Storing pre ground flax seeds.

I keep mine in the freezer - typically in a sealed mason jar.

I keep them in a sealed jar in the fridge. They never went bad.

shelleyrhoads wrote: »

Hmnm I bought a bag of preground in the pantry section of the grocery. I have kept them in my pantry. Is there something I am missing? Is this to keep fresh? It's food safety issue? Now I am concerned....

My understanding is that the omega oils are less stable at room temperature, so the flax meal retains more nutritional benefit by being refrigerated - I store mine in air tight container in the fridge.

shelleyrhoads wrote: »

Hmnm I bought a bag of preground in the pantry section of the grocery. I have kept them in my pantry. Is there something I am missing? Is this to keep fresh? It's food safety issue? Now I am concerned....

When you grind it, the fat (oil) is more exposed to air, and hence more likely to become oxidized (that is, go rancid). I don't think it's a food safety issue so much as a taste issue, and possible degradation of some nutrients. Keeping the ground flaxseed in the refrigerator or freeze will slow the oxidation process. Keeping it in the dark and eliminating as much air as possible from the container also slow oxidation. I just keep mine in the refrigerator in the original (opaque) bag, rolled down & resealed to eliminate as much air as possible, and then inside another (transparent) air tight bag (like a zip-lock quart or gallon plastic bag. Same with whole grain flours and nut meals. I've never had any of them go rancid on me.