I think you got a lot for £3
. I spent that the other day on just one 2kg bag of white basmati rice (I bought two), having swithered whether to go for the 40p bags. I am probably the fool because, and moving onto my next point, it's the only think I've prepped so far that we don't eat. We eat brown rice, but it will only last 6 months maximum, even if put into Mylar bags with oxygen removers (it's the fat content that will go rancid). White rice has had all that removed (and pretty much all the vitamins
) and will last anything from 10 -30 years, which is why I WILL be buying a lot of white rice without having any intention of ever eating it. I will also be buying vitamins
. I freeze my dried products for at least a couple of days (a week or a few months won't do it any harm if you forget it's in there) to kill off any wee bugs or their eggs which can later hatch out, multiply and are just generally disgusting. These bugs, once in your store cupboard, can pretty much take over everything, including cereals and sugar. I prefer to keep them out in the first place and do regular checks because getting rid of them is a huge job, necessitating clearing out everything, throwing a whole lot out and cleaning until you've worn your fingers down to the stumps. I have bought used food grade 20l (5 gallon) plastic buckets with tight lids (dark ones to keep the light out even more) (you might be able to find a free source of these - bakers, etc - but I haven't as yet) and gallon size Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers (mine are the thicker ones, but you want to look for a thickness of at least 4 - there are some flimsy ones out there). Prepare your rice, bag it up securely with an oxygen absorber inside and, having checked the seal on the bags is really secure and no air is getting in, put the lid on the bucket, mark it up and put it away in a cool to room temperature dark place and forget about it. Keep a log of everything you are storing, with Use By dates and where it is stored (you will forget). I think you're doing the right thing by buying food you eat. Just remember to eat the oldest stuff first (your log will be invaluable for that) and you'll be fine. How to properly store dried food has been the thing I've found hardest, as it is fraught with problems (vermin, etc), which is why I'm taking my time to do it properly. I'm only just a little bit further down the prepper's road, but hope you can catch up without the endless amount of research which food storage seems to entail
. Good luck with all your preps. Even if it just means you're not starving on a Bank Holiday Monday because you forgot to shop and the shops are all closed or you've come down with 'flu and can barely stand never mind make it to the supermarket, your preps will have all been worthwhile.
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