Shelf life of homemade self-rising flour?
I have a recipe that uses self-rising flour which is not available where I live, so I make my own by sifting all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt together. This has always worked fine.
In a few days I will be needing a few cups, so I decided to make it today and store it in a closed plastic bag.
Could it be a problem that I have made the flour a few days in advance? Will it still work as expected?
I have always used the homemade self-rising flour immediately and never tried to store it.
Of course the self-rising flour you buy in stores are the same three ingredients, but I don't know if the manufacture also uses some additives that makes it store well.
Best Answer
The shelf life is not a problem. This is one of the rare cases where mixing ingredients doesn't change their shelf life. All of them are shelf stable because of lack of moisture, and nothing is introducing moisture, so the mixture is shelf stable.
You could, however, run into problems if you try to make a large batch and scoop out of it for every baking session. The reason is that this kind of mixture rarely stays homogenous. Every shake encourages it to separate, with the larger grains (salt, baking powder) gathering on top of the smaller grains (flour). If you store it somewhere undisturbed, the effect won't be too strong the first few times you use it, but you will be on the safe side if you pre-mix the quantity for exactly one batch only.
As a side note, this seems like a strange way to go about it. If you either don't premix and just pour all ingredients into the bowl on baking day, or premix all dry ingredients at once (making your own baking mix, so to speak) you will be more efficient than just mixing a self rising flour separately.
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Quick Answer about "Shelf life of homemade self-rising flour?"
Self-rising flours will last 3-4 months in the pantry. Self-rising flour's shelf life is similar to white/all-purpose flour. It can be used 6-8 months after its expiration date, however, the self-rising reaction will be noticeably weaker the longer it has been opened and the older the flour gets.How long does homemade self rising flour last?
When stored in the pantry, self-raising flour lasts for 4 \u2013 6 months. If it is stored in an airtight container in the fridge, self-raising flour can last up to 6-months longer.Can you store homemade self rising flour?
Store your self rising flour in an airtight container and put the container in a cool, dark place. The back of the pantry or your refrigerator even works well.Can I use 3 year old flour?
Flour has a long shelf life but generally goes bad after 3\u20138 months. White flour may last longest due to its lower fat content, while whole-wheat and gluten-free varieties spoil sooner. You can extend flour's shelf life by sealing it properly or refrigerating or freezing it.Does self rising flour get old?
One exception to this is self-rising flour. While the flour itself remains stable, its added baking powder gradually loses potency \u2014 just like the can of baking powder in your cupboard does. Yes, you can bake with self-rising flour after its best-by date; but your baked goods may not rise as well.HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SELF-RISING FLOUR (KEEP THIS RECIPE!!!)
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