Cornstarch is one of those products that seem to last forever. You think this until you stumble across cornstarch that’s already a long time past its date. Does cornstarch go bad you wonder?
Cornstarch can be used to thicken liquids and make sauces and so on. So will my sauce still be great? Can I do this with expired cornstarch?
In this blog post, we will learn more about cornstarch, its shelf-life, how to store it, and talk about spoilage.
Enjoy the read!
How Long Can Cornstarch Last
Cornstarch is a product that can be bought at the store and has an almost indefinable shelf-life. You must seal it thoroughly against moisture, bugs, air, and so on.
Cornstarch is used as a thickener in your kitchen for sauces and so on. Some products will lose their function over time even with proper storage. Luckily, this isn’t the same for cornstarch. It can easily last for years and years before you’ll see any signs of spoilage and it won’t lose its thickening quality.
Cornstarch might be a great example to prove the fact that best-by dates are indicative and must be seen this way: most likely the quality will deter the longer it’s past this best-by date this is a sign of quality and not being good or bad.
The quality will remain of course if has been stored in the right way. So you don’t have to worry about this.
Now, how should you store it correctly?
How To Store Cornstarch
Now that we know cornstarch will stay good (almost indefinitely) if stored in the right way, we’ll talk about storage.
Cornstarch is a thickening agent like wheat flour. It needs to be stored in a dark and cool place. You don’t have to refrigerate cornstarch at all, even after opening it.
Cornstarch is best stored in an airtight container in the pantry or cupboard. You just need to make sure it is sealed tight so external threats can’t get to it and destroy it. Avoid contact with air, moisture, bugs, or other odors.
Cornstarch is a delicacy for bugs and insects and sucks up other odors. Make sure everything you’ve stored in the same place as the cornstarch is sealed tight. If you see one of those bugs in the pantry, it’s best to clean and wipe everything out.
Can You Freeze Cornstarch
Yes, you can freeze cornstarch but you really don’t need to because cornstarch can remain indefinitely if stored correctly.
You can store it correctly in an airtight container in the pantry. Since you don’t need to store it in the fridge, why should you freeze it? Think about it.
If you ask us, there are more risks involved because freezing also means thawing. The risks for moisture are far too great. If you’re going to freeze it, place it in an airtight container and guard it.
How Can You Tell If Cornstarch Has Gone Bad
If you sense something weird, you can always check these signs and use your senses to go about it and make the decision of whether you should discard it or not.
- Do you see some colorization: if you see darker colors, like brown or yellow, that’s unnatural so it likely means you should discard it right away.
- Do you see some solid pieces: these are clumps, this could be from the moisture as it touches each other and is rather difficult to use.
- Does the cornstarch smell unpleasant or off? If you smell something unnatural, toss it right away. It should smell neutral.
- Does the cornstarch taste sour? Don’t taste it as such but when added to a recipe. If you’ve overlooked these signs and forgotten to detect them, a sour taste to the recipe is an indication that it has gone bad. Discard what you’ve made and the cornstarch immediately and rinse your mouth.
If you notice some of these signs you’ll have to decide if you want to discard them or not.
We on GoodOrGoneBad always say that if you have any doubts, just discard them and replace them with new cornstarch. It’s not worth taking any risks, at any price even if it’s that low.
If you notice any of these signs, it is best to throw out the cornstarch and replace it with a new container. Cornstarch is inexpensive, so replacing it is usually the most practical option.
Enjoy your cornstarch (in a recipe of course)!