Flour will last 20 30 years in food grade buckets if kept at the proper temperatures.
Best long term storage for flour.
Whole grain flours like barley wheat quinoa millet and oat flour have a shelf life of a few months.
Nut and alternative flours spoil even faster than whole grain flours because they contain a lot of oil.
We like this oxo pop 4 3 quart container.
As long as your flour tastes and smells good there s no need to worry it s still usable.
Put flour in an airtight vapor proof container to prevent the absorption of odors.
Never combine an old package of flour to a new one this will affect the shelf life of the new flour.
Best ways to store flour.
Move your flour to a freezer or refrigerator when you don t have an air conditioning storage room especially in summer season.
Flour will keep for about 6 to 8 months when stored this way.
Store in a cool dry dark location off the floor and away from materials with strong odors like soap chemicals or onions.
If you want to store flour long term over 3 months then the best method is mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.
The square sides make storing in your freezer easier and the large size is big enough for.
All long term containers for flour should be stored at between 40 and 70 degrees for optimal shelf life and nutrition.
Place whole grain nut and alternative flours in the freezer for long term storage.
Just add a packet to your flour bucket store in a cool dry place.
For long term storage i vacuum seal grains in glass jars and 5 gal buckets.
If you decide to use this method for long term storage start from now to see if you can make viable oxygen absorbents from iron filings scavenged from steel wool and then see how long the flour will last when compared to other storage methods.
This is done whether the items are for long term storage or not.
This kills any insects already in the package and i dont have to inspect for bugs.
I will be using this flour fairly soon i m planning a bread making challenge but this quick tip holds true for long term food storage too.
You can leave your flour in its original bag but for long term storage it s best to move it to an air tight container that can protect against smells flour will absorb odors and liquids from the freezer walls.
Label the container with the ingredients and the date purchased.
Every time i buy grains such as flour rice cereals pancake mix etc they go into the freezer for 2 or 3 days.
Keep your flour at its best long term by storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.