Does anyone know how long flour keeps? I've had this bag up in my cupboard for probably less than six months. Same thing w/ baking soda. Is it still good just sitting up there? I found some choc. chips and really want to make cookies tonight!

By Dana on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 09:56 pm:

I don't know about you, but I've used both after that long of time. As long as you don't see little crawlies in the flour, I would guess you are okay. White flour is pretty "dead" stuff w/out nutrients for other things to grow in.

By Nicosmom on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 10:01 pm:

Thanks Dana, I just asked my dh to check it for weebles, he looked at me like I had two heads. He's never heard of them. Lol.

By Tink on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 10:03 pm:

I've used them after longer than that also. Let me know how the cookies turn out!

By Pamt on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 10:33 pm:

Should be okay, but in the future it's a good idea to store your flour in the freezer so you don't have to worry about weevils. It also takes up space in the freezer and the more jam-packed your freezer is, the more efficiently is works.

By Children03 on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 10:45 pm:

I store my flour in a tightly sealed tupperware bowl. I still use my flour and it is about 1 year old. Works fine to me.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 08:53 am:

The flour won't go "stale". I always keep flour and sugar in glass jars or tightly sealed bags, as I don't use them very often (that is, I didn't used to use sugar often - but my son drinks coffee with lots of sugar so now "we" do). My mom always stored flour and sugar that way so as not to worry about bugs. In fact, I put almost every opened package with stuff left in it (past, for example) in sealed containers of some kind just to not worry about bugs.

Here is a link to safe storage limits for lots of stuff that I just found: http://www.bwolf.com/food_faq/5-shelf_lives.html (which I have bookmarked)

It says baking soda, if kept sealed and bone dry, is good for two years.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 08:56 am:

This is a better link, because it is to the table of contents, which automatically links you to specific items. It also includes information about insect infestation and other kinds of spoilage. http://www.bwolf.com/food_faq/food_faq.html#TABLE%20OF%20CONTENTS

By Feonad on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 07:16 am:

I would use it if it smells good.

By Melana on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 09:24 am:

but flour doesn't have a smell, lol

By Nicosmom on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 01:39 pm:

Thanks!