"I wish I could spend more time at the supermarket," said no one ever! With our days jam-packed, we have more things to attend to than spending our precious time in the shops.
Pssst, let us tell you a secret. Ever heard of bulk buying?? It's a lifesaver! Buying food in bulk makes meal planning, preparation, and healthier eating much easier! Not to mention the time, frustration, and expenses saved! Read more here on all the benefits of buying food in bulk.
When buying in bulk, there are, however, a few things you should consider to keep the food at its optimal quality and freshness, especially if you want to store your bulk foods for several years to maintain their quality and longevity.
Continue reading for our top tips for storing bulk food and the average shelf life of staple pantry items.
The biggest culprits for dry food spoilage are oxygen, light, humidity, and heat.
50–70 degrees F is the ideal temperature range to keep food fresher for longer.
Simple things like a pantry near an oven, or glass jars on an open shelf nearby a window, are situations you need to avoid.
It may seem obvious, but keeping your storage area clean from dust and pests, will go a long way when storing bulk foods.
Airtight containers are the best for long-term dry storage. The less the food is exposed to oxygen, the longer it will last.
Glass containers or Tupperware plastic containers work great for food eaten more often and smaller food items, i.e., seeds or nuts. Ensure the lids close or tighten properly.
Mylar bags or pail containers are excellent options for long-term storage and bulk foods like beans, grains, and flour. They protect against oxygen, light, moisture, and insects.
Once you open your pail containers, a gamma seal lid can ensure easier access while still sealing the bucket.
Oxygen absorbers are used to remove oxygen from within a sealed environment, creating a nitrogen environment for long-term food storage.
They protect dry foods from insect damage and help preserve product quality.
A scoop of Diatomaceous Earth from Perma-Guard, a natural insecticide, can be added to your stored food in case there are any eggs left to prevent infestations.
This natural ingredient will kill any bugs immediately and could also help with the prevention of mold.
Buying in bulk can be a huge time saver and save you money. But it is probably also not wise to buy buckets of wheat berries when it is not something you consume very often.
Stock up on foods your family regularly eats and keep track of what you have. Meal planning can also greatly help you to determine what foods you should buy in bulk. Read more here about the benefits of meal planning and how to get started.
Always practice the FIFO concept - first in, first out. Place newly bought products at the back and finish the oldest containers first.
Whatever your reason is for storing food in bulk, whether for emergency preparedness, savings costs, or living in a remote location, the principles of food storage stay the same.
And we do not want your bulk purchases to go to waste, realizing after a few months or years that something has gone bad!
That's why it is crucial to follow the best practices when storing bulk foods long-term, and to take the extra few steps to make sure all are stowed away in perfect conditions.
Mylar bags or pail containers are excellent options for long-term storage and bulk foods like beans, grains, and flour. They protect against oxygen, light, moisture, and insects. And once you open your pail containers, a gamma seal lid can ensure easier access while still sealing the bucket.
Pantry Provisions
If you are ready to buy food in bulk, our new long-term food supply product line, Pantry Provisions, might just be what you are looking for!
Our food bundles are emergency meal kits or pre-packaged MREs. However, having 3-6 months of all your kitchen staples on hand would not be a bad thing to have in case of an emergency.
The hardest part of starting with long-term food storage is knowing what foods to buy and knowing if they will be good quality. Well, we've done the hard work for you! We've curated the perfect bundles, whether you are just starting or a seasoned food storage expert 🕵️
Here's what you can expect:
✅30 Organic products
✅750,000 Calories
✅28,000G of protein
✅700lb pallet
✅and much, much more!
Read more here about our 3-6 month long-term food bundles!
Hi Pamela. Removing diatomaceous earth (DE) from bulk grains before milling can be a meticulous process and is not necessary, but there are a few options:
Sifting: One of the simplest methods is to sift the grains through a fine mesh screen or sieve. DE particles are much finer than grains, so they should pass through the sieve while leaving the grains behind.
Air Separation: Using air separators or blowers can help separate DE from grains. Since DE particles are very light, they can be blown away while the grains remain.
Washing: Washing the grains with water or another solvent can help to wash away the DE particles, leaving the grains behind. However, this method may not be suitable for all types of grains and may require additional drying steps.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when used in small quantities as a food preservative.
How do you get diatomaceous earth out of bulk grains prior to milling?
I have read so.ewhere that canned food bought from store will be good as long as can is t bulging.c The vitamins and minerals may not be as high in them a d color may not be perfect but they are still good.
Hi Carissa. Canned goods can store for many years as long as the can is not damaged or has rust. It might not be good if you see rust, dents, and swelling.
What about store bout food in cans? It has a date of expiration but will it last longer?