How To Freeze Chia Seeds & Prevent Food Waste

Here are my top tips on how to freeze chia seeds to keep them fresher for long – with everything from how to freeze them, how long to freeze them for, and tips for using them once they’ve been in the cold.

I’m a big fan of sprinkling chia seeds on my morning bowl of porridge. Chia seeds are surprisingly high in Omega-3 – something I otherwise struggle to get in my vegetarian diet. They’re also full of fibre, which is great for your digestive health.

The thing is, despite not really tasting of anything, no one else in my household will touch them with a bargepole. I only add a spoonful each day to my porridge, so it means when I buy a bag it can be a struggle to get through it by the expiry date.

Thankfully, I’ve learned that you can freeze chia seeds to help keep them fresher for longer, without losing any of their fantastic nutritional benefits. If you’re in a similar predicament then here’s all you need to know to successfully freeze your seeds.

The Shelf Life Of Chia Seeds

First up, you might be wondering how long chia seeds can be stored before they go off.

The good news is that chia seeds tend to have a naturally long shelf life. When kept in a sealed container in a cool, dark, and dry place, like a pantry or cupboard, they can stay fresh for up to around two years.

If you’re in any doubt about the freshness of your chia seeds, then there are a few ways to tell if they are safe to eat or not. Here’s how to tell if that bag lurking at the back of your cupboard is safe to use:

• First up, give them a good sniff. Fresh chia seeds have a slightly nutty smell. Off ones smell musty or rancid, and some people describe the smell of seeds that have gone off as being similar to that of stale cooking oil.
• Second, take a good look at them. If you see any signs of moisture or mould on the seeds or in the container, then you don’t want to eat them. If they start to clump together, this is also a visible sign that they are off.
• And if the smell and look ok, but taste bitter, then this is also a sign that they’ve gone off. If that’s the case, discard what you have made with them, and remake it using fresh seeds.

When To Freeze Chia Seeds

Given the long shelf life of chia seeds, you’re probably wondering just what the point is in freezing them.

For me, it makes sense when it’s hot or humid in the summer. My kitchen isn’t well insulated, so whilst it’s cold in there in winter, it really retains the heat in summer. Because of the natural oils in them, chia seeds store best in cool temperatures. Being exposed to higher temperatures can cause them to go off quicker.

Freezing is also a good option if you’ve bought a large batch in bulk. If you’ve found a good deal on chia seeds, then you may want to explore ways to prevent them from spoiling.

It’s also a handy trick if you’re just a sporadic chia seed user and don’t want your seeds turning stale before you’ve had the chance to use them in your cooking and baking.

Chia seeds can last for up to five years in the freezer, so it can more than double how long they last.

How To Freeze Chia Seeds

If you are looking to freeze your chia seeds then the good news is that is super simple. They seeds are tiny, dry, and stable. This means they freeze really well, and don’t lose their form, texture or nutritional value after a spell hanging out in the cold depths of your freezer.

All you really need to think about is how you are going to store them in the freezer. Chia seeds soak up moisture very quickly – so it’s important to protect them from humidity and freezer burn.

I’ve found that an airtight container works best. A glass jar with a screw-top lid works well – and, yes, you can absolutely put glass jars in the freezer. If you don’t have a jar to hand, then a plastic storage tub, or freezer bag also can do the job nicely.

If you’re using a freezer bag, my top tip is to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing it up. This just helps to preserve the seeds’ quality.

Using Your Seeds

When it comes time to use your frozen chia seeds, there’s no complicated defrosting process to worry about, or having to remember to take them out of the freezer the night before you want to use them.

Once frozen, the seeds don’t clump together, so you can take as many scoops as you need straight from the freezer without needing to defrost them. You can just toss them into whatever you’re making. Whether it’s chia seed pudding, or adding a sprinkle to your yoghurt or porridge, they’ll behave pretty much exactly as they would if they’d been stored in the cupboard.

Just take out your jar, tub or bag, take what you need and then put it back in the freezer. However, don’t leave the container on your kitchen worktop for too long. Instead, it’s best to take what you need and then immediately put it back in the freezer. This is because allowing the seeds to warm just a little can introduce moisture and reduce their shelf life.

If you’re likely to forget to do this (some of us are quite chaotic cooks!), then you could also divide your seed into smaller containers so that you can just grab what you need without worrying about introducing moisture. Small glass jars, like mini jam jars, would be ideal.

Refreezing Advice

As standard food safety advice, I wouldn’t recommend refreezing chia seeds that have previously been frozen. This is because freezing doesn’t kill the bacteria present in food – it only prevents the microbes from multiplying. This means that thawed food will have bacteria on it that can multiply at room temperature, which will multiply again when it is defrosted.

More Food Storage Top Tips

Looking for more top ways to reduce the amount of food that you waste? I’ve got you covered:

• How to freeze oat milk
• How to freeze lemons and other citrus fruits
• How to freeze fresh herbs in oil
• The foods you didn’t know you could freeze