting & Must-Know Granola Facts
- In the year 1863, granola was introduced by Dr. James Caleb Jackson at the Jackson Sanitarium in Dansville, New York.
- In 2011, the researchers of the British Dietetic Association reported that a bowl of granola contains more sugar compared to coke.
- People who eat granola bars as snacks should know that there is a day dedicated to celebrating. It is National Granola Bar Day celebrated on January 21st annually.
- Initially, the name of this food item is Granula then it got changed to Granola for avoiding legal issues with Dr, James Caleb Jackson.
- Later on, John Harvey Kellogg invented a similar product called cereal.
- Granola is filled with full of dietary fiber that hosts healthy fats, vitamins, and healthy minerals.
- Prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer and reduce the cholesterol issue by consuming granola every day in the mornings or as snacks.
Also Check: Can Quinoa Go Bad
FAQs on How to Tell if Granola Is Bad?
1. How do you know when granola goes bad?
Finding any moisture or bugs in the granola bags or containers then it signs as spoiled. Also, if your granola bars smell rancid or off then your granola bars go bad.
2. Is it OK to eat expired granola?
Yes, it is ok to eat expired granola as its shelf life is best-by plus 3 to 6 months. If you sit the granola in the pantry or fridge for more than its shelf life then it’s unsafe to consume and also it tastes bad.
3. Can expired granola make you sick?
No, outdated granola or granola bars don’t make you sick if it is not moldy. In worst cases, eating the expired granola may cause food poisoning so let’s not risk your health by consuming any of the expired food items.
Final Verdict
Granola & Granola bars storage time is longer and they can be stored in dry and cool areas with proper sealing. We wish the details discussed in regards to Can Granola Go Bad will make you understand how to keep it safe from spoilage, what are the ways to freeze or refrigerate granola, how to tell it it is bad, etc. If you need extra information on grains and carbs you can just look at our main page from Can Food Go Bad Website and get it at a faster pace.