How long does flour last?

Checked 24 Oct 20264 official publishers, 6 sources

White: 2 years in the freezer for best quality and 6-12 months in the pantry.

Official stance

“Flour doesn't look like a raw food, but most flour is raw.” CDC

“Flour and baking mixes containing flour have long shelf lives, meaning they do not go bad quickly.” CDC

Storage times for flour by state and place
State	Pantry	Fridge 40 °F	Freezer 0 °F
White	6-12 months FoodKeeper Extension Sources disagree: 1 year Extension	Not stated	2 years best quality Extension
White, opened	6-8 months FoodKeeper Extension	1 year FoodKeeper Extension	Not stated
Whole wheat	3-6 months FoodKeeper Extension Sources disagree: 12 months FoodKeeper Also stated: 2 weeks (whole wheat graham) Extension	6-8 months Extension Sources disagree: 2 years FoodKeeper	2 years best quality FoodKeeper Extension
Whole wheat, opened	Not stated	6-8 months FoodKeeper	Not stated

Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Signs it has gone bad

“Insects grow in flour, hatching eggs, to produce larvae.” Extension

Sources compared

Source	State	Pantry	Fridge	Freezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	White	6-12 months	-	-
Nebraska Extension	White	6-12 months	-	2 years
Utah State University Extension	White	1 year	-	-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	White, opened	6-8 months	1 year	-
Nebraska Extension	White, opened	6-8 months	12 months	-
Nebraska Extension	Whole wheat	3-6 months	6-8 months	2 years
Utah State University Extension	Whole wheat	2 weeks	-	-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Whole wheat	3-6 months	-	-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Whole wheat	12 months	2 years	2 years
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Whole wheat, opened	-	6-8 months	-

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

“Germs are killed only when flour is baked or cooked.” CDC
“Throw away any recalled flour or baking mixes you have.” CDC
“Keep raw foods, such as flour and eggs, separate from ready-to-eat foods. Because flour is a powder, it can spread easily.” CDC
“Kerosene-based sprays should not be used around flour since the flour may absorb the kerosene.” Extension

What the sources say

FoodKeeper gives white flour 6 to 12 months in the pantry from the date of purchase, then 6 to 8 months in the pantry after opening or 1 year in the fridge.¹

The Nebraska Extension chart lists the same ranges for white flour and adds 2 years in the freezer, a time it gives for quality only.²¹

Utah State University Extension lists 1 year for white enriched flour at 10 to 12% moisture in a sealed container, stored in a 70 °F basement.³

Whole wheat flour has shorter room-temperature times: FoodKeeper gives 3 to 6 months in the pantry from purchase and 6 to 8 months in the fridge after opening, and the Nebraska chart gives the same two ranges plus 2 years in the freezer.⁴²

A second FoodKeeper entry for whole wheat flour lists 12 months in the pantry and 2 years in both the fridge and the freezer, so FoodKeeper itself gives two different pantry times.⁵⁴

Utah State is the strictest, with 2 weeks of optimum storage for whole wheat graham flour in a sealed container at 70 °F.³⁴⁵²

It also warns that insects grow in flour, and that kerosene-based sprays should not be used around stored flour because it may absorb the kerosene.³

CDC points out that most flour is raw, meaning it has not been treated to kill germs such as E. coli and Salmonella, and that germs are killed only when flour is baked or cooked.⁶

Because flour and baking mixes have long shelf lives, CDC suggests checking the pantry for recalled ones and throwing them away.⁶

It also advises keeping flour separate from ready-to-eat foods, since a powder spreads easily.⁶

Rules that apply here

Best-by and use-by dates

Sugar Baking powder Pasta

Sources

USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 222: Flour, white. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Flour, white. DOP_Pantry: 6-12 Months; Pantry_After_Opening: 6-8 Months; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 1 Year
Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Flour, white 6 to 12 months (unopened); 6 to 8 months (opened)Flour, white 6 to 12 months (unopened); 6 to 8 months (opened) 12 months (opened) 2 yearsFlour, white 6 to 12 months (unopened); 6 to 8 months (opened) 12 months (opened)Flour, whole wheat 3 to 6 monthsFlour, whole wheat 3 to 6 months 6 to 8 monthsFlour, whole wheat 3 to 6 months 6 to 8 months 2 years
Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Flour (white enriched) 10 - 12% moisture sealed cont. 70°F basement 1 yearFlour (whole wheat graham) 10 - 12% moisture sealed cont. 70°F basement 2 weeksInsects grow in flour, hatching eggs, to produce larvae.Kerosene-based sprays should not be used around flour since the flour may absorb the kerosene.
USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 223: Flour, whole wheat. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Flour, whole wheat. DOP_Pantry: 3-6 Months; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 6-8 Months
USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 459: Whole wheat flour. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Whole wheat flour. Pantry: 12 Months; Refrigerate: 2 Years; Freeze: 2 Years
Raw Flour and Dough | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Flour doesn't look like a raw food, but most flour is raw.Germs are killed only when flour is baked or cooked.Flour and baking mixes containing flour have long shelf lives, meaning they do not go bad quickly.Throw away any recalled flour or baking mixes you have.Keep raw foods, such as flour and eggs, separate from ready-to-eat foods. Because flour is a powder, it can spread easily.
REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.