Out of date flour (not panic bought)

[Motherofmonsters]

Hello,

I've found some out of date flour in my cupboard, only dated 30th march.

How long can I use it past its date, I've made a cake today and it tastes fine.

Will it get noticeable mould?

If it's dry, it won't go mouldy, but it could be fine for at least a year or two from now, maybe more.

What you have to watch out for is flour weevils, the longer the flour is stored the more chance you will see them. They're harmless but seeing tiny little creatures running around in your flour is quite offputting and being mixed in a cake and baked in the oven is probably not a nice way for them to go.

My flour often goes out of date because I don't always use it very fast, but I've only ever had weevils once in 25+ years of having my own house.

I’ve used out of date flour which is far older than that...

Exactly what Barbara said. The flour will be fine to use.

Freezing flour in a plastic zip-lock bag for a couple of days after you buy it will kill any weevil eggs, if present. I never bother, as I don't have the freezer space and I've never noticed any activity.

Recently made a cake using flour that went out of date in 2015 it was fine

Despite being sealed in a dry container I've had flour develop a fine brown mould before. But I think a long time later. Reckon you'll be ok for a while yet!

Sniff test. Don’t use it if it starts to smell musty.
It keeps longer in the fridge if you have room but seal it as it can absorb odours.
Flour is good for about 18 months.

Absolutely fine. I ate fresh polenta (like not the dry kind, the kind vacuum packed in like a sausage) that went out of date in January.

Dh also had a tonic with his gin this weekend that went out of date 2 years ago. Who knew tonic went out of date?!

You can keep flour for years. If you get weevils they are pretty obvious, and very annoying

Ah lovely, thank you. I'll keep using it

If it's self raising you might need to add baking powder to it after a while (when you use it obviously).

I would use it OP.

Make salt dough handprints and upload them to all your social media. Then get the popcorn out

I've used flour up to 2 years out of date. Its never been an issue.