How Long Do Raisins Last? Do Raisins Go Bad?

No matter if you are preparing a sweet or salty meal, raisins can go with both of them.

In dishes like pudding, cakes, cereals, and salads, raisins add flavors and make them more delicious.

That is why they are more often used by people, and they buy these dry fruits in bulk.

These superb quality dry fruits can help you maintain your diet without compromising taste.

That is why people use them on daily bases and stock them at home.

But while stocking, people get infested with questions that do raisins go bad or which place is better to store them for a longer time.

What are Raisins?

Raisins are dry fruits made of dried grapes.

Grapes are processed and dried to reduce their sugar level to make raisins more nutritious and calorie-dense.

These originated in the Middle East and then spread all around the world.

They contain carbohydrates, iron, potassium, copper, vitamin B6, manganese, and many other nutrients that can improve your health.

You might have seen that these are more often suggested to people who are suffering from heart disease.

That is because they are helpful in reducing blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

This dry fruit also contains fiber that is effective in coping with high LDL (bad cholesterol) and stabilizes your heart’s condition.

As it is also a rich source of antioxidants such as phytonutrients thus, it can help you to prevent cell damage.

Lowering the risk of chronic diseases, improving oral health, and reducing oral infections are some of the other benefits of raisins.

How Long Do Raisins Last? Do Raisins Go Bad?

Even though a raisin is a dry fruit, it can still go bad in a specific period.

These days they are available in all supermarkets and stores.

People buy and use them till the date mentioned on the packaging.

However, it is not at all crucial that they will only be good until that date.

This period can quickly fluctuate as per the storage of these dry fruits.

Generally, the unopened pack of raisins can be best for six months in the pantry.

But if the pack is opened, then it will take 3 to 5 months.

Raisins do degrade in quality as time passes, but one can slow up this process by storing them in the fridge and exceeding their life to 9 to 12 months.

However, if you want to keep them safe for like years, then you can put them in the freezer.

Freezing them will not cause much loss of nutritional value till two years.

However, be sure that you do not defrost them for usage.

But if you are eating them because of any health-related problem, then it would be better to get fresh raisins and consume them within 3-5 months.

Make sure not to consume these dry fruit beyond the earlier-mentioned dates.

How to Tell if the Raisins Have Gone Bad?

If you are not sure about the life of a raisin and consuming it, then you need to pay attention to certain factors.

• Foul Smell.

The significant point that can help you to find bad raisins is the smell.

When raisins are good, they offer a pleasing aroma.

However, once they begin to turn bad, their scent turns into a foul odor.

• Mold Will Appear.

One can also notice any elongation or mold that is coming out from the raisin.

However, it is rare for dry fruits to get any mold.

But if your dry fruits are kept in a moist place, then mold can develop due to natural processes.

Thus you need to keep an eye on any kind of growth on the raisin.

• Taste.

If you have a bad raisin, then enduring that taste is no joke, as you might feel like throwing up.

They become sour or bitter in taste; also, they are not at all juicy like before.

Nausea and vomiting are some general effects after eating a bad rising.

How to Store Raisins?

As mentioned earlier, storing raisins can help you to extend your life.

Thus you must know the correct way of keeping this dry fruit.

Storing should be done in such a way that it not only saves its taste but can also save the nutrients and minerals of raisins.

• Place of Storage .

A cool and dry place would be perfect when you are looking for a place to store your raisins.

Areas like the kitchen and pantry restrict water and other liquids away and not wet raisins.

If you find the freezer option more reliable, then be sure to use an airtight bag instead of regular bags to avoid any contact with air.

• Avoid Sunlight .

If the sunlight is directed towards your raisin packet, they are more likely to lose their flavor faster.

Keeping them in the sun can also make the pack bloated.

Therefore do not place them in an area affected by direct sunlight.

Conclusion

Once your raisins get a bad taste or smell, there will be no solution, and you have to throw all your stock out.

So the only way to protect your dry fruits from any damage is to store them with complete care.

If you crush your raisin and its soft texture turns firm, then it is also an indication that they have gone bad.

Soaking them in hot water might make them smooth, but their quality and benefits have all gone.