June 3, 2008 - 6:23am
diastatic malt powder - shelf life?
Does anyone know what the shelf life should be for diastatic malt powder? I had my Mom bring some back for me a couple years ago - never used it but vacuum bagged it. Just wondering if it's still any good - is there even any way to test it to tell?
THANKS!
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If it's packaged in the U.S. it should have a "do not sell after" date or "use before this date for best results" stamped somewhere on the container. Sounds like you vacuum sealed it in plastic with something like a foodsaver. Did you keep it in either the fridge or freezer? I keep mine in the freezer where it lasts a very long time.
Howard - St. Augustine, FL
Make a little dollar pancake (water, pinch of salt and stir to thick but runny consistancy) and fry it and see if it gives off any bad odors. It will be a tough little thing but you can taste it this way too.
Mini O
It seems it was purchased in bulk, so no idea how old it was originally, and now I've had it for a few years. Haven't kept it freezer, just vac packed and kept in the cupboard.
But technically, if you bought some pre-packed, what's the average use by date, if there is one?
If I were not sure of its age I would toss it, particularly if it came in bulk. In bulk you can't tell how long it's been sitting around before you bought it. But like Mini O said, you could taste it and if it tastes o.k. (not rancid) you could try using it in a loaf or two of bread. If you buy new be sure to get a dated package and keep it in the freezer.
Howard - St. Augustine, FL
just because it is older doesn't mean it's bad, honey, salt, sugar doesn't go bad, try it then decide. What a throw away society we have become.
The keys to diastatic malt are the (active)enzymes, which certainly can and do go bad, especially without refrigeration.
I'd wager that it's not too wild of a guess that the expiration date of on unopened pack of this stuff would not be two years from when manufactured. Probably not even close. This is a type of flour, and even plain old unbleached flour doesn't have a (specified)shelf life of much more than 18 months.
As a matter or rule, we keep malt powder, IDY, ADY, seeds and nuts in the freezer. Ours is a fairly high turnover, but the shelf life will be extended if kept frozen. How long, I don'd know, but we buy SAF IDY in bulk, and it's still very active a year later.
CJ