Some of you may be guilty of this – storing ingredients such as flour, baking soda and butter beyond their expiration dates. While you may think that these items can be stored for a long time, they too have their expiration dates.
It’s about time then that you check their shelf life and label your container to make you aware when you need to throw them away. Here are useful tips you need to keep in mind.
Flour is a common kitchen ingredient that many housewives believe can last for a long time. When stored in the pantry, the maximum time you can keep your flour is six months. If you want to keep them longer for up to a year, though, the best storage space for it is the freezer or refrigerator. Just be sure to store it first in an airtight container before putting it in the fridge.
Butter is good for up to two weeks only but if you want to make it last for a month, again the freezer is where it should be stored. If you have several bars of butter, do remember to put only one of them in the fridge and the rest should be placed in the freezer.
Baking soda has lots of uses but the trick is to put it in separate containers such as if you want to use it as an air freshener and ingredient in your recipes at the same time. For use as air freshener, change it at least every month while for cooking purposes, you can store it for up to three months.
Oil can last up to six months only. If you’re not using it often, put it in the fridge to make it last longer for up to eight months. To keep it useful for up to a year, it can go in the freezer.
Image via harrietcarter
Originally posted on May 28, 2013 @ 1:34 pm
