Can popcorn expire? - Everything you need to know

Popcorn is one of our favorite treats. It’s very easy to make, whether you throw a few kernels into a pan, use a popcorn machine, or pop a bag in the microwave.

You can choose between different flavors and styles. You can choose with or without butter, or any other variety, and even add different seasonings and seasonings to the popcorn.

It is one of the most versatile snacks and a little popcorn can go a long way. You may buy some for the pantry and they will last forever and never run out.

Does the popcorn expire?  There are a number of factors that can affect the shelf life of your popcorn, but typically quality loose kernels in a container will last up to a year, popped popcorn 2-3 weeks, and bags of popcorn kernels 6-8 months. .

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about popcorn and its expiration date.

We’ll cover popcorn kernels, pre-popped popcorn, and bagged microwave popcorn. There’s a lot to learn so you can make sure your popcorn doesn’t go bad, so stick with us to keep your popcorn fresh and tasty.

Can popcorn expire? - A complete guide

As we go through this guide, we want to keep it simple but cover all the information relevant to you.

We are going to separate the guide into 3 different categories and cover popcorn kernels, popcorn popcorn, and microwave popcorn separately. Each of them is different in many ways.

popcorn kernels

Popcorn kernels are just that. They are a type of dried corn kernel, which is distributed to make popcorn and other fun things.

They have not been cooked or popped. They have also not been flavored, or salted, or buttered, or anything else.

This means that they can almost be identified as an uncooked or raw product. They are a pantry item, but some people have also been known to freeze their popcorn kernels to make them last a little longer.

Do popcorn kernels expire?

This is very simple. They do not expire. In the next section, we’ll give you a basic overview of how long they last.

What you really need to know is that they do not expire. Your bag or container of popcorn may have an expiration date printed on it, but it is not an expiration date.

If there is a date printed on it, it will most likely be about 6-12 months from the date of purchase. It is not an expiration date. It means that the quality of your popcorn will start to decline after this date, but it will still be edible.

How long do popcorn kernels last?

Popcorn kernels that you make in a popcorn machine or in the oven are by far the easiest form to preserve. They can potentially last an indefinite time.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they’ll be perfect 10 years from now, when you decide to go ahead and pop those pimples.

This is what you should know. Popcorn kernels should be stored in a cool, dry place. Storing them in your pantry will be enough.

You should also make sure they are airtight. If they are in the unopened store packaging, it is sufficient as long as they do not have holes.

You can also place them in an airtight container or even put them in a storage bag for added protection.

While they don’t necessarily spoil, the air can cause them to go stale, so you’ll want to protect them as much as possible.

In addition, you should make sure that they are not in a place prone to humidity.

If you live in a humid climate, we recommend that you take extra storage measures to protect the popcorn kernels from moisture. Moisture is another surefire way to reduce the shelf life of your beans.

Ultimately, the recommendation for popcorn kernels is to keep them good for 1-2 years, but if you store them well, they can last indefinitely.

You’ll most likely notice signs that the beans are drying out, which can cause them to pop inconsistently when you brew them. It’s best to avoid this and use fresh beans instead.

There are other things to avoid when using a popcorn machine, too, so we recommend checking out our article on Avoiding Taffy Popcorn and Other Popcorn Mistakes .

popped popcorn

Now let’s talk about popped popcorn. Popped popcorn is like a bag of chips. Once popped or opened, they can go rancid. Let’s dive into the details.

Does popped popcorn go bad?

In short, popped popcorn doesn’t go bad. However, the quality of popped popcorn suffers over time. If you eat a little at a time for a long time, opening and closing the bag many times in the process, the quality will drop rapidly.

Once the popcorn has been popped or popped, the quality goes downhill.

Don’t get us wrong, if you store it properly, popped popcorn can still be good for a decent amount of time, but certainly not as good as the kernels in your pantry. The expiration date on popcorn popped in a container is the freshness date.

While popped popcorn doesn’t spoil, it doesn’t have to taste good. The best thing is that they are freshly made or opened; otherwise, they can quickly go rancid.

You will need to store it properly to maintain its freshness for as long as possible, but it will be short-term.

How long does popped popcorn last?

Popped popcorn is the type of popcorn most susceptible to the elements. We have mentioned before that they are comparable to a bag of chips.

You know what we mean; when you open that bag of chips you really only have probably a week or two of freshness.

Something similar happens with popcorn. Popped popcorn will last about 2-3 weeks -once opened- if stored properly. You will want to use caution and store them in a tin, storage bag, or airtight container.

The key to getting the most out of them is to store them well. You must store the popcorn in an airtight method and also in a place free of moisture.

People have been known to freeze popped popcorn as well. If you decide to do this, you should know that they will not be the same as when they were fresh, although there are some tips to try to bring them back to life.

The thing you will notice the most with popcorn that has been around for a while is that it will go stale. However, it is also possible to reheat popcorn .

Microwave popcorn, without popping it in the bag

Finally, we are going to talk about microwave popcorn. Microwave popcorn packages are often pre-portioned and you can buy different sizes or styles. They’re in bags until you open them up and pop them.

How long does microwave popcorn last?

Microwave popcorn has an expiration date, just like any other type of food or popcorn. It is not an expiration date, but a recommendation to enjoy your popcorn with the best quality.

You can expect your microwave popcorn to last around 6-8 months beyond that printed date without experiencing any dramatic problems.

You probably won’t notice any difference. However, there is a chance that your butter or microwave popcorn topping will go stale , so we recommend trying to stick to a time frame within this window.

As a general rule of thumb, if your microwave popcorn is more than 8 months past the printed date, you may want to be careful with it or throw it away to be safe.

Is it safe to eat expired microwave popcorn?

Since this date is a best before date and not an expiration date, you can probably eat them. Keep in mind that you may have to calculate between 6 and 8 months and not exceed that date for quality reasons.

It’s safe to eat, but in the case of microwave popcorn, there are also some signs that it might be better to throw it away.

When you take the microwave popcorn out of the plastic wrap, you may notice a strange odor. This is an indication that the oils and shortenings have started to go rancid. If the smell is slight, you can pop them open and taste them.

If you taste the popcorn and something seems off to you, we recommend that you throw it away at that time. You should probably throw away any other bags from the same dated package as well.

You probably won’t get sick from eating this popcorn, but it may not keep well, and there are always risks with eating spoiled food.