Explanation please on how to store food properly

[maxilaura]

Thanks everyone for your responses so far.

I don't have any buckets, mylar bags or oxygen absorbers, and I'm not likely to be getting any soon due to financial reasons.

I do however have a couple of those black plastic heavy duty boxes with lids that you get from B&Q.

So, if I buy the pasta and rice, store in the original bags from Tesco/Sainsbug, if I cling wrap them and store them in the plastic box, labelled with a date on it, then store box in the loft, then it should be ok?

We don't have mice in the loft but we do in the shed, so wouldn't want to store it in the shed.

The loft is warm though - is that a problem?

I've a little cupboard thing under the stairs, I could always move the xmas decs out of that and put those in the loft instead and then store the food under the stairs. Which would be better?

Thanks for your advice, much appreciated.

Maxilaura

[Rosesandtea]

I would avoid putting things in the loft unless it is well insulated. Heat does a lot of damage to food, and changes in temp do too.

I would definitely move the ornaments to the loft and put the food under the stairs. It sound like you have the same kind of boxes that I do.

[diamond lil]

Lofts are not good - they tend to be freezing in winter, warm in summer and damp if it leaks

[Technik]

You have to avoid:
- light
- humidity
- warmth
- vermin
- oxygen
The more of these you avoid the longer you can store food. Mylar doesn't allow light, humidity or oxygen in (if combined with an oxygen absorber or vacuum sealed) then you add buckets for extra protection against light and vermin and you're done.
In your case, if you don't use mylar and oxy absorbers then try and avoid as much light, humidity and warmth as possible, oh and vermin of course. You will have oxygen in your food so you won't be able to store it for anything longer then probably 2 years (dry foods) so you will need to rotate it.
If using the mylar + oxy absorbers + buckets route then you could store dry foods for at least 15 years (some say it's around 30 years).
I will be vacuum sealing my dry food in the next 2 weeks so will take some pictures and show step by step how it's done.

[Optimystic]

Were currently storing all our Food and Water supplies in their own packaging in a very cool utilty room, inside cupboards and Large plastic lidded boxes.
Can i ask why its best to wrap things in Clingfilm?
Thanks

[maxilaura]

:

I will be vacuum sealing my dry food in the next 2 weeks so will take some pictures and show step by step how it's done.

That will be great to see a step by step method on how it is done.

Thanks everyone else for your advice.

I will use the little cupboard under the stairs, nice and dark in there and no vermin. Also will rotate regularly.

M

[Brambles]

Laura, if you try your local bakery, or supermarket bakery they throw away buckets on a regular basis. A relative works in a supermarket bakery and brings home the buckets for me for free. Might be worth asking if they will save them for you.

[maxilaura]

Thanks Brambles, will do that.