Dry canning flour has been around since my grandmother’s time. I read up on canning flour when I got a 50-pound bag of flour. At the time, flour was hard to come by due to a shortage, and I needed to bake bread for our family because it was not available in our grocery stores. The bread was off the shelves of the store, and baking ingredients were unavailable. A restaurant supply store was where I was able to find flour, but 50 pounds seemed like a lot to deal with!
I packaged the flour in many ziplock bags for the freezer. I knew I needed to find another way to store the rest of the flour that didn’t take up my freezer space. Canning flour came up in a conversation, I so began doing a little research. If you try this on your own, I suggest doing your own research to see if it is right for you. According to the USDA, oven canning flour is not a safe method. I oven-canned flour as a means to save a large amount of flour during a time of need. As you will see, other methods may be more safe and more effective.
See also: Easy Strawberry JamThe supplies I used were four half-gallon canning jars with the lid and rings. Wash the jars and ensure they are completely dry before putting the flour in them. Drying them in the oven will dry them if you are short on time.
Watch the video for the complete tutorial on how canning flour works.
Oven canning flour is just one solution for storing dry goods. Cornmeal, beans, and rice are other food items that can be dry canned for long-term storage. There are other solutions that work well for storing food items for storage too. Find what works for your needs. I am trying several different ways to put dry goods up for storage.
In reading the information, I believe it will last about a year. Flour can last longer depending on your climate and humidity. Storing food in a cool, dry place will always help it to last longer than its printed shelf life. Always inspect your flour for bugs or an off smell when using stored flour.
See also: Honey Wheat Bread recipeIn the video, I left the flour in the oven for about an hour at 200 degrees. I used half-gallon jars and followed a recipe for that size. Always take into account your storage size and the directions.
Storing flour in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid is better than the paper packaging if it will be in a storage pantry. Oxygen absorbers can be used inside the jar to help with moisture, especially if you live in a humid climate. A vacuum sealer is another option with jar attachments. I use this method for food storage of many items.
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Many people have a personal preference for the best way to store flour. Freezing flour is a good option if you have the space. Next, using food-grade buckets is another way to store flour safely. A combination of ziptop bags, food-grade buckets, and oxygen absorbers is another good way to store flour.
I store many foods such as beans, rice, flour, pasta, and other foods. The 4-4-4 method is what I start with, no matter how I end up storing the items. First, freeze the item for four days. Then, leave it on the counter for four days and freeze it again for four days. After this process, you are ready to store the food for the long term.
The first four-day freeze will kill any larvae and bugs, but not the eggs. The second four days on the counter will allow time for any eggs to hatch. The next freeze will kill the second round of larvae, and then you are good to store the food item.
Canning flour in the oven was a good solution for me then. The flour I purchased was not ideal for my everyday needs but will be nice to have for emergencies. Knowing I have those jars stored will come in handy someday.
Currently, the USDA does not recommend dry heat canning because foodborne bacteria and their spores are not sensitive to it. Wet heat kills bacteria and spores, including water bath canning and pressure canning.
Even though I needed a quick solution for the flour, this gave me the opportunity to begin researching storing food long-term. I have stored food in the past but had gotten out of the habit. Having food stored for your family is just good practice for emergencies of all kinds. We live in Florida and often go through periods without power due to hurricanes.
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Knowing what foods store best is a good resource for stocking your pantry. Keeping extra of those items will come in handy. Remember to rotate stored food about every six months. It is best to rotate if you store canned goods, so food does not go bad.
Holly is an author, storyteller, and Florida Master Naturalist who loves to share heritage skills taught to her by her grandmothers. Florida has been her family home for generations and preserving that lifestyle for the future is her goal. Holly enjoys coming alongside women to share skills and help them discover their own natural gifts and talents.