Do sesame seeds go bad? How to preserve them?

Do Sesame seeds go bad? Do they have an expiry date? How to prepare them? Whether to add it as a garnish or to make Tahini, nothing can beat Sesame Seeds. Some people choose to buy these sesame seeds in large batches looking at its benefits. If you are someone like that, you might be having multiple questions in your head similar to those written in the first line. Sesame seeds do not go bad if stored in a proper way. However, any other concerns you might have regarding these mini flavour bombs, we will answer all of them in this article. So take a dive and read through it.

How long do Sesame Seeds last:

The answer to this question depends on how the seeds are stored. Normally they should be stored in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight and moisture. If stored under room conditions and the aforementioned methods followed, they can last for 1 – 2 years with its quality intact. However, some people say these seeds can last for 3 – 4 years as well, all of them being estimates. Sesame seeds have been said to last longer if frozen. Freezing the seeds can almost multiply the shelf life by 2. Sesame oil from the seeds, however, does not last very long. Just like olive oil, sesame oil has very high amounts of unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats are healthy but do not last forever. The shelf life of sesame oil is 6 months, after opening the bottle it may last a few months more. 

How to know if Sesame seeds have gone bad: 

As many people might assume that Sesame Seeds go bad by the Best By date on the package of the seeds. Technically, Sesame seeds do not go bad making them inedible but they just lose their potency. This means they lose their aroma and flavour, making them useless. The best by date only accounts for the quality of the seeds and not the expiry date. The seeds can be continued to use even after the best by date is over.

However, Sesame seeds that have been kept open for days can have a rancid smell or flavour. Unlike poppy seeds and Chia seeds, Sesame seeds do not taste bitter when they go bad. They have got a rather sour taste. Raw fresh sesame seeds would have a nutty taste and an earthy aroma and when toasted on a pan this intensifies, bad sesame seeds do not have that and when bad seeds are toasted the aroma is exchanged with an intense rancid smell. The best method to find out if the sesame seeds have gone bad or not is to crush a bit of it and rub it on your palm. If you do not get any fragrance, then the seeds have lost its potency and it is time to get a new bag of sesame seeds for your kitchen.

If you see mould inside the container of your sesame seeds then it is caused by moisture that got in there. Make sure to keep the seeds locked in an airtight container. 

Eating Bad Sesame Seeds:

Sesame Seeds that have gone rancid or bad can be eaten. It’s just that when mixed with the food you are preparing, it might not give you the flavours or taste you are looking for. Instead, it may end up ruining the taste of the food. Before using the suspected seeds with your food, it is best to check beforehand whether they have gone bad or not. Bad or Rancid sesame seeds can be consumed on their own without any fears of affecting your health. 

Storing Sesame Seeds:

Sesame seeds normally have two variants, white sesame seeds and black sesame seeds. But the method for storing both of them is the same. Unopened bags of seed need to be stored in a cool and dry place. You should also keep it away from direct sunlight. The Kitchen cabinet would be an ideal place for this.

Once you have opened the packet, you would need to store the seeds in a container or packet that keeps away moisture and bugs. Both of them can affect the condition of the seeds badly. Airtight containers or zipper bags can be used to store the seeds easily. If you do not plan on using the seeds regularly then you can choose to store the seeds in the fridge. This makes them last longer as well when the seeds are frozen.

Do take note that if you plan to put the seeds in the refrigerator, you should pack the seeds properly in a packet that can keep moisture and odour from the inside of the refrigerator from getting into the sesame seeds. 

Toasting sesame seeds:

Sesame seeds can be toasted, either in the oven or the stove. Sesame seeds have a rich flavour and aroma but once they are toasted, it greatly enhances the flavours and the fragrances and together with that gives them the crunch factor. It can be used to garnish your food or can also be turned into some delicious tahini. Sesame seeds do not go bad very fast after being toasted and can be stored for almost a year to be reused again and again.

Benefits of eating These seeds: 

These seeds have a lot of good benefits for you. It strengthens the root of your hair, stopping hair loss. The antioxidants in the seeds help to rejuvenate your skin acting as an anti-ageing compound, making you look younger. The natural oils in the seeds can help make your skin look softer as well. Anti-inflammatory properties in the seeds also help to reduce the redness of the skin.

It helps in maintaining the health of your teeth. Black these seeds, with its high fibre content, has been know to help improve the digestion. The high-fat content has also been attributed to providing a lot of energy when consumed. It helps maintain your blood pressure thanks to the presence of magnesium. Black these seeds also have a good amount of calcium and zinc that can help prevent osteoporosis, a disease that causes fragile bones. Unlike other forms of oil and butter, Sesame seed oil has unsaturated fat making it very healthy to consume. All these benefits make these seeds a must needed ingredient in your meals.

F.A.Q:

Is it okay to eat expired these seeds?

Yes, you can eat expired these seeds without any fear. They would not have any bad effects on your health or your stomach. These seeds generally do not go bad making them inedible. They just lose their potency which results in the seeds losing their original flavours and aroma as the essential oils in the seeds breakdown over time. Best by or expiry dates on packets of these seeds tend to tell us until when the quality of the seeds remains intact.

What happens if you eat rancid these seeds?

Rancid these seeds won’t harm you in general when eaten. But after oxidation occurs in the seeds, new molecules are formed that can lead to digestive issues. Also, rancid these seeds would have lesser nutrients as most of the unsaturated fat and vitamins are destroyed by oxidation. Taste-wise, rancid these seeds would have a sour taste and would not be the same as the nutty and earthy taste that normal these seeds would give to you.

How do you store these seeds?

These seeds need to be stored in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight and moisture. The seeds need to be kept in an airtight container after opening the packet as moisture from the air might ruin the seeds and cause the formation of moulds on the seeds. To store for a longer period, the seeds can be frozen by keeping them in the freezer. Do use a zipper bag for this, so that seeds can be protected from the moisture and odour inside the refrigerator.

Can these seeds make you sick?

These seeds cannot make you sick, or overconsumption of it cannot harm you. Even when they get bad rancid these seeds do not harm the consumer. There’s a slight chance of having digestive issues after consuming rancid these seeds though. However, some people are said to be allergic to these seeds and they might fall sick after eating the seeds. If you are not sure whether you are allergic to these seeds or not then you should be careful and check the symptoms before taking a handful.

Conclusion:

These seeds with all its benefits are a very important part of people’s diet. If you are buying a large bag of these seeds to harvest its benefits over a period of time, it will be very important to know how to store them properly and extend its shelf life. Hope by now you know how to store the seeds and how to know if these seeds have gone bad. Do these seeds go bad? You already know the answer.