Lots of people are really starting to panic. Store shelves are emptying in anticipation of a second wave of COVID or civil unrest with the election, rioting, Antifa, etc. Pick your poison. It’s all bad. People are wanting to store more rice, beans, or pasta and they’re turning to strangers on the internet and getting some really bad advice. Just this morning I read a recommendation to store rice and flour in milk jugs sealed with PVC tape. (FYI, milk jugs are biodegradable—they’re designed to break down. They break easily when dropped. And PVC tape is not food-grade.)
But people are stressed.
They feel the need to prepare now.
Unfortunately, some have budget constraints, and they wonder, legitimately,
if Mylar and oxygen absorbers are really necessary. In order to buy more food, they’re seeking to
cut corners where possible. So let’s
consider the options for storing staples like beans, flour, rice, whole grains,
and pasta.
The Gold Standard. Food goes into Mylar bags with the appropriate number of oxygen absorbers, gets sealed, and placed in a bucket. This bucket does not need to be food-grade. Stored in a cool place, the food will be good for 10-25 years.
But what if you can't meet the Gold Standard? What if Mylar and/or oxygen absorbers are unavailable? Do you just roll over and play dead? Or do you suspect that the end of the world may not occur if you simply try to do without? Should I have passed up on a screaming deal on flour last week because I'm in the midst of moving and could not get any oxygen absorbers? Let's look at the other options:
The Silver level. If you can’t find Mylar bags, put the food into food-grade buckets. You can get these for free from donut shops and grocery store bakeries. (You can also use canning jars and soda bottles.) Add oxygen absorbers to kill bugs and absorb oxygen. The difference is between the silver and gold levels is the Mylar. The plastic buckets will still let some moisture and light penetrate. Mylar does not. If your storage area is dark and dry, you can still get 5-15 years from your food, perhaps more.
The Bronze level. You can put food directly into food-grade buckets without using Mylar bags or oxygen absorbers. However, it really should be frozen for at least three days to kill any bugs. After three days, let the food come to room temperature for about 24 hours before putting it into buckets to avoid any problems with condensation, as this will ruin the food. Kept cool, dry, and dark, long-term storage staples like rice, beans, and pasta will be good for 5-10 years.
People have been storing grains and beans long before oxygen absorbers and Mylar were on the planet. Remember Joseph in Egypt from your Bible? They stored food for seven years at least, and they and the Egyptians survived the prophesied famine.
Are you storing food now because you believe that there will be a need for it in 10-20 years? Or are difficult times just around the corner? If hard times are coming, you’re probably eating those beans and rice and pasta next year. And people keep those staples on their shelves year-round without any special protection, other than from mice and bugs.
Don’t let the great be the enemy of the good. Yes, Mylar and oxygen absorbers are fabulous. But if trouble is knocking on your door, or will be very soon, it might be a better idea to exchange the added expense of Mylar and oxygen absorbers for more food.
You don’t even have to use buckets, especially if you are preparing as a single person. Glass jars, soda bottles, and other plastic food containers can all be re-purposed for food storage. PETE bottles (they have a 1 in the recycling triangle) seal very well and are a good choice for items stored in smaller quantities. They are easier to handle and fit more conveniently on shelves than buckets. Because they have an airtight seal, you can even use oxygen absorbers with them if desired.
Yes, the heads of the food storage police will explode if you do not store food to their standards. They will say bad things about you and question your upbringing. But you know what? They aren’t eating your food. You are. And you need as much of it as possible for your family to see you through the challenges that lie ahead. At this point, if trading Mylar and oxygen absorbers gets you more food, it’s a good trade.
Links to related posts:
The Ins and Outs of Oxygen Absorbers
Reusing Glass and Plastic Bottles for Food Storage
The Gold Standard. Food goes into Mylar bags with the appropriate number of oxygen absorbers, gets sealed, and placed in a bucket. This bucket does not need to be food-grade. Stored in a cool place, the food will be good for 10-25 years.
But what if you can't meet the Gold Standard? What if Mylar and/or oxygen absorbers are unavailable? Do you just roll over and play dead? Or do you suspect that the end of the world may not occur if you simply try to do without? Should I have passed up on a screaming deal on flour last week because I'm in the midst of moving and could not get any oxygen absorbers? Let's look at the other options:
The Silver level. If you can’t find Mylar bags, put the food into food-grade buckets. You can get these for free from donut shops and grocery store bakeries. (You can also use canning jars and soda bottles.) Add oxygen absorbers to kill bugs and absorb oxygen. The difference is between the silver and gold levels is the Mylar. The plastic buckets will still let some moisture and light penetrate. Mylar does not. If your storage area is dark and dry, you can still get 5-15 years from your food, perhaps more.
The Bronze level. You can put food directly into food-grade buckets without using Mylar bags or oxygen absorbers. However, it really should be frozen for at least three days to kill any bugs. After three days, let the food come to room temperature for about 24 hours before putting it into buckets to avoid any problems with condensation, as this will ruin the food. Kept cool, dry, and dark, long-term storage staples like rice, beans, and pasta will be good for 5-10 years.
People have been storing grains and beans long before oxygen absorbers and Mylar were on the planet. Remember Joseph in Egypt from your Bible? They stored food for seven years at least, and they and the Egyptians survived the prophesied famine.
Are you storing food now because you believe that there will be a need for it in 10-20 years? Or are difficult times just around the corner? If hard times are coming, you’re probably eating those beans and rice and pasta next year. And people keep those staples on their shelves year-round without any special protection, other than from mice and bugs.
Don’t let the great be the enemy of the good. Yes, Mylar and oxygen absorbers are fabulous. But if trouble is knocking on your door, or will be very soon, it might be a better idea to exchange the added expense of Mylar and oxygen absorbers for more food.
You don’t even have to use buckets, especially if you are preparing as a single person. Glass jars, soda bottles, and other plastic food containers can all be re-purposed for food storage. PETE bottles (they have a 1 in the recycling triangle) seal very well and are a good choice for items stored in smaller quantities. They are easier to handle and fit more conveniently on shelves than buckets. Because they have an airtight seal, you can even use oxygen absorbers with them if desired.
Yes, the heads of the food storage police will explode if you do not store food to their standards. They will say bad things about you and question your upbringing. But you know what? They aren’t eating your food. You are. And you need as much of it as possible for your family to see you through the challenges that lie ahead. At this point, if trading Mylar and oxygen absorbers gets you more food, it’s a good trade.
Links to related posts:
The Ins and Outs of Oxygen Absorbers
Reusing Glass and Plastic Bottles for Food Storage
there is another method that is proven effective. diotamatious earth, d.e., mixed with the grain, rice, beans and stored in food grade containers will last a very long time. the eggs will still hatch but the de abrades their exoskeleton and kills them before they can do damage. the de is also nutritious and harmless to pets, humans. it can be used as flea, tick, parasite protection for animals as well. for human food make sure you get food grade de.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the second paragraph under the Gold standard came out written in Cyrillic script (though English words). I did a cut and paste to a translation program to read it.
ReplyDeleteFor the freeze dried foods I put down I prefer to use mason jars with O2 absorbers and then use a vacuum sealer to suck out the air. Between the two and as long as you store it in a cool place with no natural light (basement with no windows) you should also meet the gold standard. The issue I have with mylar and buckets is mice. In an old place I live the little bastards chewed through the side of a bucket and then promptly ate holes in each mylar bag; didn't eat the stuff inside but decided to destroy all the contents.
ReplyDeleteExile1981
The long term storage I have is for supplementing our food when we're retired and living on a much lower income( think SS if its still around). The mid term storage I have put up is for an extended event like an even longer "lockdown"( since the gov discovered we'll fall in line like sheep), civil unrest ( which would be odd here were we live but could happen I suppose), or even martial law ( who knows what will happen in the future).
ReplyDeleteI have used it all. Mylar,O2's and buckets. Also vacuum sealed bags and stored in buckets/rubbermaid tubs, vacuum sealed in half gallon mason jars. Also have commercially prepared freeze dried foods put back.
I keep any heavy plastic jugs I get from the juice hubby drinks to use for water storage.
"food storage police"? >>> what do we get to call the incompentant hacks that continue to repeat over & over & over again posted incorrect food storage info? - Can't afford to do long term storage correctly - but more than willing to totally waste $$$ on food that will be uneatable when needed the most >>> Perhaps a food storage policeman with some practicality & common sense is absolutely needed on the prepper info circuit ......
ReplyDelete