How I Store My Flour And Bakery Mix At Home
Perhaps, one of the most challenging parts of having a food and beverage business is storing the ingredients properly. At my baking and pastry business, what I usually store are eggs, milk, flour and bakery mix.
But why is storing the ingredients challenging? To begin with, improper storage of ingredients may result in them going bad. In my case, if I don’t refrigerate my milk, it may spoil earlier than usual; it is a waste of food and money.
Additionally, improper storage of ingredients may result in contamination. For example, if I don’t store the flour I got from my flour supplier in Singapore in appropriate containers, flour bugs may infest it. It may lead to stomach ache and food poisoning.
So if you are looking for tips on how to store your flour properly, here are my suggestions:
1. USE AIR-TIGHT CONTAINERS
Most people leave their flour in their bags. It is fine when the flour bag is unopened, but for those opened ones, you need to transfer them to air-tight containers.
Leaving the flour in bags exposes them to many elements, such as moisture, dust, and pests. I keep the freshness of my flour mix by storing them in an air-tight container.
Air-tight containers are not affected by moisture. They are also impenetrable by pests. Moreover, the flour is not exposed to a smell that may cling to it. Ziplock bags are great alternatives for air-tight containers. You can use it for your excess pancake mix recipes.
2. CHOOSE A COLD STORAGE PLACE
Most types of flour hate light and heat. The greatest way to store them is putting them in your fridge. Are you surprised? Light and heat reduce the shelf life of your flour.
Whenever I buy flour in bulk, I always put the excess in a zip-lock bag and freeze them. Flours naturally contain oil. In high temperatures, the oil can go rancid resulting in spoilage. Therefore, freezing your flour preserves the flour.
Whenever my freeze lacks room, I store them in the fridge. Just make sure to use an air-tight container so the odour from other food won’t cling to your flour.
If you don’t have a refrigerator or freezer, you can store them in the coldest area of your home, such as the cellar. A space at room temperature is okay, too.
3. CHOOSE A DARK STORAGE
As mentioned, light affects the shelf life of flour, so you must protect them from light. If you are not storing your flour in the refrigerator, you can keep them in cupboards at room temperature.
But what if you have no cupboards? You can use an opaque container or jar that naturally blocks the light. You can also keep your flour in coolers or thermal bags. Just remember to avoid light and heat.
Your flour can last up to six months or more when you store them properly. The preserved freshness makes it ideal for wholemeal bread recipes. Try these tips whenever you buy flour!
If you are looking for a flour supplier in Singapore, I highly recommend Prima Flour. Prima Flour has all types of flour you need! Visit Prima Flour today.