Long-Term Food Storage Tips

Organic Food Storage Tips

If you have the space for it, long term food storage can be a really good idea.

Emergency Food Supply

Here in Central Texas, we are more often known for our heat waves and drought, but we can also experience severe ice storms and flooding.

In the past, some of my rural neighbors have been "sequestered" for nearly two weeks, waiting for the flood waters to go down enough so they could get to town for supplies.

Then, there's economy. Buying food in bulk will cost more up front, obviously (sometimes less than you think), but the cost per serving comes way down.

Food Storage Guidelines

First, you need to decide where you will store your food.

For at least the last several hundred years, householders have stored food below ground (root cellar) where the temperature is cooler, or at least consistent. Basements and cellars aren't very common here because they are very hard to dig in our sometimes solid rock, and of course, there's the water issue, too.

Humidity is NOT your friend in the long term storage of food.

An interior closet, ideally a well-insulated pantry close to the kitchen (but away from heat sources) will usually work very well.

If you live in a small house or mobile home, you may not have much extra storage space. You might have to make do with the corner of a closet or even under the bed if this is your situation.

If you're stuck with under-the-bed food storage, you can get food-grade containers that are shaped like a sweater box and will slide under the average bed.

Next, you'll need to gather your containers.

Large Food Storage Containers

Scrounging previously used buckets will be the least expensive route, but you should NEVER store your food or water in a used container that didn't have food in it the first time around.

Like it or not, the plastic will have absorbed molecules of the previous contents, will gradually leach into your groceries. Also, be aware of what kind of food was in that container. As much as you enjoy Kosher pickles, you may get tired of everything tasting like one.

I'm really big on recycling, but sometimes new IS best.

Square containers will fit a lot more neatly on your pantry shelves, but some food storage experts suggest that standard round buckets are better because they allow for air circulation around them (so hopefully they will stay cooler).

Personally, I haven't had a problem with either shape if my storage area was well insulated, so I would say it's a matter of preference and availability.

You can get new five gallon buckets at a paint supply store (don't forget lids!), but for not much more cash, you can buy food-grade containers online.

Opaque material is preferable over transparent, because light will degrade your stored food, even in a closed pantry or cabinet.

Labeling your containers is very important. You don't want to have to open every bucket to find what you need.

Be sure to label the side of your container, and the top, too, to make stuff easier to identify. If you don't wish to write directly on the container, you can use masking tape (works OK) or duct tape (stays on better).

Bug Control

Amazingly, at least here in Texas, an air-tight container isn't enough to totally banish insects. There is still the possibility of contamination by opening the bucket, even if it's just long enough to scoop out some beans.

Putting a chunk of dry ice into the filled food container works well. As it melts, the spaces between the grains are filled with carbon dioxide, smothering any little critters and discouraging future hatching.

The closest place to get dry ice locally is in San Antonio. That's a long way to go for dry ice every time you want to remove some of your stored food from its bucket.

The method I have used since the late 'seventies is the addition of dried bay leaves.

Put 3 or 4 bay leaves (dried, not fresh) in the bottom of your clean container. Add a few inches of your grain (or whatever food you are storing), then a few more bay leaves, another several inches of grain, and so on, until your container is full.

Add a few bay leaves on top for good measure, then seal the lid tight.

If you purchase your organic bulk food items from Real Foods Market, you can be sure that it has been through a "hard freeze" to discourage the little beasties. All flours, beans, and grains go into our 0° walk-in freezer for a couple of days after delivery, and before they are offered for sale.

Rotation

Even if you're planning to store food staples for emergency preparedness, you should be using and replacing it.

For one thing, you will learn how to prepare meals using the "basics."For another, it will assure your family of the freshest supplies.

And don't forget that sprouts have the highest level of nutrition you can get, in an emergency situation or normal daily life. Find out how you can grow sprouts using your stored grains and beans.

Emergency Water Supply
We can do without food for a while, but not water. Keep an emergency water supply on hand.

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Blanco, Texas 78606

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