How and in what containers is it better to store cereals at home, rules and conditions

Many people wonder how to properly store cereals. To succeed in this matter and avoid spoilage of the product, it is worth considering its expiration date. It may differ depending on the type of cereal. The choice of containers and compliance with storage conditions - temperature conditions, humidity parameters, lighting are not insignificant. It is also important to protect the product from harmful insects.

How to choose the right one in store

Before buying, it is important to carefully study the condition of the cereal.It should be ensured that it has been stored in the store under normal conditions. Indicators of humidity and tightness of packaging are not insignificant.If there are brown spots, lumps or insects in the package, you should refuse such a purchase. However, it will only be possible to identify such problems if the cereal is in a transparent bag.

If it is packaged in paper or cardboard packaging, it will only be possible to assess the freshness on the date of release of the product. It is advisable to choose cereals less than 2 to 4 months old.

Treatment methods so that bugs do not start

People are often faced with a situation where pests are introduced into the cereal. They lead to grain spoilage. Therefore, after purchase, it is recommended that the product undergo special treatment.

wire mesh

Exposure to high temperatures is a good way to kill insect pests. To do this, it is enough to ignite the cereal in the oven. This should be done for 10-15 minutes. With the help of such processing, you can make the product more delicious. Calcining cereals in the microwave is not considered less effective. The duration of this procedure should not exceed 1 minute.

frozen

To maintain the freshness of the product for a long time, it must be stored in the refrigerator for some time. Under the influence of low temperatures, pests will die. This will increase the shelf life of the product. Freezing cereals will be an equally effective way.

Aeration

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

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Optimal storage conditions

To preserve the freshness of cereals for a long time, appropriate conditions should be created for them.

Temperature

Cereals are recommended to be stored at a temperature not higher than +10 degrees. If the grains are in the kitchen cupboard, then choose the lowest shelf. It should be as far away as possible from the stove and other heat sources. Semolina, rolled oats, millet and pearl barley need a cooler place. They can taste rancid when kept warm. Therefore, a pantry or refrigerator will be the best storage option.

The temperature regime should not exceed +5 degrees.

Humidity

The maximum permissible air humidity is 70%. High rates lead to the fact that the cereal begins to rot and spoil.

Lighting

The product requires storage in a dry and dark place. A kitchen cabinet or refrigerator is perfect for this. Product deteriorates rapidly when exposed to direct sunlight.

How to choose a container

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

glass container

These containers are sold in almost every store. They are perfect for storing food. It is also perfectly acceptable to use regular glass jars.

plastic utensils

The undoubted advantage of such dishes is their low weight. This reduces the load on the cabinet shelf.

Stainless steel

This is a high quality and reliable material that is suitable for grain storage. When choosing a metal container, it is important to check that there is no rust on the surface.Only stainless steel is suitable for storing food.

Ceramic

It is the most suitable container for cereals. The natural material perfectly preserves the freshness of the cereals. The only drawback is the impressive mass. Therefore, it is permissible to place such containers only on strong and durable shelves.

Canvas bags

Bags made of natural material are suitable for storing grain. In this case, it is recommended to put a piece of foil in it. A metal spoon is also excellent.

General rules for home storage

For storing cereals, it is worth considering the following rules:

1. Avoid buying goods in bulk. This method of storing cereals in stores does not guarantee compliance with health standards. Dust, moulds, larvae penetrate the cereal.
2. Better to buy cereals in transparent packages. It is recommended to evaluate it visually before buying. There should be no lumps or unpleasant odors in the product.
3. It is important to consider the expiration date. It is advisable to buy a product that is no more than 2-4 months old.
4. It is worth choosing the right storage location. Cereals can be stored in kitchen cupboards.
5. Take measures to avoid the appearance of insects. To do this, you can use folk recipes.

Expiry dates

It is recommended to keep cereals under the same conditions. In addition, their shelf life is different. Porridges that boil quickly can be stored for 6-12 months.

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Oatmeal

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 can be consumed within 8-9 months.

Wheat of various transformations

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

Barley porridge

It is allowed to store such cereals for 14-16 months.

Pearl barley, buckwheat, polished rice

These products keep their freshness perfectly for 18 months.

Split peas and buckwheat

These products keep well for 20 months.

polished dots

Its shelf life is 24 months.

Parboiled rice

This product can keep its freshness for 2.5 years.

Signs of product deterioration

If the rules for storing the product are not observed, its color becomes darker. It will also be possible to assess 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 extraneous odors. If there is mold or a musty smell, you cannot eat such a product.

You can also enjoy the freshness of the porridge to taste. It should not have bitter or acid notes resulting from fat oxidation. It is important that the taste be characteristic of this type of porridge.

Interesting ideas for choosing a place

For storing cereals, it is permissible to choose interesting places that will help keep them cool and save space in the kitchen.

Secret sliding panel

To hide your supplies, a pull-out shelf should be built into the kitchen set. In appearance, it resembles an ordinary decorative panel. This is an unusual method that does not require large expenditures.

Hanging shelves

This option works well for a small kitchen. In addition, it is quite permissible to place hanging shelves on the refrigerator.It will help save space and will be an unusual design solution.

Retro locker

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

alchemy lab

Small spice caps and cereal bottles look great on a hanging shelf. To make the design even more effective, it is worth adding mysterious containers filled with vegetable oil or vinegar. Such a structure will look very mysterious and interesting. At the same time, it is not recommended to hang such a shelf above the stove. Continuous exposure to high temperatures adversely affects product performance.

Hanging bracket

A non-standard option is considered containers suspended by strong hooks. It is allowed to fix them on a metal or wooden canvas. This often has to be done by the speakers in order to organically arrange the dishes with grains. It is better to choose elongated narrow containers.

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

Magnetic board

This method works best with spices, as large dishes will look a bit odd. In addition, it is much easier to arrange small containers on the board.To implement this solution, the magnetic canvas should be fixed in a convenient place. Then you should choose small boxes with metal lids or magnets. They must be attached to the canvas in any order. Using this method for croup requires a lot of space and strong magnets.In this case, the containers should not be too heavy. They are placed in such a way that you can easily reach each box.

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Shelf with sliding shelves

An unusual option would be a small, narrow wardrobe with pull-out shelves. It is worth making several spacious boxes for pasta and cereals in it. It is also allowed to provide space for tea, coffee and spices. A cabinet designed as a kitchen set will look very organic. Sliding shelves greatly simplify the search for products and rationalize their placement.

As decoration 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. Have no more than 2-3 containers on a shelf. In this case, the interior will turn out to be overloaded.

Drawers

An interesting solution would be lots of small sealed boxes that have transparent side doors. At the same time, it is worth highlighting a separate space in the kitchen for containers or ordering an unusual set with built-in drawers. Thanks to this, the room will look more original.

Common Mistakes

To avoid common mistakes, you should follow these rules:

1. It is strictly forbidden to store cereals in boxes. This can lead to the appearance of harmful insects in them.
2. Do not store the product in drawers or cupboards above the sink. High humidity leads to dampness and mold.
3. It is not recommended to store cereals in the refrigerator. This can cause condensation to form. As a result, the cereals will become wet.

Additional tips and tricks

To avoid the appearance of dangerous insects in cereals, you must follow these recommendations:

1. A gauze bag filled with coarse salt is an excellent solution. It can be placed in cereal, starch or flour jars.
2. Garlic, bay leaves will help to cope with insects. Dried lemon peels work just as well.
3. To preserve the pleasant aroma of rice, you can put a small chili pepper in the container.
4. A piece of aluminum foil will be an effective insect repellent.

Storing cereals requires compliance with a number of rules and recommendations. Due to strict observance of temperature and humidity parameters, it will be possible to keep the freshness of products for a long time.