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Farm Kitchen:  Storing flour  |
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 14 2008 : 3:54:50 PM
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I am starting to go through flour too quickly to simply keep small bags of it on hand, but I don't want to store larger quantities in the original bag. It goes rancid too easily, and I'm afraid of bugs getting into it if they get the chance. I don't really want something plastic, but still clear...so I suppose a glass storage container of sorts. You ladies have any ideas? What do you use? 
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Contrary Wife
True Blue Farmgirl
2164 Posts
Teresa Sue
Tekoa
WA
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2008 : 4:22:43 PM
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What kind of flour? Usually white flour will keep a long time. You probably know it's the flour that good for you, whole grain flours, that are a problem. Do you have room in a freezer? I think that whole grain flours will all go rancid if kept too long at room temp even if they are in plastic or glass. I'd say gallon glass jars, tho. I have a similar question about whole wheat(spelt)spaghetti. I just bought ten pounds and am not sure it will keep at room temp by the time hubby and I eat it all.
Warmly
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
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MaryP
True Blue Farmgirl
58 Posts
Mary
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2008 : 4:32:55 PM
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I keep my flour in the original bag in a large rubbermaid type container. It's not clear, so no UV rays can beat down on it. I keep it in our basement, which remains cool year round.
This is what Pillsbury has to say about it:
What is the best way to store flour?
Store flour in an airtight container in a cool place (75° F. or cooler). For longer storage, place flour bag in a resealable plastic freezer bag and refrigerate or freeze. Properly stored, flour will stay fresh for up to 2 years. |
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Txfarmgal
True Blue Farmgirl
585 Posts
AK
USA
585 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2008 : 5:23:21 PM
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I keep all of my flour, sugar, corn meal all in our freezer. I have 4 lb. tupperware containers that I keep it in but I also store 25 lb. bags flat in the freezer, both flour and corn meal I store that way in our freezer.
AngiKay-farmgirl sister #301
www.angikay.etsy.com
Heart of TX chapter
Be strong and Courageous. Jos. 1:9
Texas 4H! http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/ |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2008 : 5:33:44 PM
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| I keep all my flour in origional bags, then in vaccume bags in the extra fridge out in the shop. I also keep my cornmeal and rye and whole wheat in the fridge or freezer. I live in KS but have to go to Joplin MO to buy flour that is milled in KS. Go figure. So I buy lots at a time. |
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Contrary Wife
True Blue Farmgirl
2164 Posts
Teresa Sue
Tekoa
WA
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2008 : 06:15:14 AM
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oooh, you are so lucky to have fresh milled flour, I'm jealous!
I always keep my cornmeal in the freezer.
I think Jodi is trying to find a way to store her flour in something other than plastic, because of the outgassing issue tho, right Jodi?
Like I said before gallon glass jars would be one way. You know tho, when I lived in Arizona I used to have a galvenized metal garbage can with a good lid that I stored flour in. I washed it out really well, then I made a muslin fabric liner that fit over the top of the can, I believe it had a drawstring at the top to fit it and it also made the lid fit even tighter. But it was not whole grain and had a longer shelf life. I also had all my family home at that time and bake bread one or two times a week and I went through the flour.
Warmly,
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
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ranchmama
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Elise
Rosebud
MT
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2008 : 06:25:07 AM
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I used to keep my extra smaller bags in the freezer as well, my mom did it, so I did too.
Now tho, I buy flour by the 25 lb bags, reg white and bread flour. On my counter I have each in a seperate plastic container and in the basement I store the rest in 5 gallon buckets with lids. Same for my sugar.
I do keep my cornmeal in the freezer to keep bugs out and we don't use it that much.
Every Child Deserves Our Love &
A Bear of Their Own
http://ATeddyForKeeps.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranchmama/ |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2008 : 06:46:22 AM
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| I mill my flour, so the grains are stored in an airtight bucket until milled. Once milled they are stored in the freezer. I do have a 25 lb bag of white flour that is used on occasion and it is stored in a rubbermaid container. I have never had it go bad. |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2008 : 06:59:24 AM
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hey, I buy Organic whole wheat flour and it comes in a paper flour sack, then I just add the opened sack to 2 (organic cotton) pillow cases and stick it in the freezer.. ( I added a drawsting, but you wouldn't have too) and it seems to do just fine. I like the idea of the glass gallon jars which I do for the amount I keep in the cupboard.
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
"Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise. ~Michael P. Garafalo
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2008 : 6:29:14 PM
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I really like the ideas you've posted! I'm thinking I'll keep the amount I'm using in the glass jars in the cupboard, and then play around with the pillowcase/muslin with a drawstring storage method. I have some room in my freezer now, so I'll start with that! Thanks for the suggestions.
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Farm Kitchen: Storing flour |
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Storing flour
