What is the shelf life of boiled and raw buckwheat?

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Buckwheat is perhaps the most popular non-cereal cereal in the post-Soviet space. At the slightest shock, people buy it first, sweeping it off store shelves. This is due to the high nutritional value of buckwheat, despite the fact that it is still grown in its pure form without genetic modifications, unlike the same cereal crops.

Types of buckwheat

We are accustomed to brown buckwheat, but in fact it is originally green. It acquires its characteristic brown tint after heat treatment.

Green buckwheat is sprouted and eaten in this way without additional processing. It is recommended by nutritionists as a healthy diet, since this buckwheat retains the maximum amount of useful microelements and vitamins.

How to store boiled buckwheat

Boiled buckwheat can be stored on the stove for no more than a day. To extend its shelf life, the porridge is placed in the refrigerator, taken out to the balcony or frozen.

The duration of storage depends on the method in which the buckwheat was prepared:

• buckwheat, which is boiled in water without additives, can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week;
• buckwheat, to which butter was added during cooking, lasts no more than 3 days;
• Milk buckwheat porridge should be eaten immediately after preparation - its shelf life is only one day;
• Buckwheat boiled in water in the freezer can last for several weeks, but its nutritional value will suffer.

Cooking tricks:

1. In order to preserve all the beneficial properties of porridge when cooking, do not expose it to prolonged heat, cook over low heat.
2. Do not cook buckwheat with milk. It is better to cook regular buckwheat porridge, and then add milk to it. This way you will increase the shelf life of the porridge and preserve its beneficial properties.
3. Do not add sugar or honey to buckwheat. This will reduce its usefulness.

Shelf life

Why do they buy buckwheat in large quantities, because any cereal has a shelf life, which is influenced not only by the packaging, but also by where the cereal will be located? Many people simply do not think about the fact that buckwheat in the form in which it is sold in the store is stored for much less time than it takes to provide it with the correct storage conditions. The shelf life according to GOST for buckwheat “prodel” (chipped) is 1.5 years, for buckwheat (kernel) - 20 months, green buckwheat - 15 months, with:

– Buckwheat must be initially of high quality, the grains are of the same size; – Do not contain inclusions: other cereals, husks, garbage; – The packaging is initially sealed, while factory packaging, unlike loose packaging, allows for a longer shelf life if the technology has been followed. It also prevents insects from entering until the package is opened.

Transparent packaging allows you to verify the quality of buckwheat; inside the paper or cardboard, the manufacturer can allow substitution and low quality.

Again, when buying buckwheat, people do not think about the fact that the expiration or storage dates indicated on the packaging are valid until the packaging is opened. Once opened, green buckwheat can be stored for no more than 2 months, up to 3 months, and buckwheat up to 4 months.

How to choose quality cereals

Before you figure out how to store buckwheat, you need to choose it correctly. When choosing cereal in a store, you are faced with several varieties:

1. Yadritsa - grains in the form of pyramids. Used for cooking for half an hour.
2. Prodel - crushed kernels, cooks faster, 15-20 minutes is enough.
3. Green – unprocessed buckwheat, can be steamed with boiling water and sprouted.
4. Flakes, Smolensk - highly crushed, does not require cooking, steamed with boiling water or hot milk.
5. Flour is ground grain used for baking and making drinks.

In the store, pay attention to the following nuances:

• Choose cereals without debris, husk residues, pebbles, bugs and other insects. All this is visible through the transparent packaging.
• The grains must be the same size. Otherwise, it will not be possible to cook crumbly porridge: part of it will be ready, while the other will remain raw.
• Give preference to cereals packaged in hermetically sealed bags. Weighed products are more quickly affected by pests.
• The dark color of buckwheat indicates that it has been fried. This means that some of the beneficial substances have already been lost.
• It is advisable to choose a product of the highest and first grade. It is not treated with pesticides during cultivation, so it can be safely given to children.

Do you know that…

According to GOST, buckwheat does not have the “Extra” grade, etc. These are inventions of unscrupulous producers. There is the highest, first, second and third. But the product has no varieties at all.

Varieties of buckwheat

Storage conditions

How to store buckwheat? Like any other cereal, buckwheat should not be hidden in dark drawers in the kitchen if you have large reserves and you do not plan to use the reserves in the near future.

For storage, it is necessary to ensure a temperature of +5°C -+15°C and a humidity of 60%; high humidity will spoil the products, causing mold to appear.

For long-term storage, it is necessary to ensure darkness, since cereals react to light, changing color, becoming more fragile and brittle, and possible rancidity, manifested in the appearance of a specific odor and unpleasant taste.

Do not hide buckwheat in completely sealed containers for long-term storage. We agree that it is more convenient to pour into plastic dishes or glass jars. But this is acceptable for short-term storage. To ensure storage for a couple of months after opening the factory packaging, it is better to use bags made of natural linen. Inside them, the cereal will breathe and will not become damp if the air is ventilated. Fabric polypropylene bags are allowed with a shorter shelf life. Cellophane is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

You can put a gauze or paper bag with salt in an airtight container with buckwheat. Salt is a good sorbent; it will absorb moisture and the cereal will not become soggy. We also recommend adding a couple of bay leaves or garlic cloves, then the cereal will be stored longer.

It is important to understand that with a long shelf life, the taste of buckwheat, like any other cereal, deteriorates. Do not rely on the factory packaging to provide the shelf life indicated on it. It is also important to start calculating the shelf life from the date of packaging, not the date of purchase. When purchasing cereals, focus on your needs so as not to buy more than you can consume within a certain period.

Under what conditions should it be stored?

Buckwheat should be stored at a temperature of +5°C -+15°C and a humidity of 60%.

After returning from the store, it is best to transfer the cereal to a suitable container:

• in a closed glass jar,
• plastic dishes;
• canvas bag.

In this case, buckwheat should be stored in dark, dry rooms, protected from sunlight.

When choosing a place for buckwheat, you need to remember that this cereal can quickly absorb the odors of the environment. Therefore, it must be stored separately from spices and products with a strong aroma.

To prevent the cereal from becoming a home for insects, the canvas bag in which it is going to be kept is first soaked in a saline solution (1:4), and then dried well. You can also put 2 - 3 garlic cloves or bay leaves in the cereal, which will help repel bugs. Dried lemon zest or chestnut peel are suitable for the same purposes.

A fabric bag of salt placed among the buckwheat will help remove excess moisture.

How can you tell if the cereal has gone bad?

When examining, pay attention to the color of the grains; whitish grains may be moldy.

If the packaging is not airtight, then sniff to see if there is a musty, bitter smell. It is enough to chew 2-3 grains to feel the bitter taste when all the grains in this container have spoiled. Insects and larvae crawling in the cereal will indicate that this is no longer your cereal, and you are unlikely to want to eat it.

Suitability test

If the cereal has been lying in a container or other container for a long time, then to check its suitability it is worth performing several manipulations :

• pour 3-5 tablespoons of cereal onto a flat plate ;
• smell the cereal;
• check if the grains are stuck together ;
• see if there are insects ;
• see the presence of mold ;
• visually determine whether the color has changed .

You can learn about the rules for storing kefir here.

If at least one of the listed criteria does not suit you, then you need to get rid of the expired product.

If visually and by smell everything is normal, then you should do the following :

1. take one tablespoon of cereal;
2. crush it;
3. Heat in a water bath for 5 minutes .

If an unpleasant odor appears, the product is not suitable for consumption.

There is another simple way - chew grains . If there is no musty or rancid taste, then the cereal is suitable for consumption.

Cook a small portion and taste the porridge.

Tips for storing buckwheat

1. It is best to buy buckwheat in factory packaging.

2. Transparent packaging will allow you to immediately determine the quality of the cereal.

3. The closer the packaging date is to the date of purchase, the longer the cereal will be stored at home.

4. Opening the package shortens the shelf life.

5. Store in a cool, dry, dark place inside a ventilated package.

6. You should not buy more buckwheat than you can eat in the next couple of months.

08 Apr 2021 Guardian 122

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Shelf life of buckwheat at room temperature

If it is not possible to use a refrigerator, a balcony or loggia is suitable for storing food during the cold season. But you shouldn’t leave the product in a cool place for more than a day, because the temperature changes and depends on weather conditions.

If you leave buckwheat at room temperature, it is worth considering that the shelf life is less than a day. Interestingly, the shelf life of porridge with additives in the form of meat or butter is about 2-4 hours. Buckwheat spoils faster if you use seasonings and food additives during cooking.

You can boil and leave the buckwheat to cool on the stove for a short period of time – until it cools completely. Using a balcony or loggia to store boiled porridge is a good option if the temperature is not higher than 5 degrees Celsius. The shelf life under such conditions is no more than a day. In addition, you should pay attention to whether the place itself meets the conditions for preserving the freshness of food: whether there is sunlight, or whether there is access for insects. The dishes are durable, with a lid so that the porridge does not get chapped. The temperature should not change sharply, otherwise the product will spoil.

Positive effects of buckwheat on the body

How long can you store boiled rice in the refrigerator?
It is preferable to eat a fresh product than one that has been stored for several days. But yesterday’s boiled buckwheat will also bring health benefits.

Its impact is determined by the following recommendations:

1. Those who want to lose weight are recommended to choose buckwheat porridge as a side dish. It can also be used for a fasting day. Eating this product instead of pasta or potatoes will help you lose weight.
2. The cereal is high in calories so that a person feels pleasantly full after eating it.
3. Buckwheat contains a large amount of proteins. For a vegetarian, it can replace meat. It is recommended to include cereals in the diet of patients suffering from low hemoglobin, since buckwheat raises it.
4. Porridge should be included in the menu for heart patients, since the cereal contains folic acid, which restores health to human blood vessels.
5. Porridge is prescribed for people with intestinal diseases. It contains a large amount of fiber and vitamins necessary for digestion.
6. Buckwheat contains essential minerals for humans. These include iron, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, fluorine and others.
7. The medical industry makes pillows stuffed with buckwheat husks for people suffering from insomnia. They help you fall asleep quickly at night.

All this speaks to the benefits of including boiled buckwheat in the menu. But can it be stored?

Buckwheat in a glass bowl

Terms and conditions of storage of ready-made buckwheat porridge

Despite the fact that buckwheat is quickly prepared, when boiled it is considered a perishable product. Therefore, any housewife should know how to store buckwheat in heat and cold - in the refrigerator, freezer and on the balcony.

In a refrigerator

The shelf life of buckwheat at a thermometer reading of up to four degrees Celsius will be a maximum of two to three days. In 60-70 hours, buckwheat will not have time to lose its specific taste, pleasant aroma and complex of useful substances.

Experienced housewives also know how to store buckwheat in the freezer. This requires simple steps:

• We transfer the boiled buckwheat into an airtight container or food container, from which we periodically pour out the required amount for heating. The second option is to pack the porridge into plastic bags into portions;
• place in the freezer at a temperature set from -10 to -18 degrees.

Freezing allows you to extend the life of boiled buckwheat by 18-20 days.

At room temperature

Boiled cereal in a warm place - in the kitchen or in the room - is stored for no more than 4-5 hours at a temperature of 18 to 22 degrees. At room temperature from + 24 degrees and above, it should be consumed no later than two to three hours from the moment it has completely cooled. Accordingly, the higher the thermometer readings and the higher the humidity, the faster the product will spoil.

The above applies to “empty” porridge. But seasoned with milk or butter, buckwheat can be stored even less. The dish will spoil in the heat in just one and a half to two hours.

Useful microelements of buckwheat

In addition to room conditions and a refrigerator, there is another option for storing boiled cereals: a loggia or balcony. However, cooked cereals can only be stored in this place in autumn, winter and early spring, at low temperatures. The indicators should be close to those displayed in the refrigerator. But even if the buckwheat porridge freezes over the winter night, it’s not scary. Nothing will happen to fresh porridge. Simply reheat and the product is ready for use again.