Paper and Pencil
It is a good idea to keep paper and pencil in the shortage area or on the refrigerator to record
items you used so you can take the list to the store to replenish the items.
Limited Space
For people with limited storage space for home storage, let your imagination run wild.
50 lb. cans of food can be cleverly covered and act as night or television stands. Do not
forget the space under the bed, sink, couch, stairs, empty suitcases, etc. Remember that
extra set of shelves you always wanted, why not make it out of food storage cans?
Creating storage areas:
- Declutter closets, drawers, and cupboards. Make room for the important things.
- Create a desk in a child’s room or room corner with boxes of food storage.
- Use boxes of food storage in place of box springs.
- Use boxes of food storage in place of a book shelf.
- Store food in a guest room armoire or empty chest of drawers.
- Stack boxes of food storage behind a bed for a headboard.
- Stack boxes of food storage to make a table or end tables.
- Stack boxes of food storage behind a couch to create another surface to display books and photos. (it makes a sofa table)
- Stack boxes of food storage to create a false wall, then curtain it off.
- Store food under beds.
- Store food at the bottom or backside of a closet.
Various Parts
Store items in various parts of the house so that if one part of the house is damaged
you will still have some food
Flavor
Always obtain top grade food whenever possible and store it away from other
products that may affect the flavor of the food.
Containers
When storing food items use metal, glass or heavy gaged plastic food grade
(preferably unbreakable) containers with air tight lids.
DO NOT use trash bags for food storage. They have been chemically
treated and are unsuitable for food storage.
DO NOT stack breakable storage containers.
USE unbreakable containers whenever possible.
Falling Off
You might want to have a heavy wire or small piece of lumber attached to the
front of each storage shelf to keep contents from falling off.
Protection
Put padding such as newspaper or foam between glass jars and canning jars and store
them in their original cardboard boxes for safety during an earthquake. These boxes
should be lined with plastic sheeting to contain any breakage. This method also excludes
light from the food.
Floors
Do not place food storage items on or against dirt or cement floors
or walls. If you must put them near a dirt or cement floor or wall - place a piece
of wood between the floor or wall and the food storage container or use pallets to
allow circulating air. Sweating concrete will damage food supplies.
Insects & Rodents
Choose containers and lids that will not permit insects and rodents to get into your storage.
Remember rodents can eat through plastic. Dry packing is ideal to protect your dry food from
insects and rodents. Please read the dry packing section.
It has been said that it is a good idea to drop a bay leaf at the top of your unsealed container
to discourage bugs to want to be in your containers. (example, flour, sugar)
If food is infested, it may be treated two ways. Adult insects can be destroyed by placing
the food in a freezer at or below 15oF for 2 to 3 days. This may not kill all the larvae and
eggs so repeat this process after a month. All insects, eggs, and larvae will be killed if
frozen at 10oF for 2 to 3 days.
Insects can also be destroyed by heat. heat the grain, layered 3/4 inch deep, on a pan in an
oven 150oF for 20 minutes. Higher temperatures and longer periods of time will reduce gemination
and, perhaps, handling quality of subsequent flour milled from the grain.
Rotation
a successful storage program is the rotation of supplies. This helps to prevent spoilage and minimizes loss of food value and flavor.
About 2 - 5% of food value is lost each year in canned foods stored under ideal conditions. So remember to use and rotate!!!
Canned goods should be turned upside down every six months or so to prevent contents from settling.
Date Cans
Mark and date all cans and bottles with the month and year for easy rotation.
Bulging Cans
Canned foods will remain wholesome and usable if cans are in good shape
and not bulging. Please refer to the storage life of food list.
Summer/Winter Storage
is your storage area keeping a constant temperature?
Is the area too hot or too cold?
Temperature Considerations
40 Deg. to 60 Deg. F but not more than 70 Deg.
32 Deg. F freezing
48 Deg. F insects become active
95 Deg. F fat melts
for every 10 Deg. F increase in storage temperature, the optimal shelf life of food is decreased by one half
dampness - cans rust
freezing - cans expand and break
When storing food think:
COOL, DRY, DARK, AIRTIGHT
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