How long do overnight oats last? - Storage Guide

Overnight oats are one of the best breakfast options for those who are constantly in a hurry. You just have to take a pot of oatmeal from the fridge and you no longer have to worry about having a healthy and satisfying breakfast.

But how long do overnight oats last?

You can store overnight oats in the fridge for up to 5 days, making them a good option for meal prep. Freezing also works with overnight oats if you want to keep them ready for a few months. It is not recommended to keep oats overnight at room temperature. 

In this article, you’ll learn all about storing overnight oats and how you can make them last longer and maintain the right texture while in the fridge.

What are overnight oat flakes?

Oatmeal is a good breakfast. It’s versatile enough that you won’t get bored eating it even if you make it 7 days in a row.

In addition to being delicious, oats have considerable nutritional value.  Oats pack around 5 grams of protein per half cup , which will give you a good start to the day, especially if you’re someone who likes to enjoy a delicious post-workout breakfast bowl.

Oatmeal in the morning will also keep your hunger at bay for longer as it is high in fiber. Also, oats are a good source of antioxidants , which will have a positive impact on your overall health.

If oatmeal is so good, why aren’t more people eating it for breakfast?  The answer is simple: People want something quick and easy to make, eat, and get on with their day.

That’s what overnight oats are all about: convenience .

They are extremely easy to do. No cooking is necessary to make overnight oats.

You just have to soak the oats in a liquid and let it rest overnight in the fridge. You will have a healthy and tasty meal for the morning.

Since there are a wide variety of ingredients that you can add to your overnight oats, it’s impossible not to find a combination that works for you.

Try adding fresh or dried fruit to rolled oats, seeds, nuts, or syrups to your overnight oats . The options and combinations that you can think of are endless.

Overnight Oats Storage Guide

If you are a person who wants to incorporate overnight oats into your diet, it is important that you know how to store oats.

From leaving oatmeal at room temperature to storing it in the fridge or freezer, there are some things you shouldn’t overlook to preserve the best qualities of these ready meals.

Can you make overnight oats without refrigeration?

You might think that overnight oats made with water, seeds, nuts, and other ingredients that normally don’t require refrigeration can sit on your kitchen counter and nothing will happen to them.

Leaving oats overnight without refrigeration is a big mistake. 

Oats can contain microorganisms that will start to grow when you add liquid to the dry oats. Therefore, it is essential to store oats overnight in the fridge.

You can leave the oats overnight at room temperature for no more than 4 hours. 

You can store dry oats in your pantry for up to 2 years. But when you add liquid and leave the oats at room temperature, microbial pathogens start to grow rapidly.

Do oats go bad overnight?

If you’re making a few servings of day-old oats to have them ready for the week, it’s good to know what the signs are that your oats have gone bad.

Even if you have read that day-old oats keep for about 5 days in the fridge, you should always check them before eating them.

These are the signs that indicate that the oats have gone bad: 

• mold . If you notice mold growing on the surface of your day-old oats, throw them away.
• unpleasant smell Try to smell the oats. If it smells bad, don’t eat it.
• discoloration . If there are any unusual stains on your oatmeal, don’t risk your health by eating it.

How to store overnight oats in the fridge

To store oats overnight in the refrigerator, so that the oats maintain their best qualities and do not change their texture, you must follow a few simple rules.

Choose the best container for overnight oats

Storing oats in the proper container is important.

The general rule is that oats should be stored in an airtight container.

Glass containers with tight-fitting lids work best for overnight oats.

Overnight oats in these types of containers also look appealing, which is another reason you’ll want to consume them for a healthy and nutritious breakfast.

Add toppings for overnight oats after refrigerating

When you store overnight oats in the fridge, don’t add any ingredients until you’re ready to eat them.

Don’t store overnight oats in the fridge with fruit and nuts.  They will get soggy and likely interfere with the texture of the oats themselves.

Almost no fruit is likely to survive fridge storage over oats, especially for more than a day. However, fruits like apples or bananas have zero chance of doing it. These fruits oxidize and turn brown very quickly once cut.

It is better to add a handful of berries or decorate the oatmeal with other fruits and nuts in the morning. 

If you are making overnight oatmeal and want to have it ready with fruit, use frozen berries. Use smaller berries, like blueberries or raspberries. These will thaw overnight while the oats soak up the liquid to “cook.”

How long do overnight oats last in the fridge?

Stored in the fridge, overnight oats will last 3-5 days. 

The oats will retain their best qualities, i.e. texture and flavor, for the first two days. However, day-old oats will be safe to eat for about 5 days in the refrigerator.

You should pay attention to the expiration date of the ingredients you use to make the oats. If any of the products, for example milk or yogurt, expire earlier, the shelf life of overnight oats in the fridge will change accordingly.

Once you take the oats out of the fridge, give them a good stir.  Since oats stay in the fridge for days, the liquid separates. Stirring the oats will bring the ingredients back together.

Also, it will result in a better texture, as the oats at the bottom of the jar are much softer than the top layer, where the oats remain a bit crunchy.

If you stir the oats and it seems to you that it does not have enough liquid, you can always add a splash of milk or yogurt.

Tips for Preserving Overnight Oats

Knowing a few tips always makes work easier. Here are some ways to extend the life of your overnight oats and get the most out of them.

By the way, we also have a storage guide for cooked oats.

Use almond milk for overnight oats.

Overnight oats made with milk are more likely to spoil than those made with water. But what can you do if you like oatmeal with milk?

A great alternative to using milk to make overnight oats is to substitute almond milk. It keeps better in the fridge than cow’s milk. The fact that its shelf life is a few days longer than regular milk explains why almond milk is a better option.

Plus, almond milk makes overnight oats creamy and rich in flavor.

Where to put overnight oats in the fridge

If you cook meals with oatmeal overnight, the last thing you want is to wake up and find that all your efforts have been for nothing. The oats have gone bad.

When you store overnight oats soaked in milk or yogurt, keep an eye on where you put your breakfast for 5 days.

Do not put the oatmeal in the refrigerator door , since the temperature is higher there and the oatmeal, especially if it is made with milk, will have a greater chance of spoiling.

To keep oats overnight, store them in the body (center) of the fridge. 

Overnight oats for meal prep

Overnight oats keep for 5 days in the fridge. If you like them chewy, their shelf life in the fridge is reduced to 2 days.

So how can you have overnight oats ready for breakfast seven days a week? Here’s how to prepare overnight oats:

• Start by preparing two cans of oatmeal overnight (two servings).
• Once you finish breakfast, replenish your breakfast oats by putting a new can of oats in the fridge.
  • To do this, mix 1 part oats with 1 part (or more) of water or milk, and put it in the fridge.

Add enough water or milk to the overnight oats

No-cook oats absorb liquid overnight and are ready to eat in the morning. They can be the perfect consistency the next morning.

But what happens the next day?  Rolled oats may absorb more liquid by sitting in the fridge. Therefore, you should add enough liquid to prevent the overnight oats from being dry .

If you prepare the meal with overnight oats, add a little more liquid than if you were to eat the oats the next day. This way, you’ll have creamy oatmeal even a few days later.

Be sure not to overdo the liquid. Otherwise, you’ll end up with oatmeal soup.

Experiment with the ratio to find the perfect balance if you plan to prepare overnight oatmeal meals for a long period of time.

If these tips aren’t enough, here are more Healthy Green Cooking tips on YouTube.

Overnight Oats Shelf Life

It’s best to store regular overnight oats in the fridge, as the more ingredients you add, the more chances there are for the oats to undergo texture and flavor changes.

Overnight oats with fruit

If you like overnight oats with fruit mixes, it is best to consume within 2 days. However, they can probably be eaten for up to 5 days.

If you don’t mix the fruit with the day-old oats, but simply “decorate” them with them, add the fruit to the oats the day you eat them.

Oatmeal with mixed fruit will certainly look attractive in your fridge. But is it the most efficient way to store overnight oats? Not really, as having fruit mixed in with the oats will interfere with the texture of the oats.

Overnight oats with yogurt

Overnight oats made with yogurt will last up to 7 days in the fridge.

Before making the oatmeal, check the expiration date on the yogurt. If there are fewer days left, consume the oats within those days.

Overnight oats with milk

How long overnight oats will last in the fridge also depends on the expiration date of the milk you used to soak the oats.

If the milk with which you have made the oatmeal expires in 3 days, you should consume the oatmeal overnight.

If there are no milk expiration issues, the overnight oats will last up to 5 days.

Related questions

Can oats be stored overnight in the freezer?

If you need the overnight oats to keep longer than 5 days, you can store them in the freezer.

Overnight oats typically last up to 6 months in the freezer. However, keep in mind that the longer it stays in the freezer, the more changes the texture and flavor will undergo.

Store overnight oats in the freezer in freezer-safe jars.

Can overnight oats be heated?

Overnight oats are usually eaten cold. This makes them a quick and easy breakfast. Not only are they ready to eat in the morning, but they don’t even need to be heated.

However, if you want to eat the hot overnight oats, go for it.

There are two ways to heat overnight oats: 

1. The first method is using the microwave. Just put the oats in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until you’re happy with the temperature.
2. The second way to heat day-old oats is on the fire. Transfer the cold oats to a pot and bring to a simmer.

If you think the oats are too dry, you can add water or milk to make them creamier.