When Does Coconut Flour Go Bad?

Coconut flour is one of the more popular gluten-free, keto- and Paleo-friendly types of flour out there. Whether you use it to make coconut flour cookies, bread, or tortillas, you’ll need to know when coconut flour goes bad to ensure you’re baking with the best!

Unopened coconut flour will stay good until at least the best-by or use-by date (likely 12-18 months, but go by the best-by date). Once opened, coconut flour will go bad after around 3-6 months at room temperature and 6-12 months in the freezer.

If you want to learn the best way to store coconut flour so it doesn’t go bad prematurely, read on!

What is the shelf life of coconut flour?

There are different types of coconut flour: regular and defatted coconut flour. The most common type you’ll see in grocery stores and online is regular or full-fat coconut flour – finding defatted coconut flour is a bit harder.

If you choose to make your own coconut flour, it’ll be the full-fat version as well.

For this article, we’ll be referring to regular, full-fat coconut flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill and other regular types of coconut flour.

How long does coconut flour last after opening?

Sealed coconut flour has a decently long shelf life of around 12-18 months or its best-by or use-by date (whichever comes sooner).

Once you open a container of coconut flour, it stores best in the fridge or freezer and will last around 6-12 months. It’s not recommended to store opened coconut flour at room temperature because it can cause the fats to go rancid more quickly, which negatively impacts its flavor and quality.

If you store opened coconut flour at room temperature, it’ll only last around 3-6 months.

	Pantry	Fridge	Freezer
Coconut flour – sealed	Until best-by or use-by date (usually at least one year)	Until best-by or use-by date (usually at least one year)	Until best-by or use-by date (usually at least one year)
Coconut flour – opened	3-6 months	3-6 months	6-12 months

Can you use coconut flour after its expiration date?

Coconut flour comes with a best-by or use-by date. While this isn’t a hard-and-fast expiration date, it helps when gauging if it’s still good or on its way out quality-wise.

The best-by or use-by date doesn’t necessarily mean the coconut flour will be bad if you use it past the date, though. Instead, it’s an estimate of when the freshness and quality of the coconut flour will be past its peak.

If the coconut flour is sealed and it’s only a bit past the best-by date, then it’s likely fine to use it. If it’s been opened and is significantly past the best-by date (especially outside of the freezer) you might consider replacing the coconut flour with a fresh bag.

How to tell if coconut flour went bad

Coconut flour can get stale over time, which means it won’t taste as good and won’t perform as well in baked goods.

To tell if coconut flour has gone bad, watch out for some of these indicators:

• Signs of mold or mildew, which appear as white or black areas (respectively).
• Large clumps forming (some small clumps can be normal, but large clumps can indicate coconut flour going bad).
• A musty or otherwise off-putting odor. 
• Discoloration, such as the coconut flour darkening over time.
• A bitter or unpleasant flavor.

What’s the danger in using coconut flour after it’s gone bad?

Fortunately, eating a small amount of coconut flour after it’s gone bad isn’t likely to cause serious harm. You’d likely notice the coconut flour was past its prime before you ate enough of it, which protects you from getting an upset stomach.

If you happened to ingest more spoiled coconut flour than you’d care to admit, your stomach might retaliate with unpleasant symptoms like stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. If you develop any serious signs of foodborne illness, reach out to your trusted healthcare provider for advice!

Best storage practices for coconut flour

• Store coconut flour in an airtight container, which prevents oxygen from entering. Exposure to oxygen causes the fats to go bad more quickly, therefore shortening the life of your coconut flour.
  
• A sealed jar or airtight ziplock bag works well to store coconut flour, but if you really want to get the longest shelf life, a vacuum-sealed storage bag is ideal.
  
• Store coconut flour in the freezer once you open it, unless you plan to use the entire container super quickly. Storing coconut flour at room temperature isn’t ideal because it shortens its shelf life.

• If coconut flour has been sitting for a bit, it might develop some clumps. Gently sift the flour before using it so you don’t end up with large clumps once you go to make batter, dough, or whatever else you’re cooking.

• Avoid storing coconut flour (both unopened and opened) near direct sunlight or heat sources, which can cause premature oxidation of the fats (the process that makes the fat go rancid).

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