In addition, you can tightly wrap flours in blocks and store them in the freezer. If storing flour in the refrigerator or freezer, fill the container to get rid of as much air as possible. If stored in this manner, the flour could absorb odors or moisture. That said, you should also avoid refrigerating or freezing flour in its original paper packaging because paper is porous. Remember: once opened, the shelf life decreases. The original paper packaging that most flours come in should be fine for long-term storage as long as it hasn’t been opened yet. If you’re transferring your flour to a plastic container before stashing it away, label your flour with the best-by date on the original packaging. For the most part, flours store well if kept in a sealed container in a cool, dry and dark area. The shelf life of flour also depends greatly on how it is stored. Flours made from nuts should be refrigerated because they have the shortest shelf life due to their oils. Most can be stored for one to two months in the cupboard, four to six months in the refrigerator and up to one year in the freezer. Gluten-free flours are more vulnerable to mold because of their high moisture content. When using gluten-free flour, bakers will sometimes add thickeners, such as xanthan gum and guar gum to simulate the chewiness associated with gluten. Most gluten-free flours are made from gluten-free grains, such as oats and buckwheat, nuts and starches. Gluten-free flours are ideal for people with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition that causes immune cells to attack the small intestine upon consumption of foods with gluten. This helps keep it away from moisture and water to prevent the formation of mold. If you want to store whole-wheat flour for longer, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the freezer. Take note that bread and pastries can get a little dense if you use whole-wheat flour.īecause wheat germ is prone to rancidity, whole-wheat flour can only be stored for up to three months at cool room temperature. You can also use whole-wheat flour to make homemade dinner rolls, flatbreads, pizza dough and more. Whole-wheat flour is great for making bread. Therefore, whole-wheat flour is more vulnerable to spoilage. The bran and germ contain beneficial oils, which deteriorate upon exposure to light, moisture or air. Unlike white all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour is made with all three parts of the grain: the endosperm, the bran and the germ. It can also last up to a year if refrigerated and two years if frozen. In a pinch, you can also use flour as a kind of dry shampoo.īecause of how much it has been processed, all-purpose flour lasts between six to eight months on the shelf. You can also use all-purpose flour to buff stainless steel surfaces. Ants don’t like the taste and texture of the flour. Sprinkle a line of flour anywhere you have ants. This is why all-purpose flour has virtually no nutrients.Īll-purpose flour isn’t the most nutritive choice for baking, but you can still use it around your home. The nutrients in wheat grains are found in the germ and bran. Like other white flours, all-purpose flour is made from just the endosperm of the wheat grain. Here are the three most popular kinds of flour, their uses and their shelf life:Ĭonsidered the most basic flour, white all-purpose flour contains a moderate amount of protein (gluten). The source of the flour, such as wheat or gluten-free ingredients like arrowroot, can also impact its shelf life. That said, shelf life can vary depending on the kind of flour and how it is stored.įlours typically differ based on their level of processing, which greatly affects shelf life. Most flours can remain fresh at room temperature for three to eight months. There are several factors that influence flour’s shelf life. In addition, some people like to store their flour in some sort of container for easier access.īefore taking out your measuring cups and preheating your oven, here’s what you need to know about flour – when it expires, how to store it properly and more. Not all flour bags and packages come with a best-by date. The thing is, it can be hard to tell whether flour has gone bad. Simply put, flour can and will eventually go bad. Unfortunately, flour actually has a shorter shelf life than you may think. Flour has long been considered a shelf-stable ingredient, meaning it can be stored safely at room temperature.
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