How to store flour correctly?

Where to store flour correctly

How much to store flour

Wheat flour can be stored for 6–8 months, rye flour for 4–6 months, and at low temperatures the flour can be stored for up to two years or more.

It is also important to know where to store flour correctly, because the appearance of insects is not all that it can be spoiled with. First, the container with flour should not be in direct sunlight.

Secondly, it does not belong where dampness prevails. A dark, dry and cool place is ideal conditions for long-term storage of flour in an apartment. A small bag of salt, a clove of garlic, bay leaves or chili peppers in a container where the flour will have to be stored for more than one month will not be superfluous. It doesn't matter if flour is stored in bags in a warehouse or in a special container in an apartment, the main thing is that it is not exposed to sudden changes in temperature. Products with intense aromas, including coffee, spices, tea, and cleaning products, should not be placed next to it.

It is also important to know not only what to store flour at home, but also how long you can do it. Any product has its own expiration date and should be adhered to.

So, under acceptable conditions, light flour can be stored in bags or containers for up to one year, and light flour - up to 9 months. For coarse flour, storage for six months is characteristic. But homemade flour should be used as soon as possible, namely, within two weeks.

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Insect protection

There are old, time-tested insect repellents that love to live in flour.

• If you plan to use cotton bags for storage, then before pouring the flour into the bag, it is soaked in a concentrated salt solution (3 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) and dried well (you do not need to rinse in clean water). The salt will keep moths and bugs away, and the flour will be safe.
• The most affordable way to protect yourself from pests is to put a few unpeeled garlic cloves in the flour. Use 2 wedges per kg. flour. Volatile substances (phytoncides), which garlic contains in large quantities, effectively repel insects.
• There is another method of dealing with flour bugs - dried calendula flowers. Calendula is poured into a large bag, into which a smaller bag of flour is placed. This will prevent the flowers from getting into the flour and scaring away insects.
• Bay leaf will help scare off pests. Interestingly, having a pronounced smell, it will not harm the flour.
• A modern way to protect flour stocks from uninvited guests is to use mint chewing gum. If you put several open packs of mint chewing gum next to the bag, insects will not stick there.

• The shelf on which the bag of flour is stored should be treated with acetic acid once every 7 days.
• If it so happens that the pests have already settled in the flour, do not despair.It can be sifted through a fine mesh sieve and poured back into another container. To ensure that all insects are destroyed, the flour can be placed in the oven. Heat treatment should be carried out for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of + 100 ° C.
• It is impossible to use a container in which pests have started - they can return again. Therefore, before reuse, the container is well rinsed and rinsed with a salt solution. After complete drying, it is allowed to reuse the container.

Storage conditions for cereals

In order not to start bugs and the croup remains useful for a long time, certain conditions must be observed. They will help prevent lumps, mold, odor, and pests.

• First of all, you need to know at what temperature the cereals should be stored. The optimum temperature is not higher than 100. But this is not always possible, therefore it is desirable that it does not exceed 200.
• Air humidity should be no more than 70%.
• Products should not be exposed to sunlight.

It is not difficult to store cereals correctly at home, you just need to choose a container. It is not recommended to leave them in their original packaging or in a plastic bag. It is better to store cereals in a special container.

In addition, it is important to find a place where the conditions for storing cereals and flour would be observed. And be sure to consider the expiration dates.

The best packaging for the home

How to store flour or cereals at home? Many housewives, having bought, for example, flaxseed flour or semolina in a paper bag, do not consider it necessary to pour it into another container. But after opening the package, it is no longer possible to store bulk products in paper. The best container for storing bulk food materials is a glass container with a sealed lid. It can be a jar or container. If you find these utensils heavy, bulky and uncomfortable, you can use a plastic container with rubber gaskets on the lid for a snug fit. They are also perfect for our purpose. Lightweight and inexpensive containers can be purchased in a variety of sizes and shapes convenient for you.

Linen bags, which are very popular with advanced housewives, are well suited for storing bulk substances, dried fruits and mushrooms, rusks and bread. Flax is a natural material that allows food products to “breathe, which means that neither your flaxseed flour nor semolina will become moldy in them and no living creatures will start in them. They are easy to use, pleasant to the touch and take up little space.

And how to store the purchased goods if the usual two-kilogram package is not your format? A large amount of raw materials will be well stored in linen bags or thick paper bags. Before long-term storage, be sure to dry the product on spread parchment paper.

How much to store flour

Among the tips for storing flour, the following can be noted. Before pouring flour into a plastic container or plastic bottle, place a "salty pillow" on the bottom. To do this, sew a bag from several layers of gauze, pour coarse salt there and place it on the bottom of the container. Salt perfectly absorbs moisture and protects flour from dampness.

In ancient times, flour was stored in the following way. A large canvas bag of flour was immersed in water for a few seconds and then quickly removed. A dense layer of dough formed around the bag, which was impossible for rodents or insects to overcome. Thus, the flour could be stored for years.

If you don't like baking and rarely bake, there is no point in buying flour for future use. However, if you have a large family, if children and you like to tinker with the dough, buying flour is a very rational and correct decision. Store your flour properly to indulge your homemade crispy baked goods more often.

How to properly store flour at home?

Home> Articles> How to properly store flour at home?

07 July 2015

How to properly store flour at home?

In order to properly store flour at home, three main components must be taken into account:

1. Temperature regime
2. Air humidity
3. Flour packaging

In this article, we will consider the storage conditions for flour, in which the flour not only does not grow moldy, but all kinds of insects and rodents will not start in it.

For proper storage of flour, the optimum air humidity should be - 60-70%, and a favorable temperature - from +5 to + 18 ° C. For long-term storage, the recommended temperature should be from +5 to -15 ° C.

It is important to remember that sharp fluctuations in air temperature and humidity have a negative effect on flour storage. Flour with a high fat content, which includes second-grade wheat flour, soy flour, corn flour, oat flour, is stored for a shorter period of time

For example, oatmeal is not more than 3 months old.

Shelf life of flour at low temperatures around 0 ° С

What is the best way to store flour?

Wheat or rye flour at home is stored in cloth bags or paper bags.

It can be pre-dried by spreading it in a thin layer on a sheet of clean paper. The flour is stored in a dry and clean room, where there are no strong foreign odors, since the flour quickly absorbs them.

It is very important to remember that sudden temperature fluctuations in the room cause sweating and, consequently, spoilage of the flour itself. If you buy flour in large quantities, it is more convenient to use a plastic container with an internal volume of 25 L

If you buy flour in large quantities, it is more convenient to use a plastic container with an internal volume of 25 L.

The last two options work well if the flour will be used soon.

What to do if we are talking about long-term storage of flour in the kitchen? Since flour is sensitive to strong odors, the best place in the kitchen is a separate shelf for it.

Nowadays, it seems that rarely anyone makes large strategic stocks of flour in their home, but knowledge of the conditions and shelf life of products can always come in handy in life.

Many housewives are not lazy and sew linen bags for storing flour. Then, dissolving two tablespoons of salt in a liter of water, soak the bags in this solution. Salt is a natural preservative for the product against insects, larvae, and mold. In such bags, located in a cool and ventilated pantry, flour is stored for a long time without any problems!

Conditions and terms of flour storage: The stored flour is systematically monitored. It is checked for taste, and if self-heating begins, it is spread in a thin layer on a sheet of clean paper and air-dried.

When infected with insect pests, flour is sieved and poured into a clean container, and the infected container is washed and dried. An interesting way of protecting against insect pests was used in the middle of the century in southern China: 1-2 cloves of unpeeled garlic were placed in a bag or bag of flour; phytoncides secreted by garlic scared away insects.

The only thing that should be foreseen is the size of the nails, the larger the better (100 - 200 mm), so that by mistake they do not fall into the dough. If you can find stainless steel nails, then it is better to use them, since ordinary iron can oxidize due to the moisture in the flour and the flour can deteriorate. Sometimes old grandmother's steel knitting needles for knitting will fit, as an improvised option.

Determination of flour quality.

The quality of flour is easy to determine organoleptically: sour or bitter taste is left on the tongue by stale flour; Musty flour emits a specific, unpleasant smell, and finally, if you touch the flour with your hand and there is a feeling of cold, this means that it has high humidity, which leads to quick spoilage, and this means that it is time to dry it urgently.

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Shelf life and storage characteristics of different varieties

Flour of different types differs in composition. Several factors affect the duration of its storage:

• quality and degree of grinding;
• package;
• chemical composition;
• temperature and humidity level;
• presence of foreign odors;
• ventilation.

1 year

Under certain conditions, some varieties can be stored for up to a year.

Wheat premium

The shelf life of premium flour is about 12 months. Temperature from 5 to 15 ⁰С, humidity about 70% and absence of foreign odors are optimal conditions for storage. After purchase, it should be poured into a suitable container.

Bird cherry

Flour with chocolate and cherry aroma is made from bird cherry berries. It gives confectionery a bittersweet taste. When stored in a tightly closed glass jar under room conditions, the beneficial properties do not change throughout the year. Later the quality decreases, a purely bitter taste appears.

Coconut

Coconut flour is rich in fiber, gluten free. If the purchased product has a uniform light color, friable consistency without lumps, its quality is high. When stored in a dry, dark, cool place in a securely closing container, its properties are retained for a year.

10 months

Even under ideal external conditions, there are varieties and species that do not store for more than 8-10 months.

Pea

When buying flour, pay attention to its color and texture. It should be light, without lumps and dots.

Pea does not like moisture and bright lighting. It is stored at 25 ° C and 70% humidity in fabric bags.

Linseed

To avoid oxidation at high temperatures, flaxseed flour is stored in the refrigerator at + 4-10 ° C. To do this, it is necessary to place the vacuum packaging with the product on its top shelf or in the door.

Half a year

Most of the varieties are stored for up to six months.

Wheat of the first grade

This flour is obtained as a result of milling soft wheat, contains less starch and more protein than the premium grade. Store it in an airtight container under room conditions or in a refrigerator.

Rye

Rye flour is packaged in cloth bags, glass or plastic containers, where it is kept at normal room temperature and moderate humidity (up to 70%).

Pancake

The pancake differs from the usual wheat one in its composition. In addition to the main ingredient, it includes egg powder, sugar, baking powder, milk powder, salt. It is not stored for more than six months.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat flour is produced in two types - dark and light. Their chemical composition is the same, the popularity of the second is higher due to its more aesthetic appearance. The product is stored in a refrigerator or in a dry place, in a closed container under the same conditions as for a pancake.

Oatmeal

It is obtained by grinding oat grains, which are pre-steamed, dried, fried and cleaned. The storage room should be well ventilated, the temperature should not exceed +20 ⁰С, humidity - up to 75%. Paper packaging is chosen as “breathable”.

Pumpkin

Flour is prized for its medicinal properties. Used for baking, breading. Store it at moderate humidity (60%) in its original packaging. The temperature should be within the range from +5 ⁰С to +15 ⁰С.

Rice

Fine flour is considered to be of high quality, with a homogeneous consistency, without lumps or smell. Rice is stored in a glass sealed container. Room temperature - 5-15 ⁰С, humidity - 60%.

Barley

A delicate porridge is made from barley flour. Delicious bread is obtained by mixing it with wheat and rye. It is recommended to store the product in tin boxes or glass cans at temperatures up to +18 ⁰С and moderate humidity - 60%.

2-3 months

Housewives should be aware that some types of flour, due to their chemical composition, have a short shelf life (no more than 3 months).

Whole wheat wheat

The shelf life of such flour is limited, since it contains all parts of the grain that contain oils. They can oxidize and turn rancid. The conditions of detention are the same as for the premium class.

Corn

Finely ground corn is suitable for consumption for no more than 3 months. It is recommended to keep flour in the refrigerator in any tightly closed container. Cloth or glass containers are preferable to plastic ones. Storage conditions: temperature - 5-15 ⁰С, humidity - 60%.

Almond

Almond flour is a source of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects cells in the body from free radicals. It is stored under normal room conditions, in a dry, dark place, in a glass container.

Storing flour

At home, you can save it only if you take into account all its properties. The main parameters on which the storage duration depends are temperature and humidity.

And it is equally important to decide on the place where the product will be contained.

Flour is a product of the grinding of cereals. The most common is wheat flour. The taste of the wheat product remains practically unchanged throughout the entire storage period. At the same time, flour from flax, almond and corn can change them beyond recognition. Linseed and almond add original taste and aroma to baked goods. These species are recommended to be stored in the refrigerator, previously placed in an airtight container.

How to determine if a product has become unusable

A quality product that has been properly stored must be dry, crumbly, odorless, mildew and bugs free.

• The unpleasant smell is most likely associated with the emerging bread fungus. Such a product is considered unsuitable for further consumption.
• The product that has been lying in a damp room has a sour or bitter taste.
• Cold flour indicates that it is saturated with moisture, but it can still be saved. Dry it on clean paper for at least six hours, and then put it in a dry and clean container.

What is flour stored in

Most often it is stored in the same paper bag in which it was purchased. Paper is a good storage material, and it is impractical to pour flour into another paper bag. Caring housewives prefer to sew linen bags. If the bag breaks, pour it into a glass jar with a tight lid.

For her, as a rule, they define a separate shelf in the kitchen. She quickly absorbs odors, and lumps form from dampness. Therefore, there should be no harsh, unpleasant odors in the room, and there is a sink or other source of water nearby.

It is advisable to pre-dry large volumes. For this, the product is laid out in a thin layer on paper and kept near the stove or heater.

Many housewives question whether flour can be stored in a plastic container. Food-grade plastic is absolutely harmless, in addition, it perfectly protects the product from moisture during long-term storage. For storage, you can adapt plastic bottles with a wide neck, as well as mayonnaise buckets or any other containers made of polymers. Remember to wash and dry them thoroughly before using.

Some housewives prefer to sew a linen bag. If it is pre-soaked in salt water and dried, then the product will be stored longer, and insect pests and fungi will not be afraid of it.

Flour storage conditions

If you decide to keep it in the refrigerator, then keep in mind that the shelf life will be limited.

• For rye it is less than five months.
• Deodorized soy and corn - eleven months.
• For wheat, no more than eight.
• Non-deodorized soy and corn can be stored for no more than four months.

As a rule, if the temperature rises, then these indicators also change.

Wheat flour is stored at a temperature of at least five degrees for six months. For corn, soy and rye - the shelf life at low temperatures is reduced to three months.

Let's figure out how to store flour in a high-rise apartment. If you have a glazed balcony, you can store it there, but only in winter. In summer, it is undesirable to keep the product on the balcony, as the sun's rays and dampness will spoil it.

The admissible humidity is 70%. A further increase in humidity leads to the formation of lumps. The most favorable temperature for storage is fifteen degrees. This product does not tolerate sudden changes due to which fungus appears inside the product.

In what container is it better to store flour

• Most often, this product can be purchased in sealed paper bags. These packages do not need to be printed until ready for use.
• Flour that has been purchased recently cannot be kept next to bulk products if they have been stored for a long time. Bugs and moths from cereals can easily move into a new bag.
• Cotton bags or paper bags are best for storage. Glassware and plastic containers will also work.
• If the package has not yet been opened, you can put it on the refrigerator shelf. This is guaranteed to keep the contents safe from insect attacks. After opening the pack, the remains are poured into a glass jar and sealed.

• Larger volumes are stored in canvas bags, glass containers or metal containers. Containers should be designed for bulk products and should be tightly closed. Large supplies are best kept in spacious plastic containers with lids. A wide variety of these containers are available at any hardware store.
• You can store flour at home in mineral water bottles. But it is better to use darkened two-liter containers from kvass. They will reliably protect the content from exposure to bright light.
• If you don't want to mess around with pouring through a narrow neck, you can store flour in a food-grade plastic bucket that closes well. A ladle is also kept in such a container so that it is convenient to collect the contents.

• A little flour is kept in plastic containers so that it can be used in a short period of time. This material absorbs environmental odors well and transfers them to the contents.
• To prevent the container and contents from heating up from hot air during storage, they are kept on the lowest shelf of the cabinet.

Summing up the packaging, we can say that

1. Plastic containers for food are optimal for storage. They have seals that ensure a secure fit of the lid. And keep the contents from the penetration of insects.
2. The next most convenient container is a glass container with tight-fitting lids. The snug fit of the lid also prevents moisture and insects from entering the inside of the can.
3. But in metal dishes, reliable protection against moisture and bugs cannot be provided due to the loose fit of the lid.

Useful Tips

What are the first things to look out for as soon as you head to the store shelf?

Carefully inspect the packaging of the contents, make sure that the flour is not contaminated

Try to smell, touch the product - this is important!
Follow the label where the expiration date is set, which in no case should exceed 3 months.
Be sure to make sure that there is a commodity neighborhood in the store. Place raw vegetables next to the same vegetables, and loose products with cereals

No chaos on store shelves, just cleanliness and tidiness.
Inspect the packaging carefully. Normal condition - no cuts, complete integrity of the product.

How many points must be taken into account in order to create comfortable conditions for storing loose product.But, believe me, if you try, then the freshest, selected and pure flour will be stored in your kitchen, and baked goods or pancakes from it will turn out to be delicious and appetizing.

Read on:

Rules for storing cereals in the kitchen - expert advice

Are you storing semolina correctly?

Secrets of storing dried fruits

Rules and terms of storage of smoked fish at home

Are you storing raisins correctly?

Ways to store fresh leeks until spring

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