Flour / Sugar / Grain Storage

This is not really long-term preparedness so I don't know where it belongs.

I`m not looking to store a barrel of anything more-so 5lbs, 10lbs or maybe 25lbs because we are starting to bake. The cheap plastic containers at wal-mart seem like they will not hold up or will let in moisture.

What is everyone using to store their baking supplies in?

-Todd

Maybe you could try some of the 5gallon buckets that have a resealable top
the laundry detergent that i use comes in them and the top seals up extremely tight, might have to place the supplies in a trash bag to protect from the plastic of the bucket but its a good size for storage
plus they're stackable, somewhat easy to carry and can be used as seats if needed

Think in terms of "food quality" plastic containers that seal well enough to keep the bugs out.

I use 2 litre "juice containers" because they are of :food quality" and seal tight enough to prevent bugs and moisture from getting in. Be sure they are completely dried, after washing out the residue, before reloading them with dry staples.

We mainly use 5 gallon buckets. Some of them are square which is nice because that wastes less space but they do cost more.
5 gallon Square Buckets
Vittles Vault I have no experiance with the Vittles Vault but it looks interesting.

Good ideas for reusing containers. If you don't mind buying a container, I've had luck with snapware and lock & lock boxes. They are sold as food storage containers, but geocachers swear by them almost as much as ammo boxes. If it can keep a logbook and other contents dry for years on end in the woods, then it will definitely keep food dry.

Both brands have rubber gaskets built into the lids and wings on the sides that lock the lid into place and keep pressure on the gasket to make it air- and watertight.

In my experience, the lock & lock are built better and lock into place better. The snapware are decent, though, and a little cheaper.

I have found both at Target and Meijer, with Meijer being cheaper. If you look online, Lock & Lock have lots of neat different sizes and shapes.

Normal disclaimer applies - I have no affiliation with any plastic container company, I just hide them in the woods and stick food in them on occasion.

Hi ToddW

I like to use Addis rectangular deep clip & close containers at 4.6 Ltrs . They are food grade and completely air tight and allow easy stacking. They are microwave and dishwasher safe as well and can be used in domestic fridges and freezers also.

http://www.choiceful.com/choiceful-id-17...ner-4-6Ltr.html

I've got a five gallon bucket, but I keep all the food in it's original bags and cans and pile it in there like a grocery bag. The hard metal stuff in the bottom and the soft bags on the top. I've got everything from canned goods to canned hams to rice in there, all in its packaging. I've also got a container that ice cream and coleslaw used to be in, but that's where I store my spare space blankets, ponchos, canvas gloves, etc. in there. It's under my work desk right now...

The squares use less space, but they aren't as strong if you are going to be stacking them. Nor do they have the round advantage- if you need to move it and you don't have a free hand, kick it over and give it a roll. :P

"Cover is not liquid tight and is sold separately. "

In regards to the square lids... if it's not liquid tight then that seems to mean moisture and lil critters can get in?

Those Vittles Vault look cool, especially since they are stackable and seal and front-loading so I can access them. I think I`ll get some to test out.

Hi Todd,

My wife uses a 5 gallon snap-lid plastic bucket for flour and a very large glass jar (about 2 gal.) with a metal lid for sugar. We have been married for 20 years and I think she started using them when we set-up our first home, never had any problem with them as storage containers.

Mike

Vittles Vault - A lot more $ than a 5 gallon bucket that's for sure but at least once I stack them I can access the contents w/out unstacking.

I can vouch for the round, 6gal. Vittles Vault. Stored dog food in it for 4 years now and its very sturdy, food stays fresh, no bugs whatsoever. I'm gonna buy another for food storage.

From the manufacturers website:

http://www.gammaplastics.com/new/VV_20.html

I do a fair amount of baking, and at home I use 1 gallon plastic rubbermaid jars with screw on lids I found up at the local Big Lots store for $2 a piece. They are watertight, and will hold a 5 lb bag of flour, sugar, meal, oats, whatever I need to put in them. If I need to stock more than 5 lbs at a time (I've been going through bread flour a lot more these days due to maintaining an active sourdough), then I just double up on the jars. I have 8 right now, which seems plenty for short term pantry use. I've done LT storage in the buckets, and have mixed feelings about that.

I prefer to rotate stock more often, so the jars are convenient.

This idea fits my system and will solve my storage bottle shortage problem.

Thanks for the tip, Benjammin!!!! Bo

edited to correct typos

I would second the Vittles Vault if you are going for large amounts. I use them for dog food. The lid is exactly like a Gamma Seal, and it is easy to use and holds up well.

If you want to use regular 5 gallon buckets, you can get a food-grade version from beprepared.com and also Gamma Seal lids to make them much more convenient for everyday use. $13 for one set.

Living full time in a RV, we don't have the space (or need) for a five gallon bucket of anything, but we do like to repackage stuff into plastic, preferring square shapes for ease of placement. We have had great luck with Wallyworld and/or grocery store containers, preferring Rubbermade if we can get it. For smaller containers we clean and use things like peanutbutter jars, Rolaids bottles, etc...

Hey, I just noticed I've gone past the 2,000 mark. Oh happy day.

I have more than a few recycled containers in my cupboards as well. One of my bigger margarine tubs is stuffed full of Taco Bell hot sauce packets. Another square take out plastic container is full of Splenda sugar packets. Then there a few glass jars full of stuff like rice flour, which I use little of, and baking soda, and corn starch etc.

I probably have enough in take out condiment packets to last me a year.

If you are looking for additional sealing layers use the stretch film that is used to bind stuff on pallets. I know that some of the hardware supercenters have the rolls.

2 cents.

No affiliation.

Congrats on your milestone.

Then you should be all set, like this guy who survived on Taco Bell hot sauce for a week.

Could be, I have packets that are over two years old in there, still good to go. Mustard doesn't do so well, it tends to turn brown. Probably because it's only in plastic and not foil, although the Gulden's packs I get from Panera's should hold out longer.

Sounds like the start of a new thread to me...

And Gulden's starts out brown...

If you are going to put grains or rice into 5 gallon buckets, it's helpful (according to one author) to put an inch or so of salt in the bottom. It keeps the moisture low enough that bugs and their eggs won't survive (or at least hatch). Plus, the salt lasts forever.

if you do that, you might want to put down a couple layers of paper toweling or an old tea towel. Or make a bag out of muslin for the salt.

Yeah... A few years back I was finishing off the last of my parent's Y2K rice and had to toss it all. WAY too salty, and my mother had done exactly this.

I tried some old stored in salt rice a while ago. I have a cheap sifter that I used to separate most of the salt from the rice. The rest I rinsed/soaked a bit and after over 8 years of storage it was realy tasty all things considered.

My neighbor had lots of food storage in those ubiquitous 5 gal buckets. He (and 10 other homes)were flooded from a careless farmer who didn't build up his dikes high enough. Everything in those buckets were ruined. He even had vacuum sealed food that had water get in! (I can't explain that...) The only things that survived were 2 liter bottles and canned food.

I store my grains in #10 cans that my church allows us to "dry-pack". They are bombproof and make flour last 4-5 years. We have a nice rotating storage rack to make rotation easier http://www.shelfreliance.com/

In a disaster situation, remember that your food storage requirements may have to take a real beating and survive.

Yeah, the container itself is exceedingly important.