Interesting article on continuing flour shortages.

[diamond lil]

I keep flour in the freezer

[Stonecarver]

When I bought my panasonic breadmaker we stopped eating store bread so ..like ukpreppergirl..stocked up on lots of bread flour. Bought another exact same breadmaker as backup. Will be vacuum sealing some of the flour in ziplocks for short term and some in mylar for a bit longer term

[Decaff]

I put all flour in the freezer for a few days (Inside plastic wrap to keep it dry) and then I decant into my flour tub and the rest is stored inside an air-tight tub to keep it safe from any wandering/flying critters. I had the nasty visitors once and they decimated my cupboards so now everything like flour, pasta and dried goods are all stored in jars and tubs so it never happens again. Such a ruddy nightmare to get rid of them and such a waste of food! Not had a problem since so it does work.

[Decaff]

I dont know if this will help but I remember reading that if you put your bags of flour into ziplock bags then freeze it for 24 hours it destroys the eggs of the mite thingys that is in all flour because the freezing kills the eggs thus prolonging the shelflife. Sadly I cannot confirm this as accurate though.

Mrs A does this and we have never had any problems with flour mites and stores it the same way as cbp125 says above. Its an expensive way to keep a [relatively] cheap product, but for longer term storage its by far the best way. We also dry can quite a bit of flour when we have spare jars, that way we always have easy access to a smaller amount.

Do you find the flour needs extra liquids when using after being oven canned? I have seen homesteaders on the tube mention adding in more liquid as the heat dries it out almost to a clump?

[Arwen Thebard]

Mrs A tells me not, just the usual recipe and quantities.

[jansman]

I put all flour in the freezer for a few days (Inside plastic wrap to keep it dry) and then I decant into my flour tub and the rest is stored inside an air-tight tub to keep it safe from any wandering/flying critters. I had the nasty visitors once and they decimated my cupboards so now everything like flour, pasta and dried goods are all stored in jars and tubs so it never happens again. Such a ruddy nightmare to get rid of them and such a waste of food! Not had a problem since so it does work.

The flour you buy,will be screened.As you say,you keep it in sealed containers.We do the same here at home.Our bakery at work uses rather a lot of flour every week,as you can imagine.It comes in on pallets,in 25 kg paper sacks,and is wheeled straight into a dry shipping container.I asked the bakery manager about the idea of freezing shop bought flour to kill cooties. Insert broad Geordie accent: " Insects in yer flour? Nah way man! If you've got creepie crawlies in yer flour,you need another supplier,and those dirty bas***** need reporting". Of course,he said you do have to prevent infestation once you have the flour,so sealed tubs all the way.

[diamond lil]

Where are you all getting these tubs for storing dry goods?

[ForgeCorvus]

Where are you all getting these tubs for storing dry goods?

My local bakery sells the buckets the jam and other fillings come in, handy as thats also a good source for all sorts of flour and yeast by the oz.
The ones I've bought are square so they fit on shelves better

[diamond lil]

Square containers would be good.

[Decaff]

I put all flour in the freezer for a few days (Inside plastic wrap to keep it dry) and then I decant into my flour tub and the rest is stored inside an air-tight tub to keep it safe from any wandering/flying critters. I had the nasty visitors once and they decimated my cupboards so now everything like flour, pasta and dried goods are all stored in jars and tubs so it never happens again. Such a ruddy nightmare to get rid of them and such a waste of food! Not had a problem since so it does work.

The flour you buy,will be screened.As you say,you keep it in sealed containers.We do the same here at home.Our bakery at work uses rather a lot of flour every week,as you can imagine.It comes in on pallets,in 25 kg paper sacks,and is wheeled straight into a dry shipping container.I asked the bakery manager about the idea of freezing shop bought flour to kill cooties. Insert broad Geordie accent: " Insects in yer flour? Nah way man! If you've got creepie crawlies in yer flour,you need another supplier,and those dirty bas***** need reporting". Of course,he said you do have to prevent infestation once you have the flour,so sealed tubs all the way.

it kills the eggs of the weevils I think, you can't see them, till they hatch out...