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Ralleia | 10-26-2008 11:14 PM
Food storage buckets I want to get some sturdy plastic buckets for long-term storage of dry food items (flour, beans, grains and the like). I think I would prefer square buckets v. the round for the purposes of more compact storage. What do other GIMers think? I found some square high density polyethylene 4 gallon buckets that say their wall thickness is .075" +/- .005" Is that thick enough? We do have occasional mice in the basement. They also say that they meet FDA requirements--does that mean it's safe to store food in them? Also they're $6.14 each with lids. Says the lids need to be put on with a rubber mallet. Is it a decent deal?

phideaux | 10-26-2008 11:29 PM
Re: Food storage buckets I just bought a bunch of 5 gallon buckets at Home Despot. On sale, marked down from $4.29 to $2.87. Add 97 cents for the lids. Do a search, there are a lot of existing threads with info about bucket specs. IMHO don't scrimp and try and wash out used pickle buckets or whatever. Stick to virgins (buckets that is) :wink:.

Walter Mitty | 10-26-2008 11:35 PM
Re: Food storage buckets You want to make sure you use "food grade" buckets. From what I understand they use a different release agent for the food grade buckets than they do on the standard utility buckets. Also use the mylar bags and oxygen absorbers.

Ralleia | 10-27-2008 12:35 AM
Re: Food storage buckets Thank you. From what I can piece together, it sounds like "FDA approved" = "Food Grade"? I'm also trying to figure out roughly how many pounds of dry goods fits in a 4 gallon pail? 50# of rice? 50# of rolled oats?

StrawMan=Corporation | 10-27-2008 12:56 AM
Re: Food storage buckets I hope posting this does not get me banned again. ADMIN, MODS I'm attempting to help with a question not advertise. From Jim Rawles blog What Determines if a Storage Bucket is Food Grade? http://www.survivalblog.com/2008/04/...es_if_a_1.html

Lars Ragnarsson | 10-27-2008 01:49 AM
Re: Food storage buckets Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralleia (Post 1380457) Thank you. From what I can piece together, it sounds like "FDA approved" = "Food Grade"? I'm also trying to figure out roughly how many pounds of dry goods fits in a 4 gallon pail? 50# of rice? 50# of rolled oats?
Can't help you on the oats. I use 5 gal buckets, and line them with large mylar bags. With that configuration, I can get 40 lbs of rice in a 5 gal bucket. I probably lose a little space because of the mylar (it won't completely conform to the shape of the bucket), but not that much. So count on maybe 30 - 35 lbs of rice in a 4 gal bucket. FWIW, I also put some soft white wheat in the 5 gal./mylar bucket. I had a 50 lb. bag and it completely filled the bucket, and had enough left over to fill two 1 gal. mylar bags, a 1 qt. Mason jar, and a little over a half of a 1/2 pint jar. Another point of reference: many of these online prep stores sell superpails of grain, which are 6 gal. buckets lined with the mylar bag. The total product weight for wheat in superpails is usually 45 lbs. I'm no expert, but the square buckets sound great. You do seem to waste a lot of storage space with the round buckets. And using a mallet is standard for the round buckets, too. Good luck with your prepping!

leadfoot | 10-27-2008 05:03 AM
Re: Food storage buckets Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralleia (Post 1380340) I want to get some sturdy plastic buckets for long-term storage of dry food items (flour, beans, grains and the like). I think I would prefer square buckets v. the round for the purposes of more compact storage. What do other GIMers think? I found some square high density polyethylene 4 gallon buckets that say their wall thickness is .075" +/- .005" Is that thick enough? We do have occasional mice in the basement. They also say that they meet FDA requirements--does that mean it's safe to store food in them? Also they're $6.14 each with lids. Says the lids need to be put on with a rubber mallet. Is it a decent deal?
Mice will chew through plastic - at least. Rats even heavier stuff. You will either need to resort to rodent control and/or perhaps switch to metal cans. Either #10's or use mylar bags and put them into bigger cans.

Tn...Andy | 10-27-2008 06:08 AM
Re: Food storage buckets FDA = Food grade. Mice and rats can chew thru plastic, but I've never had any that did, and I store mine in a place where they have the run of the place. Few packs of D-Con once a year would cure any mice problem.

leadfoot | 10-27-2008 06:36 AM
Re: Food storage buckets Quote:
Originally Posted by Tn...Andy (Post 1380672) FDA = Food grade. Mice and rats can chew thru plastic, but I've never had any that did, and I store mine in a place where they have the run of the place. Few packs of D-Con once a year would cure any mice problem.
Or a good cat.

citizenkane | 10-27-2008 12:40 PM
Re: Food storage buckets Quote:
Originally Posted by Tn...Andy (Post 1380672) FDA = Food grade. Mice and rats can chew thru plastic, but I've never had any that did, and I store mine in a place where they have the run of the place. Few packs of D-Con once a year would cure any mice problem.
and poison a potential food supply? :)

TheNocturnalEgyptian | 10-27-2008 05:07 PM
Re: Food storage buckets As long as we're discussing it, can someone tell me more about oxygen absorbers?

mayhem | 10-27-2008 05:31 PM
Re: Food storage buckets WalMart, Lowes, HomeDepot....all their buckets are "food grade" or #2 in the triangle. If you are using mylar liners it really makes no difference. Just do as Andy recommends.

SLV>GLD | 10-27-2008 05:36 PM
Re: Food storage buckets Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNocturnalEgyptian (Post 1381703) As long as we're discussing it, can someone tell me more about oxygen absorbers?
Quick Lesson. All these things consist of are packets filled with minute iron filings. When exposed to oxygen the iron reacts and rusts. Rust = Iron Oxide (i.e. each iron atom bonds with an oxygen atom). Oxy absorbers are rated for the capacity of airspace they can make devoid of oxygen. This rating assumes a 100% virgin absorber immediately placed and sealed in the container. IOW, use something bigger than necessary and work quickly and be careful to seal up remaining absorbers.

Twisted Avatar | 10-27-2008 05:49 PM
Re: Food storage buckets Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter Mitty (Post 1380364) You want to make sure you use "food grade" buckets. From what I understand they use a different release agent for the food grade buckets than they do on the standard utility buckets. Also use the mylar bags and oxygen absorbers.
Yes they do...... commercial buckets are mixed with chemicals that will leech into your stored food. If you are tight on money what you can do is go around to local delis and restraunts and ask if they have any food buckets there products were shipped in . many will give them away for free or at a nominal cost. T

TheNocturnalEgyptian | 10-29-2008 04:22 PM
Re: Food storage buckets Quote:
Originally Posted by SLV>GLD (Post 1381756) Quick Lesson. All these things consist of are packets filled with minute iron filings. When exposed to oxygen the iron reacts and rusts. Rust = Iron Oxide (i.e. each iron atom bonds with an oxygen atom). Oxy absorbers are rated for the capacity of airspace they can make devoid of oxygen. This rating assumes a 100% virgin absorber immediately placed and sealed in the container. IOW, use something bigger than necessary and work quickly and be careful to seal up remaining absorbers.
Thanks a bunch, makes perfect sense.

SLV>GLD | 10-29-2008 04:26 PM
Re: Food storage buckets Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNocturnalEgyptian (Post 1385753) Thanks a bunch, makes perfect sense.
No problemo. Keep in mind the density of that which you are packing. For example, a bucket of rice will have very little airspace while a bucket of macaroni will have about a bucket load of airspace. Shakity shake shake to settle your product as much as possible.

CyberGold | 10-30-2008 01:42 AM
Re: Food storage buckets The buckets shoud have HDPE and a triange with a 2 in it - usually molded into the bottom. If you don't use gamma seal lids then make sure you have a rubber gasket and it is cleaned. Many people also caulk the seal area. I get the pickle buckets from Schlotskys deli for free. I use a bleach/water mix or baking soda paste and let them sit in the garage for a couple weeks and the smell is gone. i also use mylar bags and 3 750cc absorbers. Bakery buckets and the square kitty litter buckets are not as thick and don't have rubber lid seals but they are good for non-food items.

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