There is a pizza place where I live that we eat at occasionally. It isn’t the most incredible pizza, but it is convenient and always open. My partner and I comment every time that the dough always has a particular flavor, different from the other pizza doughs in town that I assume use similar ingredients from similar suppliers. A few of their breaded products have the same taste to them too. We say that all their food tastes like the inside of the restaurant smells.
Only when I looked into this article did I realize it probably has something to do with where they store their flour! Because YES, flour can and will absorb smells very readily, which is not always the greatest thing.
How Does Flour Absorb Smells?
Wheat flour and other kinds of flour contain quite a bit of starch, which is porous and almost like a little sponge. These molecules can pick up tastes and odors from their surroundings, meaning that storing the flour unsealed, near something rather pungent, can mess with the taste of whatever product you use it for.
But what about some starch-free flours? Is it only starch that picks up other scents? Unfortunately, no. Starch-free flours such as coconut flour can also pick up strong smells, as they are high in both oil and fiber, which are also porous and can bind to odorous compounds!
What Should Flour Taste Like?
All-purpose flour should have a slightly sweet taste and smell, toasty when cooked, that allows the flavor of other things to shine through. While different flours will have different flavor profiles, unless you are using them to make a stand-alone bread, they should showcase the flavor of the ingredients added to them rather than provide the dominant flavor on their own.
At the pizza shop near our house, the dough is the dominant flavor in the pizza. Not the tomato, not even the onion, but the dough. This is an example of what it is not supposed to taste like.
What Are The Main Smells Flour Absorbs?
The main culprits of odors that flours absorb are generally grassy, nutty, and earthy. They can be both food-sourced and not food sourced….for example, if you store an open bag of flour next to your open bottle of pine-scented floor cleaner, your bread will taste like pine-scented floor cleaner.
Flours can easily absorb odorous compounds from food items with which it has come in contact, such as onions, garlic, or strong-smelling cheese. Volatile organic compounds from foods can be absorbed by the fiber in flour. Some examples of volatile organic compounds in foods include aldehydes, alcohols, esters, and ketones, primarily found in various fruits, vegetables, alcohols, cheeses, and processed meats.
As a rule of thumb, anything that is strong smelling has the potential to change the odor and taste of your flour but be particularly aware of spices, onion and garlic, animal products, and chemicals.
How Can I Prevent Flour From Absorbing Smells?
Thankfully there are some tips and tricks you can follow to keep your flour smelling and tasting as it should.
- Package your flour in vapor-proof material such as resealable foil pouches, vacuum-sealed bags, plastic tubs, and glass jars.
- Do not place your flour beside strong-smelling items like garlic, onions, bananas, or chemical cleaners.
- Keep your flour in an air-tight container near bland foods.
- Store your flour in the refrigerator or fridge, especially if you do not intend to use it very quickly.
Best Way to Keep Flour Fresh
- Make sure the temperature and humidity of your storage area are consistent. Fluctuations in temperature can cause moisture to form, resulting in the growth of bacteria or mold.
- Check the expiration date on your flour before using it. Flour should be discarded after its expiration date as prolonged storage will reduce its quality.
- Store opened packages of flour in the refrigerator or freezer to prolong its shelf life.
- Proper labeling is essential to quickly identify what the product is and when it was stored. Write the storage date on each container to easily monitor how long it has been in storage.
- Keep flour from absorbing odors and flavors by storing it in an airtight container.
- If you don’t plan to use your flour immediately, freeze it in a zip-top bag to extend its shelf life.
- Check out our guide to all things flour for individual storage requirements for 50+ different kinds of flour!
- Try putting a bay leaf in your stored flour. I’ve heard it repels bugs, but I haven’t tried it myself, but it is also thought to give the flour a nice flavor for savory dishes while covering up any other more unpleasant odors it could be exposed to. Let us know if you have tried this in the comments!
FAQs
In theory, yes, the type of flour should affect its ability to absorb smells. For example, whole wheat flour, which has extra fiber and more oil, should absorb odors more readily than bleached white flour.
No, flour cannot be used as a deodorizer. Flour is not an odor-neutralizer like baking soda or activated charcoal; it will absorb the smell of things but won’t get rid of it.
Yes, you can infuse your flour with other flavors and smells. For example, you could add a few drops of essential oil or extracts such as vanilla or almond extract to the flour before storing it to give it a specific flavor. You can also create flavored flours using savory herbs, spices, and other ingredients.
Is it possible to get rid of the smell/taste once it’s in the flour?
Good question! It can be tricky to completely get rid of the taste or smell once it’s in the flour, but there are a couple of things you can try! Adding strong flavors like vanilla, cinnamon, or cocoa powder in your recipe might help mask it. Also, if the flour is fresh and stored properly, the smell might mellow out a bit over time. If it’s really overpowering, you might want to try switching to a new batch of flour.
flour
hey cocunut mama
how bout this we left a bag of flour wrapped in a grocery bag on top of the lavender scent garbage bag box prob by accident not knowing we put in the refrigerator 2 weeks later the flour smelled like lavender is that possible
is it safe to use?
please let ujs know