Cornmeal is a coarse yellow flour that can be used to make all sorts of meals. It is the basis for many popular foods, such as fluffy cornbread, pancakes, tortillas, and empanadas, to name a few. Because it’s rich in carbs and vitamins, we recommend including cornmeal in your long-term food storage pantry.
When stored properly, the shelf life of fined cornmeal can be over 20 years when using a 5-gallon bucket with mylar bags. However, they can stay fresh for up to 2 years in airtight containers and up to 10 years in mylar bags alone. Coarse cornmeal, on the other hand, has a shorter shelf life due to its higher oil contents.
We have previously written about how to store grains long-term. But in this article, we will explain the shelf life of cornmeal and how to store cornmeal long-term in detail. But first, let’s talk about the different types of cornmeal.
Dent corn is a soft starch that can be milled to make cornmeal. But depending on, how the corn is refined will determine if it is bolted or unbolted.
Bolted cornmeal is prepared by having whole corn kernels go through a steel mill and sieve. The sieve removes the pieces of the hull and germ, where many of the natural oils and nutrients are stored. Decreasing the oil content extends the shelf life of the cornmeal significantly.
Unbolted cornmeal is refined using a stone-ground mill, allowing the cornmeal to retain the hull and germ after the milling process. This is called a whole grain corn meal and retains more of the nutritional value. Although this grain is more flavorful and more nutrient-dense, it has a shorter shelf life.
Most of the available corn flour on the market is bolted. However, you can easily find unbolted cornmeal by looking for labels with “whole grain” on the package.
As you plan for long-term storage, you should know that the shelf life of cornmeal depends on how and where it is stored. Below is a table to help you understand the best way to store cornmeal.
| Bolted Cornmeal (Corn Flour) | Unbolted Cornmeal | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Gallon Bucket | 20 Years | Not Recommended |
| Mylar Bag | 10 Years | Not Recommended |
| Mason Jar | 2-3 Years | 2 Years |
| Freezer | 18+ Months | 18+ Months |
| Pantry | 12 months | 6-12 Months |
As you can see, to extend the shelf life, the best way to store fine cornmeal is in a 5-gallon bucket with mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. Using this method, bolted cornmeal has a storage life of 20 years. Store-bought cornmeal will last for about 12 months in the pantry and 18 months in the freezer. It can last 10 years in a mylar bag and up to 2 years in an airtight container.
The best-by date on the cornmeal isn’t the expiry date, but it determines the date by which the cornmeal is still at peak quality. After this date, the texture, color, or even taste of cornmeal might change, but it will still be safe to use.
If you are planning to include bolted cornmeal in your emergency food storage location, you should store cornmeal in 5-gallon buckets. Not only do food-grade buckets maintain quality for 20 years, but they are also effective at preventing exposure to air, moisture, light, and pests. However, do keep in mind this method is suggested for fine-coursed cornmeal or corn flour since it has a moisture percentage of less than 10%. Below, we will cover how to store cornmeal in 5-gallon buckets.
Storing cornmeal is simple; just keep in mind your goal is to reduce exposure to environmental aggressors that can cause the grain to spoil. Here are the proper steps to follow.
Related Article: How to Store food in 5-Gallon Buckets
Related Article: How to Store Food in Mylar Bags: A Guide for Beginners
If you don’t want to store a large amount of cornmeal in a bucket, other storage options are available. Additionally, these methods are better for corn kernels and unbolted cornmeal since it typically has a higher oil content of over 10%. And if using these methods, you should NOT store cornmeal with oxygen absorbers.
Storing cornmeal in the freezer will help it last up to 18 months. It can last longer, but the quality and nutritional value will start to deteriorate the older it gets.
You should keep in mind that you can only freeze cornmeal once since the moisture pockets in the cornmeal will damage it once it melts. If you try to refreeze it, it can cause mold to grow.
Corn flour can last for 3 years in an airtight container with oxygen absorbers. Other types of cornmeal will last between 1 and 2 years and should NOT be stored with oxygen absorbers. We suggest using mason jars if you expect to use cornmeal on a more frequent basis. This way, you can store what you expect to use, and your cornmeal is still protected from moisture, oxygen, and pests.
You should store the airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place. As long as the temperature and humidity levels are low, cornmeal will last for years when sealed with an oxygen absorber.
Related Article: Long-Term Food Storage in Mason Jars
To determine if your cornmeal has spoiled, you can simply rely on your sense of sight, smell, and taste. If you notice any of these signs below, then your cornmeal has gone bad, and it’s time to toss it away.
Once you have determined it’s spoiled, it’s best to dispose of it. Spoiled food has limited nutritional benefits, so it is better not to expose your family to it.
Below are some frequently asked questions we came across.
To make corn flour, you will need to make sure the husk and germ have been removed from the whole corn kernel. In the husk and germ is where much of the natural oils are contained, which causes cornmeal to spoil faster. Once the germ and husk are removed, you will then grind the corn kernels until it becomes a fine powder with a metal roller.
Corn flour and cornmeal are both made from dry dent corn. However, the difference comes from how they are milled and their texture. Corn flour is often milled by a metal roller, giving it a finer, powder-like texture. Cornmeal, on the other hand, has a coarse and grittier texture. So, in essence, they are the same thing, but they are milled differently, which affects what you can do with them.
Cornstarch and cornmeal are both derived from dried corn. However, cornmeal is made from whole corn kernels, and cornstarch is made from the endosperm of the kernel. So it is almost entirely made from carbohydrates and has very little flavor.
Corn flour is a finer version of cornmeal, which uses the whole corn kernel to make the cornmeal, giving it its yellow color. Cornstarch is made by separating and milling the endosperm of the kernel, which gives it its white color. Cornstarch can occasionally be used as a substitute for corn flour, but it lacks the flavor of corn flour and will change how the food tastes.
The shelf life of cornmeal depends on the type of cornmeal. Bolted cornmeal can last decades in your pantry when stored properly in a 5-gallon bucket. Unbolted cornmeal will last for up to one or two years as long as you don’t try to open it. Afterward, it may still be edible, but the quality will start to deteriorate.
If you ever suspect the cornmeal has spoiled, you should dispose of it since there is no benefit to eating spoiled cornmeal.
Related Article: 11 Supplies You Need for DIY Long-Term Food Storage
Related Article: 6 Best Grains for Long-Term Food Storage
Ceramic cookware has become a safe, and popular alternative to stainless steel and Telfon cookware. But to have them last a long time, it is important to learn how to clean stained ceramic pans.
If you are looking to buy cookware, you probably came down to ceramic cookware vs stainless steel cookware. Learn to see which is better for you.
At this point, you should be aware of the harmful chemicals found in traditional non-stick pans. Fortunately, ceramic pans are non-stick and do not contain harmful chemicals. Learn their pros and cons.
Who We Are
Our team brings over a decade of experience in prepping and holistic living. We share our knowledge with you, here on Soulful Prepper. Read more about us, here.
SoulfulPrepper.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for the sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participate in other affiliate programs including but not limited to ShareASale, CJ, and ClickBank, and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
