Jackpot!

[Guest NYCrulesU]

Local bakery has 5 gallon food grade buckets and lids. They go through 3 a day and will save as many as I want and give them to me. Nice Going to save a ton on buckets.

They have smaller ones too.

[Guest NYCrulesU]

Before I get too excited I want to be sure these are food grade buckets good for LONG TERM storage. I'm new as new can be to storage buckets for food.

They are white buckets marked "Walmart Sam's Club". They are cake icing buckets. Reason I was even concerned is there are expiration dates for the icing. Normal right?

The lids all have rubber O rings. So that should be a plus right?

I wound up getting:

16 round 5 gallon (30 lbs on label)

10 round 2 gallon (12 lbs on label)

3 square 2.5 gallon (15 lbs on label)

Going back Sunday to pick up more.

[Guest bkelm18]

Sounds food grade to me. Anything perishable is going to have an expiration date no matter how it's packaged.

[Guest NYCrulesU]

Sounds food grade to me. Anything perishable is going to have an expiration date no matter how it's packaged.

Whew! Thanks. Was hoping these were good enough quality.

Only bad thing is I noticed the 2.5 gallon square ones have no O rings in the lids. I will still find a use for them...med supplies probably.

[Guest bkelm18]

Whew! Thanks. Was hoping these were good enough quality. Only bad thing is I noticed the 2.5 gallon square ones have no O rings in the lids. I will still find a use for them...med supplies probably.

A trick you can use if you don't plan on moving them around too much and the lids still seal fairly tight is to pick up some dry ice and stick a chunk in the bucket with whatever you're storing in there. As the dry ice sublimates and gives off carbon dioxide, it will displace the oxygen in the bucket (CO₂ is heavier than air), then seal up the bucket. Not fool proof but you could probably experiment with it to see how viable it is. Granted I've never tried it, only read about it. Edited February 3, 2012 by bkelm18

[peejman]

A trick you can use if you don't plan on moving them around too much and the lids still seal fairly tight is to pick up some dry ice and stick a chunk in the bucket with whatever you're storing in there. As the dry ice sublimates and gives off carbon dioxide, it will displace the oxygen in the bucket (CO2 is heavier than air), then seal up the bucket. Not fool proof but you could probably experiment with it to see how viable it is. Granted I've never tried it, only read about it.

Excellent suggestion. Just be sure the stuff in the bucket and the bucket itself won't be harmed by the -100 deg temp. Also do this where it's very dry, condensation is the enemy.

Be sure the buckets are very, very clean and completely dry before you use them. You might also consider using one or two as tests before you put all your stuff in there and find it rotten in a couple months.

[Guest NYCrulesU]

Thanks guys. Yea, Dolemite suggested the dry ice as well. I will have to research it and see..I am 100% clueless with all of this prepping and learning as I go. Trying to avoid as many mistakes as possible..but expect a few. All advice is GREATLY appreciated.

[wewoapsiak]

Food grade doesn't matter as long as they are clean and you use Mylar bags.

congrats though, the bakeries I've visited acted like I was asking for their first born child instead of a bucket. Lookup P.A.W on YouTube, they put out some good info

Sent from my Jitterbug.

Edited February 3, 2012 by wewoapsiak

[Guest NYCrulesU]

Food grade doesn't matter as long as they are clean and you use Mylar bags.

congrats though, the bakeries I've visited acted like I was asking for their first born child instead of a bucket. Lookup P.A.W on YouTube, they put out some good info

Sent from my Jitterbug.

I was trying to avoid mylar bags...only because I assume they come in one size...big? I coukd be completely wrong. I want to try and package in meal size or individual sized servings. Makes things last just a little longer and try to avoid waste.

[wewoapsiak]

I was trying to avoid mylar bags...only because I assume they come in one size...big? I coukd be completely wrong. I want to try and package in meal size or individual sized servings. Makes things last just a little longer and try to avoid waste.

They do sell them in different sizes, but if you buy a big one you can make the bags into any size you want. Simply cut it and seal it on both ends.

These are the guys I posted about earlier delta69alpha's Channel - YouTube some of his first videos go into the details of using the bags, and the cons of use CO2 vs O2 absorbers.

[Guest NYCrulesU]

They do sell them in different sizes, but if you buy a big one you can make the bags into any size you want. Simply cut it and seal it on both ends.

These are the guys I posted about earlier delta69alpha's Channel - YouTube some of his first videos go into the details of using the bags, and the cons of use CO2 vs O2 absorbers.

Thanks! That's the kind of vids I've been looking for. Been searching "shtf rice storage" and "rice storage" all night lol

[Makiaveli]

As a side note, where do you get dry ice from? I've always thought it was hard to come by for some reason....

[Guest NYCrulesU]

As a side note, where do you get dry ice from? I've always thought it was hard to come by for some reason....

Good question, I'd like to know as well.

[Guest bkelm18]

As a side note, where do you get dry ice from? I've always thought it was hard to come by for some reason....

It can be hard to find, but many grocers and ice cream shops will have extra. Some party supply places will have some as well.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I bought my dry ice from Food City. They sold it for $6 a pound. It comes in ice cubes and I added 1 ice cube to my test bucket. One is plenty because the rice displaces a lot of space. As long as you keep the dry ice sealed from moisture and in the freezer it will last a long time. Or at least long enough for you to fill your buckets.

Dolomite

[Guest NYCrulesU]

I bought my dry ice from Food City. They sold it for $6 a pound. It comes in ice cubes and I added 1 ice cube to my test bucket. One is plenty because the rice displaces a lot of space. As long as you keep the dry ice sealed from moisture and in the freezer it will last a long time. Or at least long enough for you to fill your buckets.

Dolomite

Can the dry ice come in direct contact with the rice?

[Dolomite_supafly]

Can the dry ice come in direct contact with the rice?

It goes from solid to gas so I don't see why not. I am almost ready to open my first test bucket. I'll post results when I do.

Dolomite

[Timestepper]

Can the dry ice come in direct contact with the rice?

Yes. Just, for God's sake, WEAR GLOVES when you're handling it.

[Guest Skully]

I've done the dry ice thing and it works. Many grocery stores and companies that refill fire extinguishers sell it and I've heard that welding supply place may as well. Be sure the dry ice has completely sublimated before sealing or you will blow off your lid and some product along with it.

That said, I'd recommend not going that route and ordering some oxygen absorbers from the Mormons. Online or they have facilities in Nashville and Knoxville where you can buy them at certain times (call each place as it varies).

[bigwakes]

http://www.continentalcarbonic.com/ 615-333-3433 sells dry ice for $0.93 per pound with a 10 pound minimum.

[Jamie Jackson]

Ingle's also carries dry ice,if you have one in your AO.

I do the Mylar-o2 absorber-bucket method. The delta69alpha channel has some excellent info.

Food storage isn’t exactly inexpensive, but can be done frugally, and I need it to rely on it being in the best condition possible when and if I need it.

The SHTF for a person can be something as ordinary as losing your job, or catastrophic medical expenses. The SHTF everyday for somebody.

We garden, can, dehydrate, and store LTS foods. We store the foods we actually eat, to stay acclimated to them,and keep them rotated.

I feel confident in a proven method like the Mylar and o2 absorbers. These are really are cheap insurance.

Great find on the buckets.

Wallyworld used to give them away around here, but stopped about a year ago. Ingle’s, Kroger’s, and Food City are still good sources.