Out of date flour

[Tilly2]

I have just made a banana cake for my husband and have just noticed that the flour box has best before July 2009 on it. I don't bake very often, as I don't eat cake, and I cannot remember if this is new flour in an old box, or old flour in an old box.

If it is old self raising, will it be safe for him to eat or should I give it to the birds?

[mrs_overall]

It should be absolutely fine.
Just double check that there are no weevils crawling about in it

[vodkancoke]

Unless it is moving it should be fine.

[Tilly2]

Just checked the flour and there are little 1mm size black antlike creatures in it. Yeuk. It's going out for the birds!

[craft1948]

lol Tilly............that happens a lot with herbal teas as well.

[Tilly2]

I've just googled flour weevils and they seem to be rather large. The things in my flour look like thunderflies. They are very small.

[Tilly2]

No worries about eating the weevily banana cake.
It didn't rise and it came out all wet and claggy, a bit like malt loaf but wet. The birds are enjoying it. What a waste of money and time.

[humbersloop]

Ssshhh Tilly,

if you don't tell anyone on Ab Editor 's thread you've *thrown away* banana cake, I won't..... ;-)

[Tilly2]

O.K. humbersloop, it's a deal. (Why is it a secret?)

[humbersloop]

Because Ab Editor 's thread (click on the red link here) is a cult, and the banana is a holy fruit. :-)

[boxtops]

Too late, your High Priestness is a witness! - however, I think there may be absolution where weevils are involved....

[hippyhoppy]

I've found that the cheaper the flour the more prone to weavils it is.. so never buy Asda smart price rubbish and stick with HomePride (I think... was going to say HomeBase, but that's deffo wrong..!! lol)

[boxtops]

LOL, I think Homebase flour is probably sawdust :-)

[hippyhoppy]

Lol Boxy... Too much Pinot whilst watching The Voice.. minds gone blonde....!

[Tilly2]

It was Homepride, in a box, but it still had creepy crawlies. They have probably been in there since 2010.

[Eve]

I'd never heard of weevils til I worked in a supermarket and a customer brought some flour back saying it had them in it!

[welshlibranr]

flour weevils are common in out of date flour Tilly!......never keep it long!.....

[shaneystar2]

I always decant flour into an airtight container as soon as I buy it .
Never leave it in the box or bag .

[Hopkirk]

How do they get in it?