Corn flour and tortillas are produced under the Maseca brand by the biggest marker in the world, Gruma.
Over the years, Maseca grew into a staple food in Mexican cuisine and remains the undisputed number one brand of corn flour.
Maseca can be stored properly for up to nine months to a year, but if it comes into contact with moisture, such as from a wet spoon or a few droplets of water, it could cause spoilage, a characteristic typical of all the maize-based flours.
Germs tend to multiply when they discover suitable living conditions.
Bacterial population growth is typically exponential, doubling every 20 minutes.
Therefore, if you bring a brand-new batch of Maseca, it could still become spoiled by making a few simple mistakes.
First, make sure the flour is stored in an airtight container.
This will protect it from moisture and pests.
Second, keep the flour in a cool, dark place.
A pantry or cupboard will work fine, as long as it’s not in direct sunlight.
Finally, don’t forget to label the flour with the date you purchased it.
Maesa has a relatively short shelf life, so you’ll want to use it up within nine months to a year.
Maseca may be able to last longer if it is stored as recommended, sometimes even past its expiration date.
Corn flour is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of recipes, from pancakes to cookies to bread.
It’s also relatively easy to store, provided you take a few simple precautions.
Keep in mind that maize flour is composed of simple carbohydrates and is likewise a by-product of corn.
Another way to look at this component is to consider how much less can go wrong with corn flour as it only contains one dried, powdered ingredient.
Can You Use Maseca After Expiration Date?
Maseca should not be used after its expiration date (particularly if there are obvious spoilage symptoms) because a lot can go wrong with storage in a year.
For instance, there is no knowing what might happen to the box if you bought a brand-new pack of Maseca at the beginning of the year, casually stored it in a dubious cupboard, and then failed to use it for six months.
Insects could contaminate the corn flour or turn moldy from too much moisture in the cabinet.
Maseca is relatively inexpensive and readily available, so you might be better off purchasing a new box of Maseca if you intend to use it after seven months.
However, if Maseca is carefully maintained in an airtight container and kept out of the sun and moisture, this ingredient might be safe to use over the long haul.
When it comes to corn flour, there are a few things to keep in mind to choose the best option for you.
If you are looking for a gluten-free option, you will want to ensure that the corn flour is milled from whole corn rather than cornstarch.
You should also look for a brand that is certified by a gluten-free organization, such as the Celiac Sprue Association.
If you are looking for corn flour with higher protein content, you will want to choose a brand milled from yellow corn rather than white corn.
Yellow corn has twice as much protein as white corn.
Finally, if you are concerned about GMOs, then you should look for a brand of corn flour that is certified organic.
By keeping these factors in mind, you can be sure to choose the best corn flour for your needs.
Can I Use Expired Corn Flour?
Expired corn flour can still be used, contrary to manufacturers’ instructions.
It doesn’t lose its effectiveness over time, in contrast to baking powder.
However, corn flour is relatively inexpensive and readily available, so buy a new pack when in doubt.
There is a slight possibility that consuming outdated flour could cause you to become ill.
Eating rotten flour that includes a lot of mycotoxins can make you ill.
In addition, spoiled flour has a mildly unpleasant scent, and any spoilage should immediately be thrown out.
While the flour itself doesn’t change over time, the added baking powder eventually starts to lose its effectiveness, exactly like the can of baking powder you have in your pantry.
Although you can use self-rising flour after the expiration date, your baked items might not rise as well.
Here are some recommendations for how to keep corn flour and extend its useful life.
- Keep the corn flour container or bag in a cool, dark location
Cornstarch can be kept in the same manner as powdered sugar.
You can keep your cornstarch in areas that are dry and moderately chilly.
- Keep moisture to a minimum
It’s intriguing how water and flour interact.
They shouldn’t be combined despite being a perfect match unless you’re cooking or following a recipe.
You might notice some clumping when cornstarch is exposed to moisture, and the damp corn flour becomes prone to attracting molds to grow on it.
- Keeping In An Airtight Container
Once your corn flour packet is opened and not in use, you must carefully shut it, ensuring the moisture is kept out.
After opening and using the powder once, store it in an airtight container or freezer bag.
How Can You Tell If Corn Flour Has Gone Bad?
The label on your package should have an expiration date.
While these labels don’t necessarily mean that the corn flour has gone bad, following the “best by” date is a relatively safe option.
In addition, you can check the corn flour’s scent to ensure that it is safe to consume.
Stale flour can smell stale, musty, or sour, but fresh flour has a neutral aroma.
In addition, the color may look a little off, or worse, large clumps of mold can be visibly present, especially if the corn flour has been exposed to moisture.
Moldy anything should be thrown away immediately!
You can try inventive uses for your old flour when it’s getting close to or past its expiration date to save food waste.
It works well for making non-food things like homemade glue and playdough in addition to baked goods like cakes.
3 Tips To Tell If Corn Flour Has Gone Bad
Here are a few tips by which you can say that your corn flour has gone bad, and it’s time for you to get rid of those packets from your kitchen.
Clumping
Even though the powder appears to be fine, there may occasionally be some small clumps of corn flour when it is exposed to moisture.
If such clumps are present, you should think about transferring the corn flour to another airtight container.
Bugs!
Your flour packet or jar might have pantry bugs inside of it, similar to mold. You must instantly remove that container from the pantry if such a situation arises.
Mold
While corn flour is generally shelf-stable, it can go moldy if it’s stored in humid or warm conditions.
If you suspect that your corn flour has gone moldy, it’s important to throw it out and not use it, as consuming moldy corn flour can cause serious health problems.
I’m Chris Watson & the Founder of EatForLonger.com. I’m a food and wellbeing enthusiast researching and sharing foodstuffs and simple food-based concepts, such as fasting and clean eating.
I hope it inspires you to make tiny changes to what you eat and when you eat while optimizing your healthspan and all-around well-being.
Read more About Me here.