Red Lentils

[purplemick]

I reckon 15 kgs of red lentils (approx £20 max) is enough for a year for me and my wife...............question is how long can one store red lentils in nothing other than plastic containers........will little critters get to them or will they go moldy?
please advise,and thank you in advance

[The-Great-Nothing]

Hi.

When you say it is enough, what do you mean? That you will have had enough, enough calories, or enough as part of a balanced diet?

Storing in Mylar with oxygen absorbers and then in plastic buckets would be the ideal way to go. But I imagine on their original packaging and in a cool (not cold) dark room would see them good for a few years.

Cheers
Matt

[Trish52]

Could you buy some airtight tubs and oxygen absorbers? I've got a trial tub going at the moment, I take samples out every so often, cook it up and see how it is. Time consuming but at least you'd get a rough gage on how long it would last

[purplemick]

[quote="The-Great-Nothing"]Hi.

When you say it is enough, what do you mean? That you will have had enough, enough calories, or enough as part of a balanced diet?

Yea....sorry I meant as part of a balanced diet.

[purplemick]

Could you buy some airtight tubs and oxygen absorbers? I've got a trial tub going at the moment, I take samples out every so often, cook it up and see how it is. Time consuming but at least you'd get a rough gage on how long it would last

no....this is all new to me,oxygen absorbers?.........these sound good....are these the crystals one finds in a new guitar case to keep the moist out?

[Trish52]

Could you buy some airtight tubs and oxygen absorbers? I've got a trial tub going at the moment, I take samples out every so often, cook it up and see how it is. Time consuming but at least you'd get a rough gage on how long it would last

no....this is all new to me,oxygen absorbers?.........these sound good....are these the crystals one finds in a new guitar case to keep the moist out?

Oxygen absorbers are small packets used to prolong the shelf life of food, you can find them in bags, etc. when you buy something but the CC is low, probably not strong enough for a 15kg bag of food. There is a post on here about Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers on here: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5411


PS: https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/emer ... mounts.htm

PSS: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Plastic-F ... 414ef137ba

[purplemick]

Could you buy some airtight tubs and oxygen absorbers? I've got a trial tub going at the moment, I take samples out every so often, cook it up and see how it is. Time consuming but at least you'd get a rough gage on how long it would last

no....this is all new to me,oxygen absorbers?.........these sound good....are these the crystals one finds in a new guitar case to keep the moist out?

Oxygen absorbers are small packets used to prolong the shelf life of food, you can find them in bags, etc. when you buy something but the CC is low, probably not strong enough for a 15kg bag of food. There is a post on here about Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers on here: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5411


PS: https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/emer ... mounts.htm

PSS: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Plastic-F ... 414ef137ba

Much appreciated....

[BlueEagle]

Pakistani Friend of mine pulled out some daal and lentils that had been in his cupboard above the sink with a best before date of 2005. Both lots looked very good condition. I would reckon they are just as flavorful and edible as the day he first bought them (I assume sometime in 2003-2004).

He also mentioned to me that back home (pakistan) in the village where people have preserved a more natural, simple, old-fashioned way of life (they still churn butter in wooden barrels), the villagers store dried whole grain corn, rice, legumes, beans etc underground or in cool, dry, dark places and the food lasts 10-20 years if not more. Note that they dont use food grade buckets or oxygen absorbers.

I would think that as long as the whole grain is still whole (not split) and has been dried properly, then each wholegrain should have intrinsic Long Term Storage properties. When it comes to oily items, its a diff story all together.

The benefit to Buckets, Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers is that you protect each stored item from Water damage, Dampness (UK is very damp country) and rodents/pests.

For that extra assurance and piece of mind, mylar bags and oxy abs are the way to go. But if ur on a low budget, just be mindful of the items you wanna store and make sure they are whole and dry. Hoping to post a thread that deals with these issues.

For now take advantage of this website---ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE RESOURCE for Prepping

http://www.eatbydate.com/proteins/beans ... tion-date/

It lists all major foods by group (ie grans, protiens etc) and it gives you the shelf-life in oxygen and non-oxygen environments. Enjoy

[itsybitsy]

I reckon 15 kgs of red lentils (approx £20 max) is enough for a year for me and my wife...............question is how long can one store red lentils in nothing other than plastic containers........will little critters get to them or will they go moldy?
please advise,and thank you in advance

Have you figured out how you are going to incorporate them into your diet? Do you eat them already or not? If you don't then it may be an idea to try out a few recipes to make sure you actually like them.

[Trish52]

I reckon 15 kgs of red lentils (approx £20 max) is enough for a year for me and my wife...............question is how long can one store red lentils in nothing other than plastic containers........will little critters get to them or will they go moldy?
please advise,and thank you in advance

Have you figured out how you are going to incorporate them into your diet? Do you eat them already or not? If you don't then it may be an idea to try out a few recipes to make sure you actually like them.

Thats some good advice, I went overboard on beans and legumes then realised I don't really like many of them! Uh oh, I guess i'll have to eat them as my last resort