{"id":402,"date":"2016-01-17T09:46:24","date_gmt":"2016-01-17T09:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/?p=402"},"modified":"2023-04-01T04:31:30","modified_gmt":"2023-04-01T04:31:30","slug":"can-cornstarch-go-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/can-cornstarch-go-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Cornstarch Go Bad?"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:133.33333333333%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:151.13350125945%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:133.33333333333%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:71%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}<\/style>\n<p>Nobody really uses cornstarch all that often. I mean even if you use it for all your sauces and many soups, it&rsquo;s still not that often, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And sooner or later, there will be a day that you notice that the container has passed the date on the label. That&rsquo;s when you ask yourself : <strong>can I use cornstarch past the expiration date<\/strong>? Or should I throw it out and buy a new container?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or maybe you feel a bit confused with all the &ldquo;corn&rdquo; products available. And you&rsquo;d like to know how are corn flour, cornmeal, and cornstarch different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They look quite similar, and many people get them confused. And using one instead of the other in a dish in some cases spells disaster. Or a less than perfect meal, at the very least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyway, below I talk about the shelf life and going bad of this thickening agent. I also added a section on the <strong>differences between the corn products<\/strong>, in case you need a refresher.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg\" alt=\"Corn starch container\" class=\"wp-image-403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20375%20500'%3E%3Crect%20width='375'%20height='500'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Corn starch container\" class=\"wp-image-403 eager-load\" sizes=\"(max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg.webp 375w, https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium-225x300.jpg.webp 225w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> <em>Image used under Creative Commons from <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/fstorr\/5072416978\/\" target=\"_blank\">Francis Storr<\/a><\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"can-cornstarch-go-bad-and-how-to-tell-if-it-is-bad\">Can Cornstarch Go Bad and How To Tell If It Is Bad<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Cornstarch is good to use in recipes indefinitely<\/strong> (<a href=\"#refs\">[AS]<\/a>). Unlike <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"baking powder (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/can-baking-powder-go-bad\/\" target=\"_blank\">baking powder<\/a>, it doesn&rsquo;t lose its potency over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, if you wanted to know if cornstarch (or corn starch) does lose its effectiveness, the answer is no. That also means that you can freely use &ldquo;expired&rdquo; cornstarch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, you might notice that the quality of the powder isn&rsquo;t that great after a couple of months past the best-by date on the label. But after mixing it with the liquid, the difference will be close to none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But having indefinite shelf life doesn&rsquo;t mean that cornstarch can&rsquo;t go bad. If moisture gets to the container, it will go moldy in a few days tops. So <strong>wet or moldy corn starch is something you get rid of right away<\/strong>. Same thing if you can find any pantry bugs inside the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, to make the cornstarch last forever, you need to take good care of it.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steak-with-gravy.jpg\" alt=\"Steak with gravy\" class=\"wp-image-861\" width=\"397\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steak-with-gravy.jpg 397w, https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steak-with-gravy-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steak-with-gravy.jpg.webp\" alt=\"Steak with gravy\" class=\"wp-image-861 lazyload\" width=\"397\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steak-with-gravy.jpg.webp 397w, https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steak-with-gravy-199x300.jpg.webp 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Steak-with-gravy.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(credit:  <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@alexmunsell\">Alex Munsell<\/a> )<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-store-corn-starch\">How To Store Corn Starch<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Cornstarch, like other products in dust form such as <a aria-label=\"flour (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/can-flour-go-bad\/\" target=\"_blank\">flour<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/can-powdered-sugar-go-bad\/\">powdered sugar<\/a>, doesn&rsquo;t really need much in terms of storage. Just <strong>keep the product in a dry place and make sure it&rsquo;s sealed tight when not in use<\/strong> (<a href=\"#refs\">[AS]<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many producers sell cornstarch in convenient resealable containers, which are ideal for keeping it for the long term. But if yours didn&rsquo;t come in one, no worries. Transfer the starch to an airtight container, and you&rsquo;re good to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In case you were wondering, <strong>refrigerating cornstarch doesn&rsquo;t help it much<\/strong>. But if that&rsquo;s your preference, you can store the powder in the fridge if you want to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you do that though, make sure the container is sealed tight. Otherwise, the powder will draw moisture from the air in the fridge and could spoil soon after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally speaking, it&rsquo;s better to just stick to a dark cupboard in the kitchen or pantry, as these are the best storage places.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Glass-bowl-with-corn-starch.jpg\" alt=\"A bowl of corn starch\" class=\"wp-image-1855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Glass-bowl-with-corn-starch.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Glass-bowl-with-corn-starch-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Glass-bowl-with-corn-starch.jpg.webp\" alt=\"A bowl of corn starch\" class=\"wp-image-1855 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Glass-bowl-with-corn-starch.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Glass-bowl-with-corn-starch-225x300.jpg.webp 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Glass-bowl-with-corn-starch.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bowl of corn starch<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cornstarch-vs-corn-flour-vs-cornmeal-what-are-the-differences\">Cornstarch vs. Corn Flour vs. Cornmeal: What Are The Differences?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>There are quite a few products with &lsquo;corn&rsquo; in their name out there. And if you&rsquo;re like me, you find it super confusing. This short primer should give you the essential information you need, so you know which is which.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both corn flour and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"cornmeal (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/can-cornmeal-go-bad\/\" target=\"_blank\">cornmeal<\/a> are ground maize. The difference is cornmeal is coarsely ground, and corn flour is finely ground (<a href=\"#refs\">[WIKI1]<\/a>). You can make corn flour from cornmeal, but not the other way around. Both have the corn flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cornstarch is made from starch derived from the maize (<a href=\"#refs\">[WIKI2]<\/a>). So it&rsquo;s not the whole grain, but only the starch that&rsquo;s in the endosperm. It&rsquo;s tasteless and used mainly as a thickening agent for soups, sauces, and gravies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hope that clears things up.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bowl-with-cornstarch-and-corn-kernels.jpg\" alt=\"Bowl with corn starch and kernels\" class=\"wp-image-1856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bowl-with-cornstarch-and-corn-kernels.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bowl-with-cornstarch-and-corn-kernels-300x213.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bowl-with-cornstarch-and-corn-kernels.jpg.webp\" alt=\"Bowl with corn starch and kernels\" class=\"wp-image-1856 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bowl-with-cornstarch-and-corn-kernels.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bowl-with-cornstarch-and-corn-kernels-300x213.jpg.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bowl-with-cornstarch-and-corn-kernels.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-4\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bowl with corn starch and kernels<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-paragraph-summary\">Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"is-style-list-summary\">\n<li>Store in a dry place, sealed tightly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lasts indefinitely, so you can use &ldquo;expired&rdquo; cornstarch<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While cornmeal and corn flour are whole corn grain ground, cornstarch is only the starch derived from the grain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"refs\">References<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>[AS] <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" label=\"Args &amp; Kingsford Corn Starch (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.argostarch.com\/faq.html\" target=\"_blank\">Args &amp; Kingsford Corn Starch<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>[WIKI1] <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Wikipedia: Cornmeal (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cornmeal\" target=\"_blank\">Wikipedia: Cornmeal<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>[WIKI2] <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Corn_starch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Wikipedia: Corn starch (opens in a new tab)\">Wikipedia: Corn starch<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nobody really uses cornstarch all that often. I mean even if you use it for all your sauces and many soups, it&rsquo;s still not that &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":403,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false},"categories":[236],"tags":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium-225x300.jpg",225,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_trellis_1x1":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_trellis_3x4":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_trellis_3x4_high_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_trellis_3x4_med_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",360,480,false],"mv_trellis_3x4_low_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",240,320,false],"mv_trellis_4x3":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_trellis_16x9":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",308,410,false],"mv_trellis_srcset-960":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_trellis_srcset-1080":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"1200x1200":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_create_1x1":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",150,200,false],"mv_create_1x1_medium_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",240,320,false],"mv_create_1x1_medium_high_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",360,480,false],"mv_create_1x1_high_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_create_4x3":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",180,240,false],"mv_create_4x3_medium_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",270,360,false],"mv_create_4x3_high_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_create_3x4":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",240,320,false],"mv_create_3x4_medium_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",360,480,false],"mv_create_3x4_high_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_create_16x9":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",135,180,false],"mv_create_16x9_medium_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",203,270,false],"mv_create_16x9_high_res":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",304,405,false],"mv_create_no_ratio":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false],"mv_create_vert":["https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium.jpg",375,500,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Marcin Skrzypiec","author_link":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/about\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Nobody really uses cornstarch all that often. I mean even if you use it for all your sauces and many soups, it&rsquo;s still not that &hellip;","mv":{"thumbnail_id":403,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Corn_starch_a_good_source_of_calcium-225x300.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canitgobad.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}