If you’ve just opened a bag of flour and need to keep it, you may be wondering how long flour lasts. Flour is a pantry essential, but there are many types of flour. In truth, there are many different types, each with its own predicted shelf life.
This article will look at the many varieties of flour and how long they last.
Contents
- How Long Does Flour Last?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- Can you use flour 2 years out of date?
- Is 2 year old flour still good?
- How do you know when flour goes bad?
- Does flour expire or go bad?
- Can I use 3 year expired flour?
- Can flour last 20 years?
- Should I throw away expired flour?
- Can you safely use expired flour?
- What can I do with old flour?
- How do you store flour for years?
How Long Does Flour Last?
The shelf life of flour is affected by the kind of flour and how it is kept. Let’s look at their estimated shelf lives and the best methods to keep them.
After reading this section, you will know the answer to the question, “How long does flour last?”
1. All-Purpose Flour
All-purpose flour is one of the most versatile and widely used varieties of flour. It is classified as medium-grade and is made up of both soft and hard wheat. As a result, it has a somewhat higher protein content than other varieties of flour.
The protein imparts a delightfully frothy and silky texture to baked items. Your all-purpose flour will last between 3 and 8 months if kept in the pantry before opening.
However, if you keep the flour in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it will survive for approximately a year. You may also store your flour in the freezer, where it will keep for up to two years.
After the indicated expiry date, you may keep all-purpose flour for 6 to 8 months. However, you must guarantee that its container or packing is sealed and kept in the refrigerator.
2. Self-Rising Flour
Self-rising flour is often used in the preparation of biscuits and fast bread. This flour includes baking powder, which aids in the rise of baked products, giving them a light, airy feel. It is finer than all-purpose flour and lower in protein, resulting in a soft crumb.
Storing your self-rising flour in the freezer can keep it fresh for around 2 years. If stored in an airtight, freezer-safe container. The same is true for keeping it in the refrigerator, however it will only survive up to a year.
Keep self-raising flour in its original container in a cold, dry pantry for a 3- to 4-month shelf life. You should be able to use self-rising flour for up to 8 months after the best before date.
3. Cake Or Pastry Flour
Cake flour is a premium kind of flour. It is made from a soft wheat variety and has less protein than other varieties of flour. As a consequence, baked foods become softer and more delicate.
This flour is often bleached, giving it a white hue, and is commonly used in cakes, cookies, and other sweets.Cake flour may be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 12 months.
By freezing the container, you may double the predicted shelf life. However, if kept unopened in the pantry, you should be able to utilize your flour for at least 4 to 6 months.
However, it is still safe to use cake flour 6 to 8 months beyond the suggested use date.
4. Whole Wheat Flour
Whole wheat flour is made from unrefined wheat kernels. As such, it contains the kernel’s germ, bran, and endosperm. This flour is coarser in texture than all-purpose flour and includes more fiber and minerals.
It’s ideal for making bread and rolls, but it may also be used in cake and cookie recipes. If you often bake, the easiest way to store whole wheat flour is in a firmly sealed bag or container.
You may put it in the fridge to prolong its life to around 6 months. However, if you store it in a cold, dry area, it should last you around 3 months.
Whole wheat flour may also be frozen and stored in the freezer for up to a year. In the case of whole wheat flour, we do not advocate using it beyond the expiration date.
5. Almond Flour
Almond flour is made by crushing almonds. This makes it a gluten-free and paleo-friendly substitute for wheat flour. It’s also packed in protein and healthy fats, making it a nutritious grain-free choice.
This nut-based flour is finer than other gluten-free flours like coconut flour or tapioca flour. As a result, it is great for baked products such as cookies, cakes, and muffins.
You can keep almond flour in the cupboard for about 3 months and in the fridge for about 6 months. You may anticipate a shelf life of 6 to 12 months if you freeze your almond flour. However, while doing so, always use an airtight fridge or freezer-safe container.
Conclusion
Storing your flour in the fridge or freezer can significantly extend its shelf life. However, if your flour has mold, a color change, or an unpleasant odor, you should discard it.
These are definite indications that your flour has spoiled and should be regarded carefully. With the information provided above, you should no longer be wondering, “How long does flour last?”
FAQs
Can you use flour 2 years out of date?
No, it is not advisable to use expired flour since it might deteriorate due to humidity or oxygen exposure. Flour may be kept in an airtight container in a cold, dry area for up to 6 months, while unopened store-bought flour can be stored correctly for up to 8-10 months.
Is 2 year old flour still good?
All-purpose flour, for example, has a shelf life of 6-8 months but may be refrigerated for up to a year and frozen for up to 2 years (7). If you store your flour in the fridge, keep it away from moisture and water to avoid mold. This is best accomplished by enclosing it in an airtight container, such as a plastic bag or food bin (8).
How do you know when flour goes bad?
Wheat-based flours should smell neutral or nearly non-existent, however a slight wheat fragrance may be detected. Nut flours will have a nutty aroma. If the flour smells terrible in any way—sour, moldy, musty, or bitter—it’s gone bad.
Does flour expire or go bad?
Flour seems to be one of those cupboard commodities with an indefinite shelf life, yet it does expire. Every packet of flour has a “best by” or “best if used by” date written on it. This is the manufacturer’s recommended date for optimal quality.
Can I use 3 year expired flour?
Flour is a low-moisture food, which means it lacks enough water to enable microbial development. As a result, it is thought to be very shelf stable and unlikely to grow less safe to consume over time.
Can flour last 20 years?
The flour is totally protected from light, moisture, and oxygen by sealing it in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. Because there is no oxygen in the packing, even insect eggs cannot develop. White flour may be kept in this manner for up to 10-15 years. Whole-wheat flour may be stored in this manner for up to ten years.
Should I throw away expired flour?
Refined flour (white flour) can keep for up to two years if kept in a cold, dry area. What happens next? It may develop a nasty odor, thus it is discarded. Another thing to remember is to store refined flour in an airtight container; otherwise, an insect known as the flour weevil may get in.
Can you safely use expired flour?
If it appears yellow or gray, displays symptoms of mold, has firm moisture lumps, or has evidence of insects, throw it away. Furthermore, if the flour smells awful (sour, musty, or just plain nasty), don’t use it.
What can I do with old flour?
We’ll look at some methods to repurpose old flour around the house.
Repellent for insects. Ants have been seen to avoid flour.
Glue produced from scratch. Old flour, ideally bread flour or all-purpose white flour, may be used to manufacture glue.
Make a clean deck of cards.
Shampoo that is not wet.
Cleaner for stainless steel.
Polisher for copper.
Mask for the face.
Cleaner for stains.
How do you store flour for years?
Vacuum sealing flour is an excellent storage technique because it eliminates oxygen from the bag, allowing the flour to stay fresher for longer. A vacuum sealer can keep flour fresh for up to two years. In addition, this investment takes up less room than containers and food-grade buckets.