Food Storage: How to Store Almond Flour Long-Term

Almond flour has grown in popularity over the last few years since its useful flour in baking sweet bread, cookies, cakes, and other pastries. But compared to other types of flour, almond flour has a shorter shelf life and can only stay fresh for up to two years. The reason for its shorter shelf life is the same thing that gives it unique properties. Almond flour is a nut flour high in natural oils, which causes the flour to go rancid sooner.

But with good storage practices, you can make sure the almond flour can reach its max shelf life.

When stored properly in a food-grade bucket, almond flour can stay fresh for up to two years. In mylar bags, it can stay fresh for 10 to 12 months and up to 10 months in mason jars. However, in its original packaging, it only stays fresh for up to 6 months.

Let’s begin by discussing the shelf life of almond flour and how to prevent it from going bad.

Shelf Life of Almond Flour

Almond flour has a maximum shelf life of 2 years in a 5-gallon bucket. And it can be stored for over a year in a mylar bag and up to 10 months in a mason jar.

In its original packaging, almond flour goes bad after 3-6 months. And this applies to homemade almond flour too. But this can be extended up to 1 year if stored in a freezer. Frozen almond flour is preserved in cold temperatures because it prevents the growth of microorganisms and food-borne illnesses.

For a simple table, see below:

The goal when storing almond flour is to keep it in an airtight container, away from environmental aggressors like heat, direct sunlight, moisture, air, and pantry pests. Just by reducing these rancid-causing factors, your almond flour will be to reach its max shelf life.

The shelf life of almond flour is significantly lower than that of wheat flour. Wheat flour, for example, has a max shelf life of over 20 years compared to the 2 years almond flour is good for.

For this reason, we don’t recommend stocking this type of flour unless you’re sure you can use it before it goes bad.

The reason almond flour has a shorter shelf life than other types of flour is because almonds have a high-fat content, meaning the oils in the fat cause the flour to go rancid sooner. Coconut flour is also made from a high-fat source, coconut meat, and has a shelf life of 2 years.

Step by Step: How to Store Almond Flour Long Term

Almond flour doesn’t last as long as other types of flour, but it does have a considerable shelf life. However, just like with any other pantry ingredient, there are proper storage methods to follow.

As a general rule of thumb, you should always transfer almond flour to an airtight bag or container after opening. If you’d like, you can also do it immediately after buying the flour to increase its shelf life.

Don’t worry! Storing almond flour won’t take too much effort, and getting the supplies you’ll need is relatively cheap. In fact, you can treat it as if you’re storing regular store-bought wheat flour.

These are the most effective methods to prolong your almond flour’s shelf life:

Mason Jars

Using mason jars to store almond flour is a simple and decorative method. These jars won’t take up too much space, plus they look good in your pantry.

Mason jars are also cheap and come in different designs, so there’s room to get creative. Storing almond flour in these glass containers should keep them fresh for 8 to 10 months.

Here’s how you can store almond flour in mason jars:

1. Prepare a one-gallon mason jar of your choosing, and wash it with water and liquid antibacterial soap.
2. Let the jar dry thoroughly before using.
3. Transfer the almond flour directly to the jar using a funnel. A gallon of mason jar should hold five pounds of flour.
4. You can add a 500 cc oxygen absorber for extra safety measures.
5. Place them neatly in your pantry, fridge, or freezer. Like with other methods, the temperature should be at 40 to 70°F.

To get more detail on how to store food in mason jars, we wrote a how-to article on the topic.

Pro Tip: We suggest keeping mason jars in a fridge or freezer because cold temperatures help preserve flour and other dry foods.

Mylar Bags

Mylar bags are metallic sheets used to keep food safe from oxygen, moisture, and light. Almond flour stored in mylar bags can stay fresh for over 1 year.

Mylar bags don’t cost a lot of money, so it’s hassle-free to stock them. To get started on this storage method, just follow these steps:

1. Prepare the number of mylar bags you’ll need depending on how much almond flour you plan to store
2. You can fill a one-gallon mylar bag with at least five pounds of almond flour
3. Add a 500 cc oxygen absorber to remove excess oxygen in a mylar bag
4. Close the mylar bag with a hair straightener or iron
5. Place the bags on an elevated surface in your pantry or storage room
6. The ideal temperature for these bags stays at 40 to 70°F. Your almond flour should last around 10 to 12 months or more under these conditions

Mylar bags are an effective way to store almond flour. But you should know that the main downside of using this storage method is that rodents are known to bite through the metallic sheets, causing the food to spoil. Still, if you keep the mylar bags on an elevated surface, they will be protected from pests.

If you would like more detail on how to store food in mylar bags, we have a how-to guide on the topic.

Almond Flour in Food-Grade Buckets

If you’re planning to stock up on some almond flour in bulk amounts, using food-grade buckets is the way to go. 5-gallon buckets can store about 25 pounds of almond flour. Not only will you have a steady source of food ingredients, but it can also last in your storage room for up to 2 years.

Here’s how you can store almond flour in food-grade buckets:

1. Buy a food-grade bucket if you don’t already have one
2. Clean the bucket by washing it in water and liquid antibacterial soap
3. Make sure to let it dry before using the bucket
4. Line the food-grade bucket with a mylar bag
5. Transfer almond flour into the mylar bag, filling the bag up to 80%
6. Add oxygen absorbers to the bucket to ensure there’s a minimal amount of oxygen
7. Close the mylar bag with a hair straightener or iron
8. Cover the food-grade bucket with a lid.
9. Place the bucket in your storage room at 40 to 70°F

While we don’t recommend stocking lots of almond flour, this method can help increase its shelf life.

Food-grade buckets are one of the most effective methods for food storage since it prevents environmental aggressors from contaminating your food. You can learn to properly store flour in 5-gallon buckets by following our how-to guide on the topic.

Why Does Almond Flour Go Bad Before its Expiration Date?

Much like other types of flour, almond flour goes bad because of exposure to environmental aggressors. Exposure to pantry bugs, direct sunlight, heat, moisture, and oxygen can all cause your flour go bad before the printed expiration date. 

Fortunately, it is easy to properly store your flour so it doesn’t go bad early. You can make almond flour last longer by storing it in a dark, cool, and dry place. Also, you should consider changing the packaging to an airtight container with oxygen absorbers in a hard-to-reach place.

Simply storing almond flour in a place like a high shelf, fridge, or freezer in a proper container can help extend the shelf life of almond flour a lot.

How to Tell if Almond Flour is Rancid?

If your almond flour has gone bad, it’s best to dispose of it. Consuming almond flour can cause food poisoning, change the taste of a dish, and provides lower nutritional value.

Fortunately, it is easy to tell if almond flour has gone rancid. If you suspect your flour of being rancid, conduct a three-step approach to determine if it’s bad.

1. Visual: The first and most clear sign of rancidity is discoloration in the almond flour. Look for mold spores, moisture, or signs of pest contamination. If you notice any of these, you can dispose of the flour, and there is no need to go on to the next step.
2. Smell: After the visual test, it’s the smell test. Almond flour had a nutty smell to it, but if it had gone bad, then it would smell off. If you notice an off-smell, you can skip the next step and simply dispose of the flour.
3. Taste: If you are still unsure at this point, then you can use your almond flour to bake something small. Based on the taste, you will know immediately if it is bad. Rancid flour has a musty, sour taste which will change the flavor of a dish. Once you notice the flavor of the almond flour is off, it’s best to dispose of your supply of bad almond flour.

What Is Almond Flour?

Almond flour is a nut flour that has become a popular healthy alternative to wheat flour for making sweet bread, cookies, cakes, and other pastries. Not only does it come with numerous health benefits, but it also adds a slightly sweeter taste to your baked goods.

As the name implies, almond flour is a product of blanching, grinding, and sifting almonds. Unlike almond meal, you need to remove the skin of an almond to turn it into flour.

It’s no surprise why health fanatics prefer to bake with almond flour since it’s packed with many nutrients and is generally good for your body. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable health benefits this pantry ingredient has to offer:

• Packed with nutrients such as protein, iron, calcium, manganese, etc.
• Almond flour is a gluten-free flour, which helps removes many of the negative health effects of gluten from your diet
• Contains monounsaturated fat, which helps maintain cholesterol levels
• Improves digestive health due to its prebiotic dietary fiber content
• Since it’s low in carbs and high in healthy fats, it controls blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of diabetes
• Rich in vitamin E and antioxidants to help combat cognitive diseases

While this flour is made from almonds, it doesn’t necessarily add a nutty taste to food. It’s also easier to make at home, unlike regular wheat flour.

Nutrition Facts of Almond Flour

Almond flour is made from almonds which is a nut high in fats. The nutrition facts of almond flour are:

Summary

Almond flour is a nut flour with a high-fat content, and able to make delicious sweet bread, cookies, cakes, and other pastries in the kitchen. If you’re health-conscious or need to cut down on carbs, almond flour is a welcome addition to your pantry. It comes with a lot of good stuff and makes cooking and baking more interesting.

Almond flour has a max shelf life of 2 years in a food-grade bucket, 1+ years in a mylar bag, 10 months in a mason jar, and up to 6 months in its original bag. When frozen, it can last up to 1 year in a freezer.

Since it doesn’t last as long as other flour types, we suggest against bulk storage and only storing as much as you think you will use. Nonetheless, you can still extend its shelf life from 6 months to 2 years by following the proper storage techniques referenced in this article.

If you are interested in the shelf life of sweet almond oil, consider reading our article on the topic.

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