The main purpose of a long-term food storage pantry is to ensure that you and your family have an adequate supply of food in the event of a major disaster, serving as a reserve in case of unexpected scarcities. While long-term food storage can vary in its presentation, it mainly consists of three categories of food.
- Shelf-stable grocery store items such as canned goods, boxed meals, and dry pastas.
- Freeze-dried food that has a 30+ year shelf life.
- Bulk dry goods such as beans, rice, and grains.
Bulk dry goods refer to foods, such as seeds or grains, that can be bought in large bags or buckets. Although this category may be unfamiliar to many, it also offers the best chance to acquire a significant amount of food for a minimal cost. While you might have purchased small 1-pound bags of rice or beans from the supermarket, not many individuals have bought 50-pound bags of rice, lentils, oats, elbow pasta, or whole-wheat berries.
According to a free PDF publication titled “Food and Water in an Emergency” by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), properly packaged and stored bulk dry goods can remain edible for over 20 years. This makes them an excellent choice for a convenient and long-lasting supply of emergency food. The publication also mentions that whole-wheat berries, dried corn, soybeans, pasta, and white rice have an unlimited shelf life if stored correctly.
Bulk dry foods have plenty of other options that perform just as well. When appropriately packaged and stored, such foods can have a similar shelf life to freeze-dried items. One major benefit is that bulk dry goods are considerably cheaper. In truth, a mere few hundred dollars spent on bulk beans, lentils, and rice can sustain a family for multiple months. In situations where individuals seek affordable long-term food storage solutions, I always recommend these items, accompanied by some spices for added taste.
One disadvantage of storing bulk dry foods for survival is their high vulnerability to moisture, oxygen, pests, and sunlight. While seeds, beans, and grains can withstand storage challenges when properly maintained, they become highly susceptible if not. The issue lies in the packaging, as most of these items are typically sold in large paper bags or, if you’re fortunate, low-cost plastic buckets. While this may suffice for restaurants or large catering companies that consume the supplies quickly, it is not suitable for long-term food storage enthusiasts aiming to preserve these goods for twenty years or longer.
By following the steps mentioned in the upcoming section, you can rest assured that the investment you have made in your long-term food storage, both in terms of time and money, will be safeguarded for many years ahead, providing you with peace of mind.
How to Repackage Bulk Dry Goods at Home for Long-Term Storage
Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers are utilized to ensure optimal storage conditions for bulk dry goods, as they address the one major threat that 5-gallon plastic buckets with waterproof lids cannot: oxygen. These bags and absorbers work in conjunction with the buckets, which remain the ideal choice for repackaging due to their affordability, accessibility, and space-saving abilities. Additionally, the buckets effectively shield the food from issues such as water, sunlight, and pests.
In the 1950s, DuPont introduced Mylar, a game-changing innovation that transformed the food packaging sector. Mylar is essentially a polyester bag coated with aluminum, also known as metalized polyester. This unique composition provides exceptional resistance against moisture and gases, particularly oxygen, which is a major concern. By employing Mylar bags to package large quantities of dry goods and placing them within tightly sealed plastic buckets, one can essentially preserve food like a time capsule with an added layer of protection from external elements.
Within this text, you will discover the suggested step-by-step process for repackaging.
Purchasing Materials
You can buy the plastic 5-gallon buckets at your local hardware store. While a food-grade bucket is preferable, it isn’t required due to the Mylar lining you’ll use. I personally buy my buckets at stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Menards. Additionally, you’ll need to purchase lids. I recommend spending a bit more on a gamma seal lid, which has a removable center that allows easy access to the contents without taking off the entire lid. However, this is simply a convenience and not essential. If you’re on a limited budget, you can choose a regular lid instead.
If you’re out shopping, don’t forget to grab a rubber mallet to seal the lids in any style, as well as a bucket wrench to remove the lids easily. In case your local hardware store doesn’t carry a bucket wrench, simply perform a brief online search for “bucket wrench,” and you’ll find numerous options available.
A storage container for bulk dry foods can be created by using a 5-gallon plastic bucket that is food-grade, along with a gamma seal lid.
After the outer ring of the gamma seal lid is securely attached to a bucket, one can easily unscrew the inner part of the lid to conveniently reach the food stored inside.
To properly seal your food, it is necessary to acquire Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. These Mylar bags act as barriers against oxygen after the food is sealed inside. The oxygen absorbers function by soaking up any oxygen present within the bag along with the food. When purchasing the Mylar bags, you can choose between 5-gallon or 6-gallon sizes, with the latter providing some flexibility but not being obligatory. Oxygen absorbers are available in various sizes to accommodate different containers. For 5-gallon buckets, the recommended size is 2000cc. Often, Mylar bags and 2000cc oxygen absorbers are sold together.
After obtaining these supplies and your dry bulk goods, you are prepared to commence repackaging.
In order to repack food in 5-gallon plastic buckets, essential tools include a rubber mallet for applying force to the lid and a bucket wrench for removing the lid.
The food stored inside plastic containers is protected by a Mylar bag, which serves as a barrier against oxygen.
Until they are ready for use, these 2000cc oxygen absorbers, securely packaged in a vacuum-sealed container, will remain sealed. When opening, they will be inserted individually into Mylar bags along with the food, effectively absorbing any oxygen that may be trapped inside.
Oxygen Absorber Tips
Once removed from the airtight package they are shipped in, oxygen absorbers commence absorption of oxygen immediately. They have a duration of approximately 30 minutes, so it is not advisable to open the absorbers and leave them idle on a table while repackaging. Although it is ideal to utilize an entire package of oxygen absorbers upon opening, it is not always feasible to fill several 5-gallon buckets of food simultaneously. As a solution, I suggest storing the absorbers in a straightforward 1-quart glass Mason canning jar equipped with an airtight canning lid. The lid, along with the screw-on rim, creates a tight seal that prevents oxygen from entering the jar, thus maintaining the freshness of the oxygen absorbers in between bucket fillings or until the next repackaging session.
Step 1: Prepping Your Bucket
Place your bucket on a solid work surface, insert the Mylar bag, and slightly unfold it within the bucket. You don’t need to be excessively careful, as the weight of the food will handle most of the task.
Step 2: Filling Your Bucket
Empty your dry bulk food (such as grains, beans, rice, pasta, etc.) into the Mylar bag, gently shaking the bucket to aid the food in settling. Leave approximately a 2-inch gap from the top while filling the bucket. Place a single 2000cc oxygen absorber directly on the surface.
Step 3: Sealing Your Mylar Bag
- Place a 2 × 4-inch or 2 × 2-inch board across the rim of the bucket. This creates a smooth, solid surface against which to seal your bag.
- Neatly fold the top of the Mylar bag across and over the board and smooth it out with your hands.
- Mylar seals with heat, and you can use a home clothes iron set on the cotton setting. Start in the middle and work your way out to each side. You’ll see the Mylar seal as you run the hot iron over it. Leave about a 3-inch opening in the Mylar bag before you completely close out the second side.
- Use a Shop-Vac or vacuum cleaner hose to suck out as much air as you can from the bag, then quickly seal up the last 3 inches with the hot iron. As long as you keep the tip of your Shop-Vac or vacuum cleaner hose several inches away from the dry goods you will not run the risk of sucking any up.
Step 4: Closing Your Bucket
Ensure that you carefully insert the upper portion of the Mylar bag into the bucket and utilize the rubber mallet to firmly strike the rim of the gamma seal lid to secure it. It is necessary to strike it with significant force to ensure that the lid is firmly pressed against the seal. You can confirm its correct positioning when it audibly snaps into place. Afterwards, proceed to tightly screw the center of the gamma seal lid.
Step 5: Labeling Your Bucket
To ensure easy visual inventory in your long-term food storage pantry, make sure to label your bucket with the following.
- Date of packaging
- Quantity of contents
Using a Sharpie marker, label or duct tape, you have the option to write directly on the bucket. Afterward, make sure to store these buckets in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. If the containers are opened and the food is intended to be consumed within a few months, there’s no requirement to replace the oxygen absorbers or seal the Mylar bag once again. Dry bulk foods can remain shelf stable for several months as long as they are kept free from moisture, sunlight, heat, and pests.
How to Create a Customized Plan to Store a Year’s Worth of Food
To avoid getting overwhelmed, it is best to begin with a plan before purchasing or preserving storage items. By grabbing a pencil and paper, taking the time to write everything out, and getting organized, you will be well-prepared.
Creating Your Customized Food Storage Plan:
Begin your great plan by setting realistic and achievable goals and having a definite vision of the desired outcome. Commence with jotting down your short-term and long-term goals, along with identifying the factors that drive your actions.
Make a note of the meals and ingredients your family consumes regularly and prioritize them. The objective is to stockpile items that your family will actually consume.
What amount of storage space do you possess? The objective is to stockpile enough food for a whole year, but it is important to take into account your current storage capacity and potential options for creating additional space if necessary.
Begin your food storage process by examining the contents of your pantry, freezer, and root cellar (if applicable) to assess the items already available to you. Take out all the items, determine what you regularly utilize, and identify those that you can dispose of. Remember to arrange your pantry and freezer before creating a simple inventory sheet on a lined piece of paper. This will help you keep track of what you have and what you still need.
When considering your options, whether it is to grow your own produce, raise animals for meat, preserve food, or purchase everything, it is crucial to determine during the initial planning stage. You have the flexibility to choose all or just a few of these activities. For instance, if you can only raise chickens but still desire farm-fresh produce, you can always head to a farmers’ market. With numerous combinations and choices available, it becomes crucial to customize your plan to suit your specific circumstances.
Organizing and Creating Your Long-term Storage Space
Prior to considering what and how much to store, it is essential to ensure that you possess sufficient room for long-term food storage. As part of your planning process, you should have already drafted a list of available storage space and current inventory. Now, it is necessary to establish, tidy up, and arrange these areas.
When determining the amount of space necessary to store a year’s worth of food, it is essential to take into account various storage options available for your food items.
Different Storage Space Ideas to Consider:
- Cupboards
- Pantry /Larder
- Root Cellar
- Closets
- Basements
- Extra Refrigerator
- Freezer
- Outbuildings
An effective method to arrange your bigger storage spaces is to divide them into smaller compartments using containers. It is crucial to remember to label the containers in order to avoid any future confusion.
Containers to Help Organize Your Storage Space:
- Baskets
- Crates
- Totes
- Boxes
- Shelves
- Glass Jars
- Food Grade Buckets
After determining the exact storage space available, it is necessary to determine the quantity of food your family will need to store. Can your storage area accommodate the necessary amount of food? Let’s discover!
What Food Should You Store for Your Family?
A common error individuals commit when storing food for the long run is purchasing non-perishable goods without considering their consumption. As previously stated, it is crucial to prioritize storing items that your family will undoubtedly consume, as this will help avoid future food wastage.
After outlining your plan as mentioned previously, you jotted down preferred recipes and assessed the foods regularly consumed by your family. Consequently, it is now necessary to simplify these recipes into fundamental lists of ingredients. This will ensure that you are well-informed on what to purchase or preserve later on.
When purchasing most of your stored food, it is important to prioritize items with a prolonged shelf-life such as canned goods, pasta, rice, and dried beans. It is undesirable to accumulate perishable items that might spoil quickly.
Long-term Food Storage Items Include:
- Grains (Wheat berries have a longer shelf-life than ground flour, but a grain mill will be needed)
- Oats
- Rice
- Dry Beans
- Pasta
- Canned or Frozen Vegetables
- Canned Sauces
- Dehydrated Fruits
- Dried Herbs
- Nuts
- Peanut Butter
- Honey
- Salt
- Fats and Oils
- Canned or Frozen Meats
How Much Should You Store for a Year’s Worth of Food
Various methods and calculators are available to assist in determining an approximate quantity of food to store for a year. Although they can be beneficial, it is important to note that there is no universal solution, and thus adjustments are necessary to tailor the amount to your specific circumstances. For instance, if you have children in their growing years, they may consume enough to account for two individuals in contrast to their 40-year-old mother.
There are additional considerations to take into account when determining your quantities.
- Seasons – One thing that sometimes gets overlooked is the seasons. For example, if you eat vegetables with every meal, you might only need canned vegetables while fresh produce isn’t available.
- Age – Remember to consider the age of everyone in your family when customizing your amounts.
- Health – Health can be another determining factor when it comes to the amount someone will eat.
Different Methods for Figuring Out How Much You Need:
Approach #1: Breaking Down a Preferred Recipe
By breaking down your preferred recipe into its fundamental ingredients and multiplying them by 12, you can determine the amount to stock if you consume it once monthly throughout the year. After storing the required quantity for that particular recipe, you can proceed to the next one and repeat the process until your calendar is packed with meals.
The number of ingredients in your recipe will vary depending on how simple or complex you prefer to make it. If you choose to prepare everything from scratch, your ingredient list will be longer.
Night dedicated to eating spaghetti
12 boxes of spaghetti noodles are equivalent to 1 16oz box of noodles. Similarly, 12 jars of spaghetti sauce are equivalent to 1 jar. 12 lbs of ground beef is the same as 1 lb. Lastly, 12 loaves of bread are equal to 1 loaf of French bread.
Please note that this example pertains to a simple spaghetti dinner purchased from a store. As you gain more time and expertise, you can delve into creating even more basic homemade versions, such as making your own pasta and baking homemade French bread.
Alternate Method: Daily Food Consumption Per Individual
Record the daily consumption of each family member, including the quantity and types of food they typically eat. Multiply these figures by 7 to determine the total weekly consumption. Use this weekly estimate as a basis to calculate the monthly and annual consumption.
Method #3: Cooking in large batches
I find batch cooking to be a convenient method for storing food and saving time. If you intend to prepare vegetable soup for dinner, simply cook a larger portion and preserve the leftover soup by either canning or freezing it for future meals. While it might not be feasible to batch cook for a whole year, with consistent effort, you can gradually work your way up to that level.
In order to utilize batch cooking for your long-term storage system, it is essential to deconstruct your recipes into their fundamental ingredients and then proportionally increase the quantity of each ingredient based on the amount you are preparing.
If you make a batch of Vegetable Soup Ingredients, you can have four separate dinners, meaning you will have a Vegetable Soup Dinner every four months.
How To Build Your Food Storage
Tip 1: Buy More at a Time
When you first start trying to stock up on food, it can be difficult to purchase large quantities. However, there are several methods you can try to gradually increase your stocks. My top tip is to choose a single product and purchase extra every time you visit the store, allowing you to gradually build up your supply before moving on to another product.
Another option is to concentrate on one recipe that your family likes, purchase the necessary ingredients for it, and once you have the required quantity, proceed to the next one. This process can be repeated until you have all the meals you desire.
Tip 2: Buy In Bulk
By joining a major retailer like Costco, you will have access to a wide array of products available in large quantities, enabling you to purchase items in bulk. This approach not only ensures time efficiency but also results in cost savings.
Tip 3: Grow Your Own/Homegrown
If it is feasible for you, cultivate your own food, whether it be fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, honey, or anything that you can produce independently. If you have the availability and resources, you can cultivate enough produce for a whole year and preserve it. Keep chickens for meat and eggs, and in the future, you might consider purchasing and raising a pig.
Having the ability to grow your own crops and raise your own livestock is beneficial since it allows you to have full knowledge of the source of your food supply.
If you are determined to grow your own produce, you will need to take into account:
- Your Growing Space
- Growing Zone/ Climate
- What Vegetables Your Family Needs
- How Many Plants Needed
If you are new to gardening and preserving, it might be simpler to begin by concentrating on a single crop when determining the number of plants needed to sustain yourself for a year.
Tomatoes are commonly used as the prime example due to their versatility in numerous recipes, encompassing tomato sauce, tomato paste, pizza sauce, and even sun-dried tomatoes. To yield a sufficient quantity of tomatoes for any of these tomato-based products, an individual will require 3-5 tomato plants.
Tip 4: Safeguard Your Personal Storage Belongings
Although growing your own food and preserving it often go together, it is not necessary to grow your own food in order to preserve it. You can preserve your own products by purchasing them from farmer’s markets, roadside stands, or directly from local producers.
When venturing into home preserving, it’s important to be aware that there exist various methods. You have the flexibility to employ a single method or a combination of them, depending on what will facilitate your long-term process.
