Whole grains are an important part of your overall diet and health. Properly storing your grains will keep them fresh and ready for use. We’ve compiled the best tips to help you get the most out of your stored grains.
Airtight containers
One of the most important rules for storing whole grains is to use an airtight container. Utilize sealable food storage buckets for larger amounts and glass mason jars for smaller amounts. As long as the container is strong and sealable, it comes down to your personal preference. For guaranteed freshness, glass and food storage buckets are more reliable. Avoid thin plastic and paper bags as they are not very durable.
Keep it cool
Keep it cool, the temperature that is. An important rule to live by when storing raw and refined grains is to keep them in a cool place. Cool temperatures mean that your whole grains will store for a longer amount of time. Certain grains require specific storage temperatures, we’ve assembled a list of where to store each grain to make it easier for you!
Where to store them:
Grains to store at room temperature
-Whole Grains (quinoa, wheat berries, brown rice, millet, etc.) used at least once a month
-Dried Beans
-Flour, Cereals, Cracked Grains used once a week
-Baking Mixes
-Refined Grains, Flours and Cereals (white flour, white rice, etc)
Grains to store in a fridge/freezer
-Whole Grains used less than once a month
-Flour, Cereals, Cracked Grains used less than once a month
-Almond Meal
-Hazelnut Meal
-Coconut Flour
-Wheat Germ
-Rice Bran
-Flaxseed Meal
-Hemp Seeds
Keep out of direct sunlight
Our last tip for storing your whole grains is to keep them out of direct sunlight. It is a good general rule of thumb to store all grains in a dark place to avoid any possibility for unwanted deterioration of the grains. It will also be very beneficial to store them in a place where you know bugs will not be able to access them.
We hope you’ve got some useful tips to store grains of all kinds! Check out our selection of Grain Mills to get the most of your whole grains. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below.
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Thanks for informing me that grains should be kept in a cool place so it can be kept in a longer amount of time. My sister wants to start a farm and might want to store grains in the future. I think she’ll benefit from a grain handling system that experts can build for her so it can be stored in the ideal temperature.