How to Store Baking Flour
Unless you are a serial-baker, a five-pound bag of flour is going to last you a while. But what is the best way to make sure that the last cup measured is as fresh as the first? Air tight storage containers are a must for preserving the freshness of your baking flour. The proper container will reduce the chances of clumping due to moisture, prevent the possibility of unwanted flour pests and will make future access to the flour easier for scooping. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find an airtight jar or container. You can really use any material you like for the container, whether it is glass or plastic--all that it needs is to be airtight. Moisture is the number-one killer of flour. If moisture sets in, your flour will become clumpy and flour mites known as flour-weevils, or red flour beetles, could set in. These pests are the number-one pantry infestation in the United States (according to a study done by researchers at North Dakota State University), and once they set in, you must discard the entire container of flour. So choosing an airtight container is necessary to keep the flour in and insects out. Large snap-locking jars work very well, however only if the rubber seal gasket is still attached. The container does not need to be huge, but most bags of flour come in two- or five-pound bags, so your container should fit at least two pounds.
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Thoroughly clean and dry your container. Sealing out moisture is pointless if you begin with a wet container. Clean, with soap, the inside and outside of your container to kill any germs or bacteria that may be present. Both towel and air dry the container. Once the container is completely dry, fill it with your baking flour, and secure the lid.
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Store the container in the cupboard, pantry, refrigerator or on the counter. Really, you can store it virtually anywhere that can stay above freezing and below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as moisture does not set into the container, you should be able to use it at it's full freshness for up to eight to 10 months.
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