Problem Frozen flour
Have kept flour in freezer all the time - last time we got out the 5 lb bag it had chunks of flour in it. Can only assume it is caused by moisture in the flour since it was kept in original bag - have never placed the flour in air tight container and never had this problem. Can running the flour thru a food processor to break it up "hurt" the flour?
Best Answer
Not that I can imagine. Many of the recipes I use call for making doughs in a food processor and the first step is often "sifting" the flour by pulsing it a couple of times either alone or with the leavening agents.
This shouldn't hurt your flour, particularly if your recipe calls for sifting your flour.
I do recommend that you consider measuring your flour by weight (if you are able), if the chunks are too big to give you a good volumetric measurement before processing, especially if you're making a recipe that's generally "picky" about flour amounts or specifically calls for "pre-sifted" volume measurements. Processing the flour will likely aerate it somewhat and may throw your volumetric measurements off slightly. Weight measurements shouldn't be effected by this.
If the chunks are small (1/2 inch/1 cm), you may be able to get a good volume measurement before you process the flour.
Consider coming back and letting us know how it goes!
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Does flour go bad if frozen?
Refrigerating or freezing it may further increase its shelf life (6). For example, all-purpose flour lasts 6\u20138 months on the shelf but up to 1 year if refrigerated and 2 years if frozen (7). If you put your flour in the fridge, be sure to keep it away from moisture and water to prevent mold.Does freezing flour affect baking?
Once you bring the flour to room temperature, go ahead and use it for your favorite baked goods. Freezing flour doesn't affect its qualities if you let it 'come back to life' before using. If you use cold flour to bake, your baked good won't rise. They may also turn out heavy and rubbery.Do you need to thaw frozen flour?
As flour is frozen when it is solid, you do not have to worry about it clumping together and forming one chunk of flour. You will still be able to scoop out the required amount you need. While you can defrost all of the flour at once, we would recommend only defrosting the amount of flour you need at one given time.Does freezing raw flour make it safe to eat?
You can freeze flour, but it won't kill raw bacteria that may already have grown in your flour. Freezing food stops the growth of bacteria but doesn't kill them.Bagging \u0026 Sorting Flour For The Freezer
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Answer 2
I always save the small silica packets that come in spices, vitamins, and many other products to absorb moisture. Throw them in your flour bag and voila no more moisture. Can also be done after the fact to absorb moisture already mistakenly introduced to food.
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