Do Chia Seeds Go Bad?
Here’s all you need to know about the shelf life and spoilage of chia seeds. Learn whether chia seeds go bad, how long they last, and how to store them.
Going through a package of chia seeds takes ages. And at some point, you start to wonder: do chia seeds go bad?
Or maybe your bag is already “expired,” and you want to make sure that chia seeds can even expire.
If you have any questions about storing chia seeds or chia pudding, this article is for you.
Let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
- Do Chia Seeds Go Bad?
- How to Tell if Chia Seeds Are Ba?
- Can You Eat Expired Chia Seeds?
- How Long Do Chia Seeds Last
- How to Store Chia Seeds?
- Can You Freeze Chia Seeds?
- How Long Does Chia Pudding Last?
Do Chia Seeds Go Bad?
Thanks to a high amount of antioxidants, chia seeds last for a couple of years, but they don’t last forever. If stored long enough or in poor conditions, they will eventually go rancid, and that’s when you should toss them.
You know your chia seeds are rancid when they have developed a bitter taste or started to smell like nail polish remover or some other chemicals. Fresh chia seeds have a mild flavor and smell a bit nutty, so any changes to that should be easy to notice.
(Rancidity is also the primary way other seeds, such as go bad.)
Obviously, isn’t the only way chia seeds can spoil. Let’s cover others.
Chia seeds up close
How to Tell if Chia Seeds Are Bad?
Toss your chia seeds if:
- The seeds are rancid. Chia seeds are quite resistant to rancidification thanks to their antioxidants. That said, they can go rancid if stored for too long or exposed for a prolonged period to warm temperatures, lots of fresh air, or direct sunlight.
- The bag is infested. You’re likely storing chia seeds in the pantry, and that’s where pantry bugs like to hang out too. If you find pests, eggs, or anything of the like in the bag, consider the seeds gone. And go through other foods in the pantry and get rid of those pests altogether.
- You notice mold or wet clumps. Mold can grow in chia seeds if moisture gets inside the bag. And if that happens, the seeds are no longer safe to eat. But if you store your chia seeds properly, the chances of that occurring are almost none.
If you notice anything else about the seeds that bothers you, trust that instinct and toss the seeds.
(In case you’re wondering, the same spoilage signs are typical for other seeds, e.g.,
Can You Eat Expired Chia Seeds?
You can eat chia seeds past their printed date if they don’t show any signs of spoilage, such as rancidity, pantry bugs, or mold. But if the seeds are rancid, you should discard them.
Eating rancid chia seeds, in all probability especially if you eat a small amount. The worst that could happen is some minor digestive discomfort a few hours after eating.
But there’s speculation that so it’s best to throw out rancid chia seeds.
How Long Do Chia Seeds Last?
Pantry | Fridge | |
seeds | Best-by + 1+ years | |
Chia flour | Best by + 6+ months | |
Chia pudding | 5 – 7 days |
Thanks to a high amount of antioxidants, seeds last for 4 to 5 years without refrigeration. All you need to do is to store them in a cool and dry place, away from sunlight and heat sources.
Opening the bag doesn’t really change anything – the seeds will still last months or even years at room temperature as long as you provide decent storage conditions.
Seeds usually come with a best-by date on the label that’s typically a couple of years after the packaging date. It’s somewhat helpful in estimating how long your chia seeds will retain quality, but it’s not like the seeds will go bad a week or even a month after that date.
Read more >> Ghee Need to Be Refrigerated- Best Ghee storage tips
Chia seeds are best by date, only a bit helpful
Knowing that I suggest that once your chia seeds start approaching their “expiration” date, you give them a thorough check for spoilage signs every couple of weeks or so.
(They won’t go rancid in a week, it’s a process that takes time.)
Obviously, if your seeds are like five years after the printed date and you’re not comfortable using them, you should toss them. Better safe than sorry.
Do Giant seeds bag
How to Store Chia Seeds?
Store seeds in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and heat sources. After opening the package, make sure the seeds are always sealed tight. If the original bag isn’t resealable, transfer the seeds to a freezer bag or airtight container.
Thanks seeds last a long time. That means you can store them in a cupboard in the kitchen or pantry.
Obviously, you could place the seeds in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life even further, but those couple of years at room temperature seem long enough for most people.
Nevertheless, if you ever decide to place seeds in the fridge, ensure they’re well sealed. This way, they don’t pick up any moisture and smell from other foods.
That tight seal is also useful when storing seeds at room temperature because it keeps moisture and pantry bugs at bay. Plus, it doesn’t allow the seeds access to fresh air, slowing down rancidification.
Seeds Can You Freeze?
Seeds have a shelf life of more than a couple of years, so while freezing seeds is an option, it’s hardly ever necessary. Instead, you can simply keep them sealed tight in a kitchen cupboard.
If you want to freeze seeds, place them in the freezer sealed well in a freezer bag or airtight container. At the point when you want to utilize them, scoop the sum you want from the sack or compartment and supplant the rest in the cooler – no thawing out vital.
Quick version, you can freeze seeds and they freeze well, however by and large, putting away them in the kitchen is sufficient.
His closeups Long Does Chia Pudding Last?
Store chia pudding in an impermeable compartment in the cooler for 5 to 7 days. Ensure the holder is constantly fixed tight, and in the event that you made a major group, consistently utilize clean spoons for scooping.
On the off chance that that period isn’t sufficiently long, freezing may be out.
You an freeze chia pudding in segment estimated holders. Prep the pudding not surprisingly, then partition it into individual holders in the event that you have everything in a solitary one. At last, place the holders in the cooler.
Chia Seeds pudding with new organic product closeup
Along these lines, at whatever point you need some chia pudding, you move a solitary compartment from the cooler to the refrigerator and have the pudding quite defrosted the next day.
The main drawback of freezing chia pudding is that any new natural product you add as fixing will turn delicate and watery in the wake of defrosting. On the off chance that that irritates you, think about freezing just the pudding and adding a new organic product prior to eating.