Dry Bulk Food Storage -
How To Obtain Maximum Shelf Life
Food preservation and bulk food storage used to be a way of life... with modern technology, transportation, and supermarkets - most Americans don’t give much thought to food storage. Many run to the grocery store to purchase food needed for a single meal. What will happen when a disaster strikes and the supermarket shelves are bare within hours. Most individuals and families will immediately find themselves in a food crisis.
Buying dry foods for bulk food storage is smart, efficient, and a practical way to prepare for emergencies and disasters. Stocking up on food while you can, will save you money, time, and give you peace of mind in a disaster or food shortage emergency. Note: The storage methods discussed here are for dry bulk foods, such as; grains, beans, nuts, sugars, powders, etc., (not canned foods). *Shelf Life; means the food is still in a good quality & nutritious state. BUDGET - Bulk Food Storage Method: (*shelf life 1 to 2 years ) The budget method is: purchasing and storing bulk foods that come pre-packed in bags or boxes, (the way they usually come packaged from the store). These foods are not packaged for maximum long term storage, they are intended to be consumed within a certain limited time span, usually printed on the expiration date of the packaging. Average shelf life on most of these pre-packaged bulk food staples such as; flour, sugar, dry grains and beans, is 1 year at 72 degrees F (normal room temperature). The shelf life can be increased several months, by storing in a dark, cool (around 50 degrees) area, such as a basement or a root cellar. These pre-packaged containers are only suited for products that are rotated on a regular basis. Stored this way, you must also protect them from insects and small rodents.
BETTER - Bulk Food Storage Method: (*shelf life 2 to 7 years ) Foods are purchased bulk, such as above, then are re-packed inside food grade plastic, glass, or metal, containers with an air tight or gasket sealed lid. Oxygen absorber packets are also added inside the food container before sealing. Air is composed of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Once all the oxygen has been absorbed, then only nitrogen and carbon dioxide remain in the container or bucket with the foods. This process provides an oxygen free environment for long term storage. Note: Do not waist your time or money adding oxygen absorbers to a bucket or container without an air tight or gasket sealed lid. The oxygen absorbers will "do their job" by absorbing (pulling) the air from the outside into the un-sealed container. Packaged this way; expect shelf life of around 2 - 3 years if stored at room temperatures, and up to 7 years if stored in a cool, dark, area as stated above.
BEST - Bulk Food Storage Method: (*shelf life 7 to 20 plus years) The key to obtaining the maximum shelf life of stored foods, is protecting the foods from air (oxygen), light, and extreme temperatures (especially heat). Using Foil Bags or Vacuum Pouches Mylar foil bags can be sealed and re-sealed, using a heat sealing unit after first adding oxygen absorbers to minimize oxygen. Sealing with a household iron is possible, but not recommended due to the possibility of a poor seal. A newer Zip-lock Mylar bag for buckets, can now be purchased, the bags can be closed with a simple Zip-lock, the same as your regular plastic Zip-lock bags, making this method even more convenient. Food vacuum sealers using thick plastic liners work well for most dry food types such as grains and beans, however, powders and some granular products are not as easily vacuum packaged. Mylar or thick plastic liners can be resealed after the lid has been removed. Liners should also be used as an extra humidity barrier in humid climates. They are recommended for a 7-20+ year shelf life of bulk food storage, you will also gain an extra barrier against oxygen or bugs. Using plastic containers: Sealing the food product inside a Mylar or plastic liner, along with the use of oxygen absorber packets, before placing in a plastic container, will obtain the maximum shelf life. Using glass containers: With glass containers, using a Liner Bag as an oxygen barrier, is not a necessity if you have an air-tight seal. Glass by itself, is a true oxygen barrier, unlike plastic. You can optionally use the foil bags for light protection, and therefore will gain the maximum shelf life. Oxygen absorbers with glass containers: Placing the proper sized Oxygen absorber into a glass container, will absorb virtually all the oxygen when sealed. If using a glass canning jar, don't fill the jar too full (not so far that the absorber interferes with the lid), screw the lid on tight, an hour or so later, you should hear the "ping" when the little bubble on the lid collapses and the lid seals. *Shelf-life - Depends on utilizing the proper bulk food storage methods.
Storage Containers and Products You Will Need: Plastic containers: Glass Containers: Accessories: Read about the MANY other Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth here.
5 Tips for Emergency Use of Plastic Buckets 1. For maximum shelf-life of dry bulk food storage, along with a Mylar bag and oxygen absorber. 2. For use as planters, so your plants can be moved inside when it freezes. This keeps some vegetables growing late into the season or even all through the winter. 3. For use as an emergency toilet, place sanitation bags and liquid sanitizer inside the bucket. You can also purchase a bucket kit with toilet seat, made just for this purpose. 4. For storing a bucket-kit of survival supplies for you and your pets, easy to lift, and ready to move quickly in an emergency. 5. Clothes washer during a long term electrical outage. Fill bucket 1/2 full with water, add soap. Cut a hole in the center of the bucket lid; using a clean plunger inside the lid; plunge, rinse, repeat. Take a large dry towel, and lay the wet clothes inside, roll the towel, grab one end, get someone else on the other, and twist. This will get most of the water out of wet clothes. They will be a little wrinkled, but we're talking about an emergency situation, right?
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