We ’ve got all the details on how to hive away flaxseeds and flaxseed meal the right way so they last as long as possible .

So you get down adding linseed meal to yourmorning smoothiesand a few months later notice an open bag in theback of your pantry . Can flaxseeds or undercoat linseed ( aka flaxseed repast ) go bad ? Yes , just like any seed , they will eventually sprain . But before you convulse that package , use our pointers to find out if it ’s still okay to use . After we overcompensate some linseed basics , we ’ll go over how long you may store linseed and how to tell if it ’s still safe to deplete . You ’ll also learn how to store flaxseeds , so they last as long as potential to add to that lolly recipe or when you need avegan nut fill-in .

What Is Flaxseed?

Before it ’s dried and harvested for its seeds ( aka linseed in some places ) , flax blooms as ablue - flowered perennialplant . Historically , flax plant crops were grow in the U.S.for their sinewy stalk , which could be turned into material for clothing . Today , the seeds are used as a various ( and low-cost ) style to addfatty acids , fiber , and ironto your diet . Flaxseeds are slenderly nutty in flavor and can be consumed whole or soil , but isrecommended by most nutritioniststo consume land . footing linseed is easy to stick out , so you ’ll reap more of theirhealth benefit .

Does Flaxseed Go Bad?

So , can flax ejaculate expire ? All commercially - purchased flaxseeds have anexpiration dateon the package , but that does n’t necessarily mean it has to get thresh about as soon as that date arrives . How long linseed last depend on how they were processed , where you ’re stack away , and which form ( seeds or land ) you ’ve get under one’s skin . If you have whole flaxseed , they can last months past the expiration , especially if stored in the electric refrigerator ( more on that below ) . If you ’re wondering , does ground flaxseed go bad ? It could go defective as presently as a calendar week after the loss particular date . The best way to tell if your linseed product is rancid is to give it the smell trial . When past their prime , those omega-3s inside the semen resign an off - putting sour odor . If it did n’t pass the snuff trial or there is any sort of acid flavor , that ’s the sign of the zodiac to confound your flaxseeds or flaxseed meal out .

How to Store Flaxseeds

Keep your flaxseed freshman longer by keeping them in an airtight container . Whole or reason , it ’s not call for to be store in the fridge . A cool , dark pantry should be all right . Though just asstoring nuts in the fridgeincreases their shelf life , the same goes for flaxseed and flaxseed meal . accord to theUSDA ’s Foodkeeper App , flaxseeds will last up to a yr when stored in the fridge or freezer .

If you do n’t think you ’ll go through a handbag of linseed meal quick enough , choose for purchasing longer - endure whole flaxseeds . Then you could grind the amount you postulate for yourzucchini muffinsorsalad dressing .

a pile of flax seeds on a textured surface

Whole flaxseeds are a little bigger than sesame seeds.Credit: Blaine Moats