Oatmeal is definitely one of the longer-lasting products that are completely all-natural and doesn’t need any preservatives or enzymes to keep it shelf-stable. Oatmeal does not have any water or moisture in it and it’s packaging keeps the oats dry.
Does oatmeal go bad? Yes, oatmeal does go bad. But the way it is stored and cooked or not causes the time between the oatmeal expiration very greatly. If steel-cut, rolled oats, or quick pre-packaged oats are stored in an airtight container and are kept free from bugs, temperature change, and moisture, it can last up to two years.
On the other hand, cooked oatmeal only lasts four days at most, and if it contains dairy, it may only last 24-48 hours.
It is best to eat them during the first year since that will be when their flavor is best, and their texture is more palatable. But they can ask for two years as long as you don’t mind their fading taste.
How Long Does Dry Uncooked Oatmeal Last?
There are three different types of oatmeal, and they all have a slightly different expiration time.
Steel-cut – these are the mightiest and driest of all of the oatmeal Friday’s available. Directly taken from oat grains, it is kept completely intact and then placed into a steel container with an airtight lid. Because these are the least processed and have the least sugar, they can easily last up to 2 years. However, many preppers who prepare for the apocalypse say that oatmeal can last up to five years or more.
Rolled oats – rolled oats are like steel-cut oats, except they are more broken down, so they cook faster. Some of their fiber has been removed as well, so they are easier to eat and Digest. As long as they’re placed in an airtight container, they can last up to a year.
Pre-packaged/flavored – pre-packaged or flavored oats are the most popular type of oatmeal. This type of popular oatmeal is also known as instant oatmeal. Each oatmeal flavor comes in a small foil pouch, and it contains oats, which are broken down to their softest form, sugar, dairy, and flavorings. These little packages will only last about 6 to 9 months because of all the extra ingredients in pre-packaged oatmeal. But if the instant oatmeal does not have any dairy or sugar, it can last for a year.
How Long Does Cooked Oatmeal Last?
Cooked oatmeal does not last as long as uncooked, stored oatmeal. That is a real shame, especially since steel-cut and rolled oats take much longer to prepare and cook than pre-packaged oatmeal.
The lifespan of cooked oatmeal is so short that if you go into the freezer aisle, you won’t be able to find a wide variety of frozen oats like you would pancakes and waffles. Frozen oatmeal does not taste very good if left alone for a long time in the fridge or the freezer.
It doesn’t matter what kind of ingredients are in cooked oatmeal. All cooked oatmeal with dairy will only last about 48 hours at best. But when you make oatmeal, it is advised to eat it within the first 24 hours.
Waiting longer than 24 hours will cause the liquid in the oatmeal to be absorbed by the grains, and you will have extremely thick chunky oatmeal. This won’t cause any bacterial issues or make the chunky oatmeal unsafe for consumption. It will just be unpleasant to eat.
Cooked oatmeal without dairy will last the maximum of 4 days (cooked with water).
How Long Does Oatmeal Last? Shelf Life [Chart]
| Item | Length of time |
| Steel cut | Two years |
| Rolled oats | One year |
| Prepackaged quick oats | Six to nine months |
| Prepackaged quick oats, plain | One year |
| Cooked oatmeal | Two to three days |
How to Tell if Uncooked Oatmeal has Gone Bad?
To know if a container of uncooked sealed oatmeal has gone bad, there are two factors you must check for. The first factor to check for is moisture. If the oatmeal sticks together or you can see that some of the oatmeal is soft and wet, do not eat it and do not try to use it. Moisture destroys oatmeal, and anywhere where there is moisture and warmth, bacteria decide to make a home.
The second factor you must look for is the color. If the color of the oatmeal grains is fading and turning blotchy white, then they are not safe to eat. A blotchy white color means that the oatmeal grains are no longer fresh, and they could have been exposed to air without you knowing.
Also, if you see bugs like moths and larvae mix into the oatmeal, then throw it out. Many people believe that since oatmeal is hard and has a texture like rice, any insects found in oatmeal can be sifted out. But these insects have been chewing on the oatmeal grains, pooping on the greens, and laying eggs as well. Those are not ingredients you want in your oatmeal!
How to Tell if Cooked Oatmeal has Gone Bad?
As mentioned above, if all of the liquid has been absorbed by the oatmeal grains and now your oatmeal is extremely chunky, you may not want to eat it. Chunky oatmeal is still edible, but the texture is just awful.
Another way to know if cooked oatmeal has gone bad is if it has a sour smell. Depending on the ingredients, the sourness can kick in after two days or three days. But if it smells a bit vinegary or like old dairy, then don’t eat it.
Conclusion
- There are three main types of oatmeal: steel-cut, rolled oats, quick oats, pre-packaged oats.
- Each one has its own shelf life: Steel-cut last two years rolled oats last one year, and pre-packaged oats last nine months.
- Flavorless pre-packaged can last up to a year.
- There are two ways to know if uncooked oatmeal has gone bad: white blotchy spots on all of the grains and grains that clump together, which means the grains have been exposed to moisture.
- If uncooked oatmeal is placed in an airtight container and sealed away, it can theoretically last indefinitely.
- There are two ways to spot it cooked oatmeal has gone bad: the oatmeal has developed a sour smell, and there is no more liquid in the oatmeal, so the grains are extremely bloated and chunky.
- Cooked oatmeal lasts for about two days at most.