How long does bulgur last?
Bulgur keeps for 6 to 12 months in the pantry. Times are USDA FoodKeeper quality guidelines from the point of purchase unless noted.
6 to 12 months
from purchase
No guideline
No guideline
How bulgur compares with other grains, beans & pasta
USDA FoodKeeper gives bulgur one time: 6 to 12 months in the pantry from purchase, and no figure for the other places. A blank usually means the food is not stored that way, not that the data is missing. The foods USDA lists next to bulgur in grains, beans & pasta show the range for the group:
| Food | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amaranth(first of 2 kinds) | 4 months | no guideline | 8 months |
| Barley(first of 2 kinds) | 6 months | no guideline | 12 months |
| Beans | 1 to 2 years | no guideline | no guideline |
| Buckwheat(first of 2 kinds) | 2 months | no guideline | 4 months |
| Dry egg noodles | 2 years | no guideline | no guideline |
| Farro(first of 2 kinds) | 6 months | no guideline | 12 months |
| Fresh pasta | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | 2 months |
| Lentils | 1 year | no guideline | no guideline |
| Millet(first of 2 kinds) | 2 months | no guideline | 4 months |
| Mung bean(first of 3 kinds) | no guideline | 4 to 6 weeks | no guideline |
About grains, beans & pasta. Dry rice, pasta and beans are shelf stable for a long time when kept sealed and dry, but they can attract pantry insects or absorb moisture. Cooked grains, beans and pasta are far more perishable and need refrigeration like any other cooked food. All grains, beans & pasta.
How to tell bulgur has gone bad
General signs for grains, beans & pasta, the group USDA lists bulgur under.
- Small webbing, moths or beetles inside the bag or container
- Musty or damp smell instead of a neutral, dry one
- Clumping together from moisture getting into the package
- Cooked pasta or rice turning sticky, slimy or sour smelling
- Visible mould on cooked beans or grains left too long
More on grains, beans & pasta. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Store dry grains, beans and pasta in airtight containers in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove. Once cooked, refrigerate in a shallow covered container within two hours and use within about four days. Freeze cooked portions for longer storage and thaw in the fridge before reheating.
More in grains, beans & pasta
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.