Does Coconut Flour Go Bad?

Coconut flour is a type of flour that has begun to be used a lot as a substitute for traditional flour lately due to the properties that make it a gluten-free option and suitable for celiac consumption. It is also on the menu of those who follow diets such as paleo.

If you have already managed to get your coconut flour and wonder if it can spoil, the answer is yes. It is necessary to know how to store it properly, extend its consumption period, and recognize when you can not use it any longer. Don’t worry; we’ll help you answer those questions by informing you of everything you need to know about it.

How to store Coconut Flour

In most cases, the flours do not have many complications regarding storing them because they tend to lack many procedures. After all, they are capable of perfectly lasting at room temperature. In the case of coconut flour, things are different.

Coconut flour contains coconut oils. These do not keep well at room temperature, so you must take certain precautions to store without spoiling; otherwise, you will have wasted this food by not having taken care of it properly when it was the moment.

Among the things you must do to maintain the coconut flour is to keep it in the dark, cold, and dry place and avoid direct sunlight and heat sources. It is also necessary to keep it sealed. If its packaging does not allow it, you can use an airtight container or zip lock bags.

Despite those mentioned earlier, you can store powdered flour in the pantry without problems as long as its packaging has never been opened. However, a cabinet where the light does not affect what is stored will still be possible.

In these conditions, although it is not immediately spoiled, the deterioration process will continue its course, and if nothing is done about it in the long term, it can be spoiled faster.

Now, when it comes to storing flour in the refrigerator, things change. Due to its cold environment, the possibility of the flour becoming oxidized and rancid is more effectively avoided.

The best way to store the coconut flour will always be in a refrigerated environment, and the best method to store it in this space is inside an airtight container or bag.

In these conditions, although it is not immediately spoiled, the deterioration process will continue its course, and if nothing is done about it in the long term, it can be spoiled faster.

Now, when it comes to storing flour in the refrigerator, things change. Due to its cold environment, the possibility of the flour becoming oxidized and rancid is more effectively avoided.

The best way to store the flour will always be in a refrigerated environment, and, in turn, the favorite way to store the coconut flour in this space is inside an airtight container or bag. In short, that’s what makes the difference.

Can You Freeze Coconut Flour?

If you have bought coconut flour but have no intention of using it, for the time being, you should store it so that it lasts long term. The solution is to have a refrigerator as it provides the environment and temperature that flour needs to be preserved for long periods.

The coconut flour you have, as long as it is sealed and unopened in its packaging, no matter if it is made of plastic or cardboard, can be kept in good condition without the need for any extra preparation. On the contrary, if the coconut flour is open, you should use a container or bag to store those leftovers and keep them in good condition.

How Long Does Coconut Flour Last

In case you have your coconut flour refrigerated and you see that it is very close to its expiration date or that it may have already expired, you do not have to worry. The date on the packaging indicates only the time in which it will be in its best condition, not that it will be spoiled from that moment.

Among the factors that determine how long coconut flour can last in good condition is cold. It is perhaps the most important factor because it slows down or stops this product’s deterioration process. The colder the place where it is stored, the longer it will last.

In matters of how long the flour lasts when stored, it has been determined that it can reach three months in the pantry, around six months in a refrigerator, and between one and two years being in the freezer. It only applies to flours that are stored unopened.

In the case of those opened, they can last in the pantry until the date indicated on the coconut flour label. If it is kept in a refrigerator, it can last between three and six months. In the freezer, it can arrive at lasting up to a year.

How to Tell If Coconut Flour Is Bad

Coconut flour has very distinctive characteristics, such as its pleasant mild smell and cream-colored tones. As time goes by, it is necessary to check if they still keep them and look for signs that it is deteriorating because if it is consumed in poor condition, it can have harmful effects on health.

If the coconut flour shows lumps, turns yellowish, or acquires a strange smell different from its original aroma, it is time to say goodbye and discard it. Situations like those are sure alarms that the coconut flour has gone bad.

Another possibility that it spoils is that if it is left in the pantry for a long time, it can be infested by insects. In this case, it is not advisable to eat coconut flour either.

Sources:

Does it go bad

Eat delights

Fitibility