Debs w
Assistant Cook
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2012
- Messages
- 1
My flour says use by end of march can I use it ??
+1If it smells and tastes OK, and has no critters in it, you can probably use it.
+199 times out of 100, critters in flour did not get into the flour at your home. They got into the flour at the mill. The eggs are so small, the fall through the sifters along with the flour. It's not you or how old the flour is.
Barbara L said:I keep all my flour, grains, and many cereals in the freezer. I have been told that if you put them in the freezer for 48 hours it will kill anything in them and you can then store them outside of the freezer. Since I have plenty of freezer space, little cupboard space, and live in a humid area, I just keep them in the freezer.
Barbara
Andy M. said:99 times out of 100, critters in flour did not get into the flour at your home. They got into the flour at the mill. The eggs are so small, the fall through the sifters along with the flour. It's not you or how old the flour is.
To prevent the appearance of bugs, freeze your flour for 3-4 days when you first bring it home then store it properly and you will not have any bug issues.
I was going to try and make that NY Bread --- got my flour out-(bread flour) says use by june 2006 --should I pitch it and use AP flour ? Thanks for any help !
sparrowgrass said:Some of those bugs can eat right thru plastic bags--either to get in or to get out.
I usually put the flour bag into a big ziplock to freeze it, because I can be a little rough on stuff in the freezer, and I don't want that paper flour bag to break. I don't use glass in the freezer for the same reason. If you are more careful than I am, putting it right into the freezer is fine.
I personally would not use flour that old, unless I was desperate--I would be afraid that it might have picked up off flavors.