Flour doesn’t last forever

If you buy flour in December for special baking, you will probably have some left over in February.

The good news is that, if you’ve stored it in an air-tight container, it’s probably still good for Valentine’s Day cakes.

A good rule of thumb is to throw away wheat flour in four to six months, according to Eat By Date. Self-rising flour, which has baking powder in it, has a shorter shelf life.

Corn flour can last up to a year.

Buying the right amount helps prevent waste. One five pound bag of flour equals 17.5 cups.