The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Using old wheat berries and storage?

sheep1's picture
sheep1

Using old wheat berries and storage?

Hi All-

I'm new to the forum, not new to baking, 100% whole grain baking is my preference.  I now am going to be getting into home milling.  I have a MockMill on order that should be arriving shortly.  Didn't want to invest too much money, don't have extra counter space for a counter top model, and finally, I only bake for 2 people.  I don't use my Kitchenaid mixer very much at all since getting into long preferments and stretch and fold routines...

On to my question. Last summer, I bought some wheat berries from my local farmer's market- and they are from the 2014 harvest.  I cooked them and used them in bread baking last year.  Well, I forgot about them and just found them while cleaning out the cupboard.  They have been stored in a paper/wax bag with a folded tie arrangement (like a coffee bag).  

Are the berries still good do you think?  

The berries I have for my upcoming milling have been put into large jars with metal bale/rubber seals as soon as the berries got home.  Hoping this is sufficient for storage in the cabinet.  My kitchen tends to run cool, 65 or lower in the winter, about 70-75 in the summer.  

Part of the way I justified the purchase of a mill was because I've read that berries last longer than flour.  I had to dump some expensive flour from Anson Mills that went rancid after almost a year...  I go through slumps in baking, and sometimes take off a few months...

Thanks.

 

 

dabrownman's picture
dabrownman

Whole berries will last for years without spoilage.  Survivalists and preppers store them for decades if cool and dry.

sheep1's picture
sheep1

Cool, I was hoping so.  I know they last a long time, but these haven't been stored in a sealed container, so I was questioning if they are still good or not.  I know some of the flour bought around the same time last year has spoiled (in sealed containers)...

Thanks!

dabrownman's picture
dabrownman

the keeping qualities are reduced substancially or nearly lost for the low extraction bran portion unless you freeze it

Happy baking 

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

the inside of the bag for sawdust, tiny webs, or bugs.   You can also just tuck a few berries in your mouth for a few minutes to see if they taste rancid.    

Nothing found?  Grind away!