Unbleached White Flour

[Mackay]

Can anybody tell me the shelf life of unbleached white flour?

There is a sale going on right now, 25# for 6.99. I am trying to decide how much to buy. Considering I don't put it in the fridge or freezer, what do you think?

 

[Ohioann]

When we get a deal on flour we pur extra in freezer. Have never had it go bad.

 

[ORChick]

I keep mine (in original packaging) in a rubbermaid tote in my cool garage. I usually have 30 - 40 pounds there, and have never had a problem.

 

[Bettacreek]

Mostly, I'd be worried about bugs. Freeze it first, then make sure it's in a SEALED container, and then I'd think it'd last for quite some time. A year at least, IMO. I've had flour sitting in the cupboards for about a year that I've used, without any issues. So long as it's dry and bug free.

 

[patandchickens]

Some years ago, when I seldom did any baking, I would often have the same bag of unbleached white flour linger around for a year or two with no discernable (to me) change in its taste. For all I know it might well keep longer, as long as bugs don't get at it too badly.

AFAIK it is the fats that make whole-grain flours go bad, and having had the fats (and most of the naturally occurring nutrients ) stripped out of it, white flour, be it bleached or unbleached, is pretty stable.

(I have never really understood the point of bleaching flour. It's not like the unbleached stuff is so much less white. A mystery to me)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[SKR8PN]

I put our bulk flour into 2 gallon ziplock bags(I know,I KNOW!) and freeze it TWICE. Then I store it in a 5 gallon bucket with a gamma seal and couple of oxygen absorbers tossed in for good measure. Some of it is nearing 3 years old and is still fine.

 

[Bettacreek]

Some years ago, when I seldom did any baking, I would often have the same bag of unbleached white flour linger around for a year or two with no discernable (to me) change in its taste. For all I know it might well keep longer, as long as bugs don't get at it too badly.

AFAIK it is the fats that make whole-grain flours go bad, and having had the fats (and most of the naturally occurring nutrients ) stripped out of it, white flour, be it bleached or unbleached, is pretty stable.

(I have never really understood the point of bleaching flour. It's not like the unbleached stuff is so much less white. A mystery to me)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Hrmm. How long does whole wheat flour last? I have some white flour left (nearing a year now since I've bought it), but I also have a bit of whole wheat flour that's been in there for a little while now. I don't do a whole lot of baking.

 

[valmom]

I did buy big bags of flour when the kids were young and I was baking bread a lot- I did get bugs, it was stored in a rubbermaid type tote. I didn't have freezer room for it, but freezer or airless is probably good. It doesn't actually go bad, I don't think.

 

[patandchickens]

Hrmm. How long does whole wheat flour last? I have some white flour left (nearing a year now since I've bought it), but I also have a bit of whole wheat flour that's been in there for a little while now. I don't do a whole lot of baking.

I think the recommendation is to use it within a couple months, or the fats start going rancid. I would not eat *vast quantities* of overage w/w flour over a long time, but if you have some older w/w flour and the decline in flavor doesn't bother you I personally see no reason not to go ahead and use it up. In future though it is better to buy smaller quantities and/or store in the freezer or oxygen-free containers.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[freemotion]

Store bought whole wheat flour is already going rancid, so it is best to put it right into the freezer....The rancidity gives it the strong, bitter taste that I used to think was the taste of whole wheat. You can slow that process down a lot by freezing it. Still use it up as quickly as you can. That is why most who do long-term storage will store whole grains and a grinder instead. Archeologists have found unspoiled grains in Egyptian tombs!