What is the best way to store flour, sugar, butter and nuts for the long term?
Those foods last a long time when stored properly. For the best quality, follow recommended guidelines: • Store flour in an airtight container, and it will easily keep for six to eight months at room temperature. Careful, though: If stored in an environment that’s too warm, flour will likely attract insects. Store whole-wheat flour in the refrigerator — it still contains wheat germ, and that has a bit of fat in it. Refrigerating it will prevent the fat from turning rancid. • Sugar will keep two or more years at room temperature. It’s often used as a preservative, so it’s no wonder that it lasts a long time. Store it in an airtight container to prevent it from hardening and clumping. Brown sugar also should be stored in an airtight container and is best used within four months. If it gets so hard that you can’t break it apart, place it on a cookie sheet and heat it in a warm oven (250 to 300 degrees F) until it softens. Measure while it’s still warm, because it will harden again as it
