Flour past its 'best before' date

Q: Does it matter if flour is past its ‘best before’ date?

A: Over time flour will go rancid but generally it can be used beyond its 'best before date' if stored in an airtight jar or container away from heat and, if possible, light.

Regular white flour can last up to 6-8 months after the best before date. But flours such as wholegrain flour, will only last up to 4-6 months past the date if stored correctly. They are more perishable because of the oil in the bran they contain.You can tell if your flour is still fresh, and useable, just by smelling it.

Fresh flour will have a pleasant, mild fresh grain aroma while flour that is past its prime and has gone rancid will smell old and ‘musty’. Rancid flour will also taint the flavour of your final bake.

The shelf life of flour can be extended by storing it in the fridge or freezer and I would highly recommend doing this if you live in a hot, high-humidity climate.

If stored this way, the flour is best brought back to room temperature before using as the chilling can affect a bake's ability to rise, resulting in a denser in texture.

Watch Anneka's explanation below: