Dry Canning Flour: A Step-by-Step Process
Intro to Dry Canning Flour
Dry canning flour is another process of putting the flour in a closed container to avoid attacks from pests, and humidity.
It usually requires vacuuming or employing oxygen absorbers in jars or food-grade buckets.
This again preserves the shelf of the flour while at the same time, retaining the quality of the product.
To prevent contamination and rancidity make sure of proper cleanliness, and sealing.
Can you put food in the oven?
I put the flour in many ziplock bags for the freezer. I realized there must be another solution I could sieve the rest of the flour and keep it somewhere that won’t take up the space of my freezer.
Some acquaintance with canning flour was made during a discussion so I started to read. If you attempt this on your own, I recommend that you find out whether it is beneficial for you to do it.
Other practices that are not recommended by the USDA include oven-canning flour. I once oven-canned flour to store a lot as much of it as possible for a time of crisis.
As you will next notice, there are possibilities on this plane that are less risky and more efficient.
What is the required temperature for use in canning?
I utilized four half-gallon canning jars with the lid and rings. Rinse the jars and make sure they are scorched before you place the flour in the jars. Baking them will dry them if you lack time.
Method to preserve the flour
The best methods of storing flour include placing it in a vacuum-sealed bag, using air-tight jars and containers, dry canning, and freezing.
A person can dry flour in a canner, and the NCHFP has not conducted experiments on drying flour in a canner. Untested does not automatically mean that it is unsafe. That simply means that it has never undergone a test in any governmental laboratory.
This shows my family’s method of using dry canning for the preservation of flour. Of course, my advice is always to read and decide on your own what you believe is safe for your family.
Getting bags of flour saves on plastic wrap, I prefer to use 25lb bags from Costco on sale but you can use any kind of flour.
Quart or Gallon size mason jars
For storing the cucumbers and covering the rims of the jars.
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Jar Lifter
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Funnel
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Bubble Remover
Procedure
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Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Arrange clean jars on the baking sheet and put them into the oven for 25 min. This will first sterilize the jars and cause any remaining moisture to dry off.
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It is of utmost importance that we make sure that there isn’t any moisture inside or outside the jar.
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When they are ready take the jar out of the oven using jar grabbers or oven mitts. So, remember at this point that the jars are sterile.
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Screw jars just until the lids are slightly above the surface and tighten with a slight twist. Extinguish the flame and with the help of a bubble remover tap the jar on a towel to settle flour and add more flour if required.
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For the next 45 minutes, you will put these jars into the oven without the lids. After 30 minutes, put lids and rings into a dish and put them into the oven for the 15 minutes. Do not screw the lids and the rings to the jars at this stage.
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Gently take off the lids again and put the jars on a newspaper or a wooden board. With a damp paper towel, wash the rim to eliminate residues of flour. The author should ensure that there is no chance of moisture penetrating the jar.
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Put the lid on the canning jar and tighten it with this metal ring making it just a little more than fingertip tight. This is where I left some jars on the counter to cool for the night all night long.
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During the cooling process, the lids will also pull downward to provide a seal. After 24 hours the rings need to be dismantled and it is needed to check the seal on it.
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To do this, piece together the cap just under the jar’s wide opening to let the vacuum seal pull out any more air as you seal it tight with the rod.
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After the jars finish processing and you ensure that the jars have cooled to room temperature and sealed, then it’s time to label the jars with the contents and likely the date you processed them.
How long will dry canning flour take?
When reading the information, then I estimate that it will take about a year. Flour can take longer to expire depending on the environment, and humidity of the climate you live in.
If the food is kept cold and dry, no matter the best printed advice it will last longer than the printed shelf life.
You should always check the bugs and smell of the flour whenever you are using a stored one.
Conclusion: Dry Canning Flour
Dry canning flour is important as it helps preserve the flour by preventing it from getting spoilt through pests or high humidity or through spoilt air that contains bad qualities.
To be on the safe side therefore, you need to sterilize the jars, and ensure the lids seal well, this is in addition to following the right procedures when storing your flour for future use.
According to my research, it is not a method USDA approves, but if applied many have faith in the outcome.
But if done right, it makes sense and is a viable way to store and arrange your pantry items efficiently.