Store Corn Meal
Stone-ground cornmeal is a type of corn flour made from dried ground corn and is used in a wide variety of foods, including bread, hot cereals, desserts and fried meat. Cornmeal with leavening ingredients is also available for making leavened breads. Whether you are a homemaker or own a commercial food business, cornmeal is an essential ingredient to keep on hand. Buy cornmeal in bulk and properly store it to ensure its longevity and maintain its flavor. Cornmeal comes in 5 to 50-pound bags. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Purchase an airtight, food-grade storage container for your cornmeal. Storage containers come in small sizes for home use, or in large sizes for commercial use. Opaque containers are best for keeping out light. Be careful about using a trash bin, as they are not intended for food storage and the plastic may have chemicals that can leach into the cornmeal.
2. Wash the container with warm water and dish soap before using.
3. Pour the bag of cornmeal directly into the container. Place a measuring cup or scoop at the top of the container for the easy retrieval of cornmeal. It is best not to stick your hands in the cornmeal, as you can leave behind bacteria or germs. If you use cornmeal frequently, take out enough at a time to last for two or three weeks and keep it in a smaller container on your kitchen counter. This will ensure that the main storage container stays sealed as much as possible.
4. Store the cornmeal in a cool, dark, dry area such as in a pantry or cupboard. Heat, humidity and sunlight will all spoil your cornmeal. Keep the storage container off the ground, on a shelf or on a pallet if necessary. Stored this way, your cornmeal will have a shelf life of up to eight months. The oils in cornmeal are what give it such a long shelf life. Cornmeal can also be stored in the freezer, giving it a shelf life of two years.
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