Storing Ingredients

There are certain rules to follow to keep your baking ingredients fresh and wholesome.

Food manufacturers work hard to make sure that their products stay wholesome and fresh until you get them into your kitchen. But you can't just put the package in the pantry and expect these ingredients to keep their perfect condition! Buy some sturdy containers with tightly sealed lids and follow these instructions to keep your foods fresh for a long time.

• Decant regular flour into a plastic or glass container with a screw on or tight fitting lid.
• Decant whole wheat flour into a freezer container, label it, and store in the freezer. You can use it straight from the freezer.
• Store nuts in well-sealed containers in the freezer. But let nuts thaw completely before chopping them, or they may become mushy.
• Brown sugar should be placed in a tightly-sealed container. Think about placing an apple slice on top of the sugar to keep it moist.
• Oils should be stored in their original container in a dark, cool place. Nut oils, which can become rancid quickly, should be stored in the fridge.
• Place dried herbs and spices in a cool dark place too. A spice rack over the stovetop isn't the ideal storage spot!

Whatever food you buy, be sure to check the sell-by and use-by dates and follow them religiously. If there's no date on a foodstuff, mark it on there yourself using a grease pencil or permanent marker. Most foods should be discarded after a year.