Can You Compost Flour? How to Make the Process Easy

Can you compost flour? The quick answer is yes, you can. While most flour is made of wheat, you can also compost other types of flour including almond, buckwheat, chickpea, coconut, and rice flour. Flour is made of plant-based matter which breaks down well in a compost pile. What about rancid, or weevil-invested flour? Yes, these too can be composted (but you might want to freeze the flour first to kill the pests). Rich in carbon, flour is considered a “brown” component in composting terms; these materials typically take longer to break down compared to “green” materials.

So if you stocked up on more flour than you could use, don’t toss it out! Here are some tips on how to compost flour properly and how flour can help your compost heap. We’ve created this guide on how to compost flour in order to help you make better decisions about food waste and reduce your environmental impact.

What exactly is compost?

We realize that the term “compost” has different meanings to different people. Let’s make sure we’re on the same page.

When we say that flour is compostable, one group of people may interpret this to mean liberally sprinkling or dumping old flour directly into a flower bed or vegetable garden.

This is not what we mean when we say you can compost flour. Liberally dousing your garden with a large amount of flour may attract unwanted pests.

What we mean by composting flour is that you can add it to an existing compost pile as a composting ingredient.

What exactly is a compost pile? A compost pile is a mixture of food scraps and other organic matter that when mixed together with the right amount of oxygen and water, decomposes into rich natural soil conditioner.

The finished compost is called humus. It’s a lovely rich soil with a dark-brown color, and an earthy aroma (if it smells funky, it means it’s not quite ready yet!). It’s full of nutrients and makes a great supplement to your garden fertilizer.

Read more about composting piles and how to start your own.

Is flour good for a compost pile?

In order for a compost heap to work properly, it needs the right ingredients. While there are many different types of composting bins and methods, they all need a few common things:

The takeaway: Considered a brown material, flour provides a source of carbon needed to fuel and energize the microorganisms and other insects in the compost pile.

Tips on how to compost flour the right way

Composting flour can be done by adding it to the heap as a filler for extra carbon sources. Large amounts of flour may attract rodents or other unwanted pests, so apply flour sparingly.

Can you compost the flour bag?

In most cases, yes. Most flour bags are made of unbleached paper which is safe to add to the compost pile. If your flour bag has a plastic lining, or is bleached, save it for the trash bin. Bleached paper products will add chlorine to your compost which harms microorganisms and plants.

But don’t throw in the bag without first ripping or cutting it into small pieces (it will take a long time to decompose whole!). To help with the composting process, you can wet the bag pieces after you’ve cut them up.

Can you add old flour to a worm bin?

Yes, just use sparingly. Your worms may actually enjoy a bit of flour now and then. Flour is a source of protein, iron, and other trace minerals.

Flour is actually useful in vermicomposting in other ways besides as a source of food. When preparing your worm bedding, add 1 cup of flour (old wheat flour, cornmeal or oat flour) to bedding to help boost the microbial properties before adding worms.

How to store flour to extend shelf life

The reason you’re probably interested in composting flour is because you have a sack of stale flour on your hands, am I right? (No worries, we’re not judging!)

Flour is a pantry staple that becomes stale quickly if not properly stored. If you’ve been storing your flour in the pantry or a cupboard, you may have had the displeasure of discovering tiny brownish-blackish bugs. These are most likely granary weevils.

Female granary weevils bite a hole in a kernel of grain, lay an egg and seal it up. When the “baby” is ready, it bites its way out to emerge from the grain. This means there’s a good chance that your bag of flour you just brought home from the store may already have weevils (or eggs) in it! Check out our article on types of common pantry weevils.

If you’re planning on using your flour within a couple of weeks, it’s best to store in sealed, air-tight containers (glass, stainless steel, ceramic, or food-grade plastic). Keeping your opened flour in its original paper packaging makes it easy for pests to come in, and doesn’t protect it from air.

For long term storage, you can actually keep bags of flour in the freezer if you have the room for it.

If you happen to have found weevils, don’t worry—they’re not harmful to humans. Read up on ways to get rid of weevils naturally.

How to use flour to deter garden pests

If you’ve noticed some pests on your beloved garden plants, forget about the chemical pesticides. You can try this natural method of deterring grasshoppers, aphids, or other garden pests by sprinkling a bit of all-purpose flour.

Note: Do not use self-rising flour as the salts may harm your plants and soil. Do not apply to a wet plant as the flour may clog the pores (stomata) on the leaves.

1. Place a bit of all-purpose flour in a salt shaker or sifter.
2. First, gently shake the plant to get the insects moving. Then quickly shake a bit of flour onto the insects and the plant. Leave for two days.
3. Gently rinse off the plant with a garden hose.

What can I do with rancid flour?

Besides composting old flour, here are a few other ways you can use up stale flour:

• Make baked dough ornaments
• Make play dough
• Make paper mache crafts
• Add to chicken feed
• Make dog biscuits

The takeaway: can you compost flour?

So, can you compost flour? Yes! In fact, it breaks down well in a compost pile. However, there are some caveats to keep in mind when considering which types of flour may not be suitable for the process. For example, weevil-invested flours should first be frozen before being added to your backyard compost so as to kill pests and prevent any potential spread. Flour is a “brown” component in composting terms; these materials typically take longer to break down compared to “green” materials. If you want your flour pile to be more efficient and faster-acting, mix some green components like fruit or vegetable peels into the mix with the flour. The result will decompose at an accelerated rate without any problems!

Related questions

Can you compost bread?

In most instances, yes, you can compost bread. Ensure it’s plain, unbuttered bread (and of course it shouldn’t have peanut butter, jam, or any type of condiment on it). You’ll want to bury it in your backyard compost to avoid attracting unwanted pests. Read more about how to compost bread here.

Can you compost coconut oil?

No, it’s not recommended that you compost oil, lard, fat, or grease from the kitchen according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is because these types of kitchen waste are prone to attracting pests and rodents, not to mention create a bad odor!

References

1. Foster, Clare (2014). Compost: How to make and use organic compost to transform your garden. Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1-84533-895-4.
2. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Rice Weevil and Granary Weevil, https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/rice-weevil-and-granary-weevil. Accessed May 2021.
3. Garden Tea Company, Composting With Worms, https://www.gardenteacompany.com/composting-with-worms/. Accessed May 2021.
4. Today’s Homeowner, How To Use Flour To Keep Pests Off Plants, https://todayshomeowner.com/video/keeping-pests-off-plants/. Accessed May 2021.
5. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Composting At Home, https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home. Accessed May 2021.