Does Quinoa Go Bad?
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With each passing day, more people are becoming health conscious. That is why diverse types of diets are growing massively in popularity. One such diet that has been doing the rounds for quite some time now is a gluten-free diet. This type of diet promises a gluten-free eating experience and helps promote weight loss. It may also help prevent chronic inflammation and celiac disease. Eventually, with the rise of the gluten-free diet, Quinoa is becoming more popular than ever.
Although most people misinterpret Quinoa for being a grain, it is only a high-protein seed. It is rich in amino acids and helps improve muscle health drastically. Quinoa is also suitable for people looking to add vitamin B and iron to their daily diet. But while all of that sounds great, you must also know whether it turns sour. Since its shelf life plays an essential role in helping you stay fit, you do not want to make any mistake on that part. So, read this article for a complete experience on the same.
Does Quinoa Go Bad?
Yes, Quinoa does go bad after a certain point in time. However, if you keep it in mind to protect it from moisture and heat, it won’t take so long anyway. Also, many other factors require consideration here. For starters, it would help if you made sure that the Quinoa you purchase from the store is of good quality.
Quinoa can be sold dry but do not worry about its shelf life. It is pretty durable. However, it would help if you kept in mind that it does not catch mold easily. Also, if you spot mold in it, it is essential to get rid of it right away. Do not try to wait for it to restore its quality, as that won’t happen. Mostly, when you buy Quinoa, you will find the product storage and maintenance listed behind the label. So, make sure you focus correctly on that.
How To Know Quinoa Has Gone Bad?
Now, we all know that when Quinoa goes terrible, we need to discard it immediately. But how do we spot that? Of course, mold growth is one of the primary ways to know when to get rid of it. But there are many other ways you can find that out. For starters, you will notice a change in color and flavor. These are the most important signs to spot, even if you can’t visually figure out any changes.
If you have uncooked Quinoa at home, you will start to notice a weird texture or smell coming from it. If that happens, throw it away. However, these are just random signs. If you want to know whether it has genuinely gone wrong, it is best to cook it. When you cook the Quinoa, you will see the texture that starts reflecting a weird aroma. That means it is no longer safe for you to consume.
How To Store Quinoa?
Storage for any food product plays a massively important role. It helps make sure that the food enjoys a longer shelf life than ever. That is why the Quinoa storing process also requires you to pay maximum attention. Firstly, you need to focus on whether the packet is opened or unopened. If you haven’t opened it yet, it can be kept at room temperature. That won’t be a problem.
However, it is best kept in the refrigerator to avoid any issues. Since the packaging helps safeguard the quality of Quinoa, as long as it doesn’t open, it is okay. If you open the quinoa packet, make sure you store it in the refrigerator safely and adequately. Such a thing will prevent it from degradation and keep it secure for you.
Make sure you do not store cooked Quinoa for a long time, as that may go bad soon. It may even sound rotten in some hours if not kept properly. That is why we recommend you keep them stored in air-tight containers for added safety. But this will also not be able to stop the change in texture. So, the result will be a reheated or thawed Quinoa altogether.
However, when you store Quinoa in the pantry, you can expect it to last there for nearly three to four years at a stretch. The open ones may last a year less.
Can One Freeze Quinoa?
Yes, you can keep Quinoa frozen. You can do this for both the uncooked and cooked ones without any issue. But make sure that you keep them in an air-tight container, as discussed above. Such a thing will help keep a check on its shelf life without any hassle. Also, make sure you follow the instructions of storing it properly as per the label suggests. So, do not throw away the original packaging. It will come in handy for you in numerous ways.
What Will Happen If You Eat Expired Quinoa?
Eating expired quinoa will not make you sick because uncooked quinoa stays good way past its expiry day, if you store it correctly.
| Raw Quinoa | In the Fridge | In The Freezer | In The Pantry |
| Past the date of expiry | Past the date of expiry | Past the date of expiry | |
| White Quinoa | 2 to 3 years | – | 2 to 3 years |
| Black Quinoa | 2 to 3 years | – | 2 to 3 years |
| Red Quinoa | 2 to 3 years | – | 2 to 3 years |
| Cooked Quinoa | |||
| 6 to 7 days | 8 to 12 months | – |
The Bottom Line
We hope you found this content on Quinoa helpful. Make sure you reread it carefully to understand it better. We promise; it will help you out without any worries.
