Does Almond Flour Go Bad?

Almond flour is the best gluten-free substitute for flour. Many gluten allergic people reside to this as a substitute for flour. Almond flour can usually be stored for an extended time if stored properly. The almond flour does not develop mold and bacteria when kept at low temperatures and moisture-free areas.

There could be a couple of reasons behind the rotting of your almond flour. We cannot use rotten almond flour as it can be injurious to health, so if you want to store your almond flour for a prolonged period, it is better to read some precautionary measures about storing it.

How to store almond flour?

There is no hard and fast rule about storing your almond flour. It can be merely kept in your cabinets for up to months as it is nothing but flour. But if you reside in a place where there are a warmer environment and enough humidity, some precautions must be kept in mind while storing it.

Store it in a cool place.

The warm places give the best environment to any product to develop bacteria and molds in it. If your package is not opened yet, it can be stored anywhere because it is vacuum-sealed. Once you have opened your almond flour pack, you need to store it in cool places. If you live in a colder environment, you can place it anywhere in your kitchen, but it is better to refrigerate if you live in a warm place.

Put it in a dry place.

Flours are usually hygroscopic; that is, they absorb moisture readily. The absorbed water gives the perfect medium for molds’ reproduction, and obviously, you would not want it to happen. So, to prevent it, you should make sure that your almond flour is kept in a moisture-free place. So, once you have opened your almond flour packet, use a zip-lock bag or an airtight container to store it for future use. It will help you prevent any absorption of water in your flour.

Darker the place, the better it is.

Almond flour should be prevented from any sunlight. Sunlight is not suitable for oil-rich products like almond flour as it extracts the oil out of them. Once the oil comes out of it, it may not smell nice, and eventually, you will not want to use it again. To avoid this, store your almond flour in cupboards where there is no source of sunlight.

Can you freeze almond flour?

Almond flour has a good shelf life of several months, but depending on your area’s climatic conditions, you may have to change storage conditions. Almond flour can be kept in the freezer for months to increase the life of almond flour. The flour does not freeze but prevents the growth of bacteria in it. You can put your almond flour in a zip lock bag or an airtight container and store in it your freezer. When you have to use your flour, it is better to bring it back to room temperature.

How long does almond flour last?

There is always an expiry date mentioned on the package of your almond flour. The expiry date is a reference date that can guide you on how long your flour will last. An unopened package’s shelf life may be close to its expiry date, but once you have opened it, the shelf life may exceed or decrease depending on the storing condition you follow. If you keep it with the lid off, there are chances to rot within a month.

Proper conditions should be applied to increase the life span of almond flour. It should be kept in a moisture-free environment. There should be no heat in the pantry; else it would grow molds in it. The flour should be kept away from the light source. The almond flour kept in the freezer remains all okay for up to a year or more. If these conditions are fulfilled, there is almost no chance for your almond flour to go wrong.

How to tell if Almond Flour is Bad?

The almond flour does not go rancid quickly. It has a good storage life. If you were unaware of almond flour’s storage conditions and feel something unpleasant about it, you should know how to check if it is wrong or not. Following are the ways you can check your almond flour if it is okay or not.

• The color of almond flour changes if it turns bad. It will change from off-white to pale or yellow color. If you feel the color is changed, stop using it.
• There is an unpleasant smell if your almond flour has rotted. The fresh almond flour gives off a pleasant nutty smell.
• Almond flour is, although an oil-rich substance, yet you will not find it greasy at all. If you think it has gone greasy, there are chances of it going bad.
• Almond flour has a smooth texture when it is fresh. If you notice lumps in your almond flour, it signifies the growth of molds and bacteria in it. So it is better not to use it.

Sources:

• Does it go bad
• Can it go bad