To store flour properly is the key to keeping it fresh and free of unwelcome guests. Have you ever started baking something, only to spot tiny bits crawling around your flour? You’re not alone. Flour beetles can be the bane of many home bakers, but don’t stress. With a few clever storage tips, you can keep your flour clean, fresh, and bug-free.
What are those creepy crawlers?
If you’ve noticed weird cobweb-like clumps or small black or brown bits that move around on their own, you’ve got an infestation of flour beetles. Don’t panic!
Don’t blame yourself; this happens more often than you’d think. Chances are, they were already there when you bought the bag. Flour beetles love eating grains, like wheat and rice, and the females lay their eggs in whole grains that are milled to produce the flour we buy. These flour beetle eggs have survived the milling process and hatch when they’ve matured, which, unfortunately, happens in our pantries.
Are flour beetles harmful?
No. They have no adverse effects on our digestive systems (they just give us the creeps!). The good news is that the heat from baking kills the eggs and adult beetles. While the odds of eating a weevil (or having eaten one) are high, the mortality rates are low.
Can you use infested flour?
If the flour has changed colour, smells musty, or is infested with tiny beetles, we suggest disposing of it. Even though those creepy crawlers aren’t harmful, they indicate compromised quality, which can affect your baking.
Top tips to store your flour (and keep the bugs out)
We suggest keeping flour in its original packaging. The paper packaging is great for controlling the moisture levels in the flour directly after the milling process and throughout storage. Problems arise with how and where the flour is stored.
Keep your flour fresh and bug-free with these easy storage hacks:
- Air-tight container: Pop the flour bag as is into an air-tight container.
- Freezer: Cool down your newly bought flour bag in the freezer in an air-tight container for at least 48 hours to kill any eggs (this won’t remove them entirely, but it stops them from hatching and multiplying).
- Cool, dry, and dark: This is the perfect place to store flour. This hack keeps flour bug-free, whether you choose your pantry or the freezer.
- Bay leaves and cloves: Flour beetles dislike the smell of herbs and spices like bay leaves and cloves. Consider placing a bundle inside the flour container or nearby.
- Spring clean: Regularly clean the area where you store flour by vacuuming and disinfecting the surfaces.
How long can you store flour?
The general rule for storing flour at room temperature is three to six months. Flour can be placed in cold storage (like the fridge or freezer) for six months to a year. Remember to keep flour in its original packaging to keep track of the best before (BB) date (or make a label for the container you’re using).
Happy baking
Flour beetles may be uninvited guests in your pantry, but with a few mindful storage habits, you can keep your flour fresher for longer and your baking bug-free.
ALSO SEE: How to boil the perfect jammy egg
Feature image credit: Pexels
