Does almond flour go bad?

Almond flour isn’t as common as wheat flour, so when you do get some, you’ll want to make sure you use all of it and nothing goes to waste.

Does almond flour go bad?

Almond flour spoils over time. Being made from a nut, not wheat, almond flour can go rancid if not stored properly, and a number of problems can result if almond flour is exposed to moisture or insects. Opened flour is best used within 3 months unless stored in the fridge or freezer.

To make sure you get the most out of every ounce of flour in your pantry, this article explains exactly how long almond flour lasts in different situations, how to tell if your flour has gone bad, and how best to store it properly to keep it fresh for the long haul. as long as possible.

What is almond flour?

Almond flour is a powdered form of almonds. First the almonds are scalded, which makes it easier to remove the skin. Once dried again, they are ground into a fine powder, very similar in texture and consistency to wheat flour.

You can also find almond flour, which is different, although similar to almond flour. Almond flour is made by grinding almonds into a powder with the skin on. This makes the powder, or flour, coarser than true almond flour.

One of our favorite almond flour recipes is Almond Flour Apple Pie .

How to make almond flour

Whether you want to try almond flour without committing to a whole packet or just prefer to make your own flour whenever you can, it’s a relatively simple process if you have almonds and a food processor.

The best almond flour is made with whole, raw almonds. You can use toasted almonds, but the flavor and texture will be different from what you would expect from store-bought flour, and it may not work well in all recipes.

However, the most important thing to keep in mind is salt. Salted almond flour will not work well in any recipe, so avoid salted almonds when making almond flour.

1. To blanch almonds, simply prepare a pot of boiling water and a bowl of ice water.
2. When both are ready, place your almonds in the boiling water for no more than 2 minutes. Drain and immediately transfer your nuts to ice water for another 2 minutes.
3. After this you can lift them out of the water and the skins should slide off easily.
4. Spread them out on a kitchen towel or kitchen paper until they are dry again. Try to leave them at least overnight to make sure they are completely dry.
5. Once the almonds are blanched and dry, add them to the food processor or blender and grind until they become a powder.

It is best to grind a maximum of 1 cup of almonds at a time, although this may vary depending on your processor. When you grind more at a time, they tend to clump together and don’t grind evenly. If your nuts aren’t completely dry, they can also clump together.

Best Almond Flour: Blue Diamond

The price difference between making your own almond flour and buying ready-made flour isn’t big enough to make everyone want to make it, so Blue Diamond has you covered. Not only do they offer the most impressive selection of nuts to snack on, but they also have almond flour. It even comes in club size.

Blue Diamond Almond Flour is made from blanched almonds and is finely ground and well sifted. It is also certified Kosher and gluten-free.

You can use almond flour as a substitute for wheat flour or whole wheat flour in almost any recipe, but there are a few minor adjustments to make. Blue Diamond is incredibly helpful when it comes to sharing recipes developed especially for their flour, which is another reason to appreciate this brand.

How long does almond flour last?

How long does almond flour last before you have to worry about it going bad? It depends on how it is stored, as we have already said.

Other factors that can influence the duration of your flour are

• Is it homemade or bought?
• How long has the package been open?
• How often have you been exposed to fluctuating temperatures?

Almond flour shelf life

Store-bought almond flour will have an expiration or best-before date stamped on the package. It is always best to stay within the parameters set by the manufacturer.

However, the best before date is usually a general recommendation. Manufacturers don’t guarantee that the product will be of the highest quality after that date, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s suddenly no good.

Rather, it means that quality will start to degrade more quickly or more noticeably after this date.

Is almond flour good after its best before date?

If the container has never been opened, it is likely to stay fresh well beyond the best before date. However, even if it isn’t exposed to air or moisture, it will eventually go rancid from the oils in the almonds.

In most cases, an unopened packet of almond flour stored in a cool, dry pantry will stay relatively fresh for up to 3 months after the best before date.

If stored in the fridge, it can last a year or more, and in the freezer, up to 2 years or more.

However, once almond flour has been opened, it should be used within 3 months of the best before date if stored carefully in the pantry. In the fridge, it can last an additional 6 months, and in the freezer, it will probably stay fresh for up to a year.

How long does homemade almond flour last?

Homemade almond flour doesn’t last as long because home kitchens can’t be as sterile or high-tech as commercial prep centers.

You should use any homemade almond flour within 3 months if you store it in your pantry. If you prefer to store it in the fridge, it should last up to 6 months and you will get a safe year out of your almond flour if you store it in the freezer.

Almond Flour Shelf Life [Table]

Here is a table that summarizes the shelf life of almond flour based on different factors and storage techniques:

How to know if almond flour is bad

If your almond flour has gone bad, the first thing you’ll notice is an unpleasant smell.

Fresh, wholesome almond flour has a slightly sweet and nutty aroma, just like you would expect almonds to smell. If it has gone stale or moldy, the smell will turn rancid or even sour if it is badly spoiled.

The color of the flour is also a good indicator of quality. Almond flour is a very pale tan color, barely white, and fairly uniform unless it is almond flour rather than almond meal.

If it has gone bad, there may be darker areas, specks, or streaks in the flour. This is a bad sign.

Almond flour can also become moldy if it has been exposed to moisture. If you ever notice sticky clumps in the flour, discard them along with the surrounding affected flour. It may just be wet and not bad, but you don’t want to risk it.

If it has gone moldy, you may see hints of blue or green in your flour. At this point, the safest thing to do is to discard the entire batch.

Lastly, if there is any access, bugs can infest your flour – whether it’s almond, coconut, or regular wheat, pantry bugs love flour. If you see any black or dark brown bugs, discard the batch of flour. Where there is one, there are probably many.

What happens if you eat rancid flour?

If you accidentally, or on purpose, eat almond flour that has gone rancid, it’s not likely to make you seriously ill. However, it will likely taste terrible.

If you’ve ever eaten a nut or seed and bit into one that tasted sour, sour, or just plain unappetizing, it was probably a rancid nut or seed. If your flour goes rancid, it won’t be just one bite that tastes terrible, but the entire batch of whatever meal you’ve made with the flour.

Moldy almond meal, on the other hand, can be more serious.

A variety of mold types can grow on any type of food. Some are relatively harmless, while others can cause food poisoning. If there are any signs of mold, discard the entire batch of flour for safety.

How to preserve almond flour

Almonds have significantly more oil and fat than wheat, which can go rancid if exposed to heat or sunlight for too long. With this in mind, to keep your almond flour fresh, you should store it in a cool place away from direct light.

Flour of any kind is also very susceptible to moisture. If moisture does get on your almond flour, it will clump at best and also mold quickly. It is important to keep the flour well sealed against all the elements.

Almond flour storage

The most common way to store flour is in the pantry, which is also an option for almond flour. If your flour hasn’t opened yet, it will do just fine in a cool, dark pantry.

As soon as the package is opened, you will need to transfer the contents to an airtight plastic bag that is carefully closed each time you use the flour, or better yet, to a resealable jar.

You can use a glass, stainless steel, or even wooden container, but it should have a silicone or other secure seal around the lid to protect it from air and moisture.

It is always a good idea to label the container in which the almond flour is stored. This way it won’t be confused with another type of flour or powder, but you can also include a date on the label so you know when it was opened.

Should you store almond flour in the fridge?

The colder you store almond flour, the longer it will be protected from rancidity. It will still be at risk of moisture, but it will stay fresh longer.

Storing almond flour in the fridge is not required, but if you have the space, it will certainly extend its shelf life.

In the cold, your flour won’t mold as easily as it does in your pantry, but over time exposure to any moisture will cause it to clump and decay.

As with storing flour in the pantry, you have to make sure that the container is always tightly closed against moisture. Various odors and flavors are also loose in the fridge and can contaminate your flour if it is not kept tightly sealed.

The best containers to store almond flour in the fridge are glass ones, which protect a lot from external odors and flavors of other foods.

Can almond flour be frozen?

You can freeze almond flour. Freezing is the best way to protect your flour for longer, especially if it is well sealed.

Freezing temperatures prevent the oils and fats in the nuts from going rancid, and there is very little moisture in the freezer to threaten the flour.

You’ll still need to make sure the flour is well sealed so that air doesn’t get into the airtight bag or container, but other than a good seal, there’s very little to worry about.

A sturdy container is best, as there’s always a chance plastic bags could get punctured or ripped, and the slightest hole can cause ice crystals to form in your flour.

If this happens, simply remove any bits of flour that appear damaged or wet once you take them out of the freezer.

Related questions

Do ground almonds expire?

Yes, ground almonds, as well as whole almonds, flaked, sliced or shaved almonds, and almond flour, do expire.

Everything that is made with or from any type of nut has an expiration date.

To prolong the life of your ground almonds or other almond product, follow the recommendations above for preserving almond flour. Keeping your products cool, out of direct sunlight and well protected from moisture will ensure a longer shelf life.

Does coconut flour go bad?

As with all processed products, coconut flour will come stamped with a best before or expiration date. This is the manufacturer’s best prediction of the highest quality coconut flour. Beyond that date, the flavor may begin to deteriorate or go rancid.

If coconut flour is stored in a cool, dry place, it will stay fresh beyond the best before date, but due to the high levels of oil in the coconuts, it will eventually go rancid. It can also become moldy if exposed to moisture.

Does gluten-free flour go bad?

Yes, gluten-free flour goes bad. However, there are many different types of gluten-free flour, and each will have a slightly different shelf life. The higher the fat content of a flour, the faster it will start to spoil.

Flours made with nuts and seeds are typically gluten-free, but they are also high in fat and can go rancid or moldy, depending on storage conditions. It is best to follow the storage conditions recommended by the manufacturer on the packaging, and respect the suggested best before date.