Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But, like many other food and drink products, it has a best before date or a use by date which is simply the last date by which a manufacturer will vouch for a product's quality, not its safety. Because of this distinction, you may safely eat your foods for limited amounts of time after the best by date or use by date has expired.

How to tell if Grits are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your grits have expired and gone bad. Dry grits last for about a year, the smell will change as they begin to go bad. Do not eat it if it develops an odor or tastes different than usual.

You can tell if prepared grits are going bad when the liquid has considerably separated from the other ingredients. Once prepared, because of the moisture, it will quickly develop mold and be unsafe to consume.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Grits to extend their shelf life?

Stone ground grits should be stored in the freezer since they are perishable. Instant grits should be stored in a cool, dark and dry environment where they are not susceptible to temperature change. When items go through temperature changes of cool to warm and vice versa, the moisture in the air tends to condensate inside the packages. This moisture allows mold to grow and your grits could spoil.

Prepared grits should be stored in your refrigerator below 40°F immediately after use. Prepared grits should be stored in air-tight containers that help keep out moisture and other contaminants. In addition, you should always make sure to use clean silverware when serving grits in order to avoid cross-contamination.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Grits:

How long are Grits good for when prepared in a dish?

How long do grits last? That depends. How long does milk last? In general, foods can only last as long as the quickest expiring ingredient that they are mixed with.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Grits lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Grits.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Grits shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!