Does Flour Go Bad?

Who does not know the Flour? More than half of the most delicious dishes contain Flour. From desserts to savory dishes, Flour can be found everywhere. And if you are celiac or allergic to gluten, you can always find flour options that you can use to prepare whatever you need.

It has been the pinnacle of our daily diet for several centuries, and this is due to how practical, useful and delicious it is. For this reason, Flour is found in the kitchens of almost everyone around the world, but not everyone may know how to store it properly or how long it lasts in good condition, that is why we dedicate this article to educate you about it.

How to store Flour

Flour has many practical uses, and this is the characteristic for which it is known when cooking. On the other hand, it is not a detail for which it stands out as regards its duration. It is why you must learn to store it properly.

Flour is like most other powdered ingredients, and they need the same care. Luckily, storing the Flour is not a titanic task that required a superhuman effort on your part. All the things you need to do to keep your Flour in good condition can be summarized in the following rules:

Keep it in a good place.

When you buy your Flour, and you are not going to use it at the moment, you should find a place to store it; But not just any site, it should be good enough to prevent it from being damaged quickly. Ensure that the place you use to store your Flour is cool and dry. The pantry should work for that.

Keep it sealed

Perhaps the most important thing about the preservation of Flour is to keep it safe from moisture because it renders the ingredient useless if it comes into contact with it. Apart from humidity, another threat to which Flour can be exposed is insects.

To avoid all these problems, what you should do is store your Flour in an airtight container if its original packaging does not do the job well.

Refrigerate it

Something you should know is that after opening the flour package, the best way to keep its quality at its best is by refrigerating it. It is certainly not mandatory to keep it in good condition, but if you want your dishes to be as good as possible, you will be interested in keeping the Flour in its best condition.

Can You Freeze Flour?

If, for some reason, the plans you had to use the Flour at one point were canceled and now you are considering the long term to make use of it, what you should do is freeze it.

The freezing process allows you to extend the Flour’s life for at least two years, during which you can get the amount you need to use, then you will have to leave the Flour in the freezer again. Remember that to avoid damage by cold or humidity, you must keep your Flour sealed in an airtight container.

How Long Does Flour Last

As we mentioned earlier, there are different types of flours that you can find in the market to satisfy the need of those who are looking for special options. You must remember that most flours are different, but they have similar durations.

There is a very particular case concerning Flour in which there is a distinction regarding its duration. White Flour is characterized by having fewer oils than whole grain flour. The presence of oil causes a more accelerated deterioration, so its lack allows a longer duration.

Concerning exact dates of duration, it can become difficult to deduce specific data because each brand’s production process can result in a difference of a couple of months for each one of them.

What we can offer you is an average estimate. In the case of white Flour, it can last for a year in the pantry and two years frozen or refrigerated. On the other hand, whole grain flour can last three months in the pantry, six in the refrigerator, and a year in the freezer.

How to Tell If Flour Is Bad

Flour can last if you store it at room temperature, it can even last longer if you freeze it, but this doesn’t mean that it won’t eventually end up spoiling at some point. Be on the lookout for any signs that your Flour has gone bad. As we mentioned earlier, you must be aware of the presence of moisture.

If the water comes into contact with the Flour, it will create lumps and allow the growth of mold. Another aspect that you should pay attention to is the smell. If it turns rancid so well, it is an indicator that things are bad. If your Flour package does not show any of these signs, then it is most likely that it is in good condition and that you can consume it at any time.

Sources:

Does it go Bad

The spruce eats

Healthline