how long can you keep uncooked lentils - red and brown
how long can I keep uncooked lentils in my pantry?
Best Answer
Lentils are good for a long time: Many claim that they stay safe "indefinitively".
While that is clearly an exaggeration, properly stored lentils stay edible for years if you keep them well-sealed in a cool, dry and dark(-ish) place.
Note that dry storage keeps mold at bay, closed jars protect from insect damage and cool temperatures slow trace amounts of fat getting rancid. They might get tough and a bit stale, but that can be mitigated by cooking longer and a generous hand when seasoning.
To add one source (for completeness):
Still Tasty gives one year but states that it doesn't get unsafe, simply looses taste.
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Quick Answer about "how long can you keep uncooked lentils - red and brown"
Dried lentils retain quality for at least 2 to 3 years, if you keep them sealed and away from moisture and heat. They stay safe for months and even years longer, but their nutritional value diminishes over time. After about 5 years, most of the vitamin content is pretty much gone.How can you tell if dried lentils have gone bad?
How can you tell if dried lentils are bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the dried lentils: if the dried lentils develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold or insects appear, they should be discarded.How long can you store dried lentils?
Dried. Store dried lentils in an airtight container in the cupboard or in a cool dry place for up to one year. Cover and refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Dried lentils that have been cooked can be kept covered in the fridge for 5-7 days or frozen for up to 6 months.Do lentils get old?
Lentils are a versatile bean or legume that can be stored indefinitely. They have even been found in Egyptian tombs dating back more than 5,000 years ago. Over time, a stored lentil bean's flavor may slowly degrade. So, try to eat your stored beans within the year you get them.Lentils 101 - How to Prepare and Cook Lentils
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Answer 2
Normally, what I would do is keep them in an air tight container and stash it in the fridge. Once in a couple of months, I would take them out to dry again in the sun for a few hours and back in the fridge. The longest I kept was a year and it was still good. Tip: If you have successfully kept it for a decade, check whether it would germinate or not. If it does, it's good to eat. Haha.
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