storing your bulk foods

[bornthrifty]

i don't do mylar bags and absorbers. i just use the gamma seal lids and i have had no problems with my grains at all.

I agree with this however, I have been using Food Grade Nitrogen gas to displace the oxygen in the containers. It is very easy to do but you need a cylinder and some tubing and a wand (like the one you use in the shop to blow air).

The subject of oxygen absorbers is interesting. The ones you buy that are labled as such are rather expensive. They contain Iron compounds that do the absorbing. The very same contents are also found in those little packets used for "hand warmers". These are exactly alike but cost loads LESS than Oxygen Absorbers.

Actually, any form of rusting iron will do the same thing. The more surface area available to the gas, the more O2 it will absorb.

the Hand Warmers are really pretty cheap by comparison and you will be just as satisfied.

On the other hand, Nitrogen gas has no bad side effiects (unless you surfact from a dive too fast) and is quite clean to use and keep your foods stored without Oxygen for many years. Since wheat stores "Indefinitely" without any preservative, you can use the Nitrogen for other grains and food stuffs that are more sensitive.

Hope you find this useful.
Trim sends

by the way was that teacher a blonde by any chance? (just kidding ladies)

thanks for posting and please forgive my ignorance,
but when you say handwarmers, how would you put them in the bucket, do you activiate the warmer, do you take it out of the plastic bag it is contained it?
not really clear?

also rusting iron, would you literally put a chunk of rusty metal in the bucket, would you cover the metal with paper or cloth or what?

this is very interesting, would love to understand better

 

[k0xxx]

Actually, I would only use food grade O2 absorbers as the quality control is better.

bornthrifty, the o2 absorbers contained iron oxide in powder form. It is sealed within a bag that allows air to pass through it, but not the contents. And when purchased in bulk packs, you can find them at prices that are sometimes less than hand warmers. I just purchase 100 300ml absorbers for less than $20 including shipping.

They are also available in a range of sizes that are convenient for placing in jars, small cans, and the smaller mylar bags, to larger ones for placing in buckets.

If anyone is going to take the time and effort to put away food for long term storage, it doesn't make sense (at least to me) to not use all food grade materials. YMMV

However, if you do chose to use hand warmers, you do remove them from their plastic bags so that they are activated.

 

[freemotion]

I only store a year or two of whole grains and I keep them in glass jars. It works out great because I can bring in what I need when I am grinding, and don't have to deal with a large bucket. Works for me!

Be certain that they are adequately dry. You can get some spoilage and even botulism in glass jars with Oxygen absorbers.

(Clostridium Botulinum lives in anerobic conditions) but the toxin (the most poisonous in the known world other than fugu toxin) is heat labile so if heated to proper temperature, it is inactivated. The toxin can be destroyed if heated at 80C for 10 minutes or longer.

Small amounts of grain in jars are probably OK, but expensive.
Hope this helps.
YMMV
Trim sends

Oh, I haven't used absorbers or mylar or anything. Just jars. I check when I first put anything in jars for a few days to make sure the jar is not steaming up, indicating moisture. I have the jars, so it is not expensive for me. Most of my dry storage jars were free. But I don't store anything for as long as some here want to store...just a year or so.

It will be more challenging if/when I grow my own. I may want to store/grow on a three-year cycle.