Can You Freeze Flour? Here's Why You Want To

Can you freeze flour? Yes, and we'll show you why it's a game-changer for home cooks and bakers alike to save money and reduce food waste in the kitchen.

You may use flour regularly, especially if you’re an avid baker. Or, maybe it’s one of the pantry items that hide at the back of your cupboard for weeks or months. Flour can have a shelf life as short as three months, so knowing how to keep it fresh can save you time and money.

Can you freeze flour? The answer is yes, and it is easy to do. There are a few reasons freezing flour is an excellent idea. We’ll show you how to maximize the life of your flour, how to defrost it and how the process affects its quality.

Can You Freeze Flour? Why Would You?

Have you ever noticed tiny bugs in your flour?
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / kaboompics)

Flour generally has a shelf life of between three to eight months, which means it can spoil if you keep it around longer than that. It’s good practice to keep an eye on a package’s best-before dates, and if you transfer an ingredient into a container, make sure to label it clearly, so you don’t mix old flour with new. Keep in mind that white flour typically lasts a little longer than other varieties due to its lower fat content.

Flour stored at room temperature can harbor bugs. Female weevils lay eggs in wheat kernel, which is why you may see little dark specks in your flour. These are eggs that have survived the milling process or bugs that have hatched from the eggs. Freezing flour kills any possible pests. Obviously, if you notice those biscuit beetles as you transfer your flour to a container (as we suggest), you may want to get a new bag.

Freezing also stops any other bugs from finding their way in. Furthermore, if you don’t use flour regularly, freezing it means you don’t have to throw it away when it’s past its expiry date, helping you avoid food waste.

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Can you freeze flour? Yes, and there are several reasons to do so.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / RitaE)

Flour is easy to freeze. You can put a bag of flour in the freezer, but we suggest moving it into an airtight container first to stop it from absorbing moisture. If you don’t have anything else, this is a great way to reuse plastic bags. However, bear in mind that plastic is terrible for the environment, so there’s no need to go out and buy new plastic items. There are many safe, eco-friendly and freezer-compatible alternatives that make it easy to go plastic-free day-to-day.

How to freeze flour:

Place the flour in one or more airtight containers.
Label the container(s).
Place in the freezer.
Use within a year.

How to defrost flour:

Spread a thin layer of the frozen flower on a baking sheet. It won’t be in a solid block, so this is easy to do.
Thaw it in the refrigerator, or let it come to room temperature on your kitchen top.

How to use defrosted flour:

Thawed flour retains its original texture. However, you need to wait until the flour thaws completely before using it. Using frozen flour in baking can inhibit the effectiveness of yeast, which can make your baked goods chewier or denser than you want.

Defrosting flour takes about 30 mins.

Delicious Recipes Using Flour

Treat yourself and your loved ones to a delicious dessert.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / congerdesign)

Now that you’ve gotten an answer to the question “can you freeze flour,” you can go ahead and bake. Try one of these sweet treats:

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Tags: Baking Freezing Guide Practical Tips