Food safety is important for keeping you healthy and assuring your food last longer. Here’s a few tips to storing barley to keep you safe:
- Uncooked barley will last longer if stored in a cool, dry area.
- Properly stored, uncooked barley will generally stay at best quality for about 18 to 24 months at normal room temperature.
- To maximize the shelf life of barley, keep the package tightly closed at all times.
- To further maximize the shelf life of barley once the package is opened, transfer barley to a covered airtight container or place the barley package in a resealable plastic freezer bag.
- Barley safe to use after the “expiration” date on the package, provided that it is properly stored and the package is undamaged. Commercially packaged barley will typically carry a “Best By,” “Best if Used By,” “Best Before”, or “Best When Used By” date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer’s estimate of how long the barley will remain at peak quality.
- Storage time shown is for best quality only – after that, the barley’s texture, color or flavor may change, but in most cases, it will be safe to consume if it has been stored properly, the package is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage.
- The best way to tell if barley’s been bad or spoiled is to smell and look at the barley: if the barley develops an off odor, flavor, or appearance, or if mold or insects appear, it should be discarded.