How Long Does Cornbread Last – And How To Make The Best Of It!

My mother used to make cornbread quite often, and I still love the taste of it!

I managed to absorb her cornbread cooking skills and even improve them a little bit, so my family welcomes this simple yet great meal. Sometimes all the cornbread I cook is gone within minutes, but other times we have some leftovers.

How Long Does Cornbread Last?

You already know that I dislike wasting food, so I strive to preserve every meal I prepare and make the most of it in whatever manner I can.

I have all the advice you require if you have ever wondered how long cornbread lasts and how to keep it fresh longer.

When you’re finished creating the cornbread, make sure you have the correct equipment so you can cut it perfectly!

Tips on Cornbread storage

Over the course of many years, one tends to have a couple of tricks up in his sleeve. I made cornbread so many times; I can’t even remember all the occasions.

But I do remember how to keep it as fresh as possible!

Store it at room temperature

The biggest question for everyone is how long Cornbread can survive while left outside of the fridge. Assuming that you already know that every temperature above room temperature is bad news for almost any meal out there, I will talk about the shelf life of cornbread at room temperature.
Luckily cornbread can last plenty when compared to a lot of other meals. Cornbread can survive while left at room temperature with no preservation for up to two days. If you leave it in an airtight container, it can be safe for consumption for two days easily.
Of course, I wouldn’t recommend that you leave it at room temperature unless you have no other option if you’re out camping, for example. In that case, you can use it for two more days, but be sure to keep it safe from air and bugs. An airtight container will save it from drying out and bugs at the same time.

Keep it fresh in the freezer

Yes, you can safely freeze the rest of your cornbread and, by doing so, expand its lifetime up to three months! But, it’s important to keep it at 0F. To keep cornbread from freezer burn and to sustain the temperature, wrap it in foil and put it in a Ziploc bag.
Also, it would be a good idea to put it inside of a container. When placed in a container, it will preserve its shape and form. After you have taken this much care of your cornbread, you will be able to take it out anytime for a couple of months!

Store it in the fridge

Pro Tip: Wrap the cornbread in a cling wrap. This way, you will keep it safe from air and moisture while it’s stored in the fridge.

As usual, the fridge is the safest bet for food storage. Although it may be prone to moisture while left in the fridge, cornbread can last up to seven days.
If you use cling wrap to store it, you will also be able to notice any signs of rancidness before you or your family members eat it. You can’t go wrong with keeping cornbread in the fridge. Any leftovers you might have will be kept safe and fresh for reuse.

Further Reading: Food Storing Guide – Storage Times For The Refrigerator And Freezer

How to Store the Cornmeal?

Storing cornmeal is very important. Since it’s the primary ingredient for cornbread, it should be used in the best condition possible. Your cornbread will be fresh only as much as the cornmeal is fresh. The shelf life of cornbread directly depends on the condition of cornmeal.

Until it’s exposed to air, cornmeal can last up to twelve months. But, once it’s opened, it should be used in the next four months. A lot of things affect the shelf life of cornmeal, and you will have to trust your senses. If it doesn’t seem fresh, don’t use it. Don’t risk food poisoning for anything!

Keep the cornmeal in a dry and cool place. Don’t expose it to any kind of heat source, and don’t keep it in a room that is prone to heating. Cornmeal is an ideal place for insects to hide and hatch, and by placing it in a warm atmosphere, you’re inviting them in.

Keeping it dry is also important because if you let moisture get to it, molds will form, and the only thing left to do is to throw it away. The best possible way of preserving the cornmeal is to store it in an airtight container.

How to tell that Cornmeal is rancid?

With cornmeal, rancidity is inevitable, whatever people might think. There is this myth that cornmeal can’t go rancid, and it’s the cornbread that does. Well, I’m telling you right now before you have to run to your doctor, it can be very much so.
If people knew that cornmeal is made from whole grain kernels, they would know that it can go rancid. There are even more factors that contribute to that. A lot of cornmeal packages contain canola oil, which spoils much faster than any other oil.
When it starts to go bad, it will change its smell. If you smell an odor when you come close to it, or if it tastes different than usual, stop eating it at the same moment you notice these changes.

How to Recognize the Spoilage in Cornbread?

There are a couple of signs that cornbread has gone bad. But even before those signs, there are warnings you can notice. Before it goes bad, it will get stale. This is a warning sign that it will go bad soon. It will still be safe for eating, but it won’t taste that good.

The signs of cornbread spoilage are:

Molds – If you notice any darker or greenish part of cornbread, it means it has gone bad, and you should throw it away. It is not safe for consumption anymore.
Moisture – Sometimes moisture doesn’t mean that cornbread is spoiled, but if it is a bit sticky and it has a sour smell, then it’s no longer safe to eat it.
Smell – Sour smell is a clear sign that cornbread has gone bad. It’s a clear sign of spoilage, and it doesn’t have to be accompanied by moisture.

In conclusion

Cornbread is good to eat any time of the year, as long as it’s fresh and safe to eat!

Around our house, we like to eat it plain and simple and with some of my personal variations that I make on the go. But I make sure that it’s always in good condition, and I hope that you will be able to do so as well from now on!