Storage Question
 

Is it safe to store rice, beans, & any other foods still in their original packaging unopened inside a black garbage bag? Same for canned food. Same for water inside former plastic 1 gallon milk bottles from the store.

I have to hide the food because my mom and uncle in no way believe in any coming food shortages and would eat what they find. I'm planning to store it in my closet because I have no basement. I live on the 5th floor of my apartment building. :confused_ma:

Re: Storage Question
 

Get a storage shed. You'll end up with bugs if you store your food like you describe.

Re: Storage Question
 

storage shed as in big 8x10 thing? I only have the closet to work with. Can I use mylar bags or anything else?

Re: Storage Question
 

As for storing rice,beans & other thing in the original packages inside a black plastic bag....I don't see where that would harm them,however like goddess said,you might attract bugs & mice. I'd put them in plastic containers,I have kept them this way for years. A better idea might be a metal trash can(mouse proof).

As for water,milk jugs are ok for short tem,empty pop bottles would be much better.

Re: Storage Question
 

okay thank you. any plastic container from regular stores would do? or would it definetely have to be from a site that specializes in them?

I'm also thinking about storing propane canisters in my closet for the bbq. Not so sure about that one. Don't want to light the place on fire.

Would bookbags be a good place for storing anything?

Re: Storage Question
 

Alot of trash bags have chemicals added to them, some to make them smell better, some to make them puncture resistant, at any rate, these are not the compounds you want absorbed into your food. The second issue is that they will not be insect resistant in any way.

I would NOT IN ANY WAY store anything you want to eat in a plastic trash bag.

If you want storage on the cheap, go to your local donut shop and ask for used frosting/icing buckets. If you want to pay a few more bucks without the work, go get 5 gal buckets and lids from home depot or lowes.

Re: Storage Question
 

thank you, I'll get the 5 gallon bucket and lids. Is there a health difference between stuffing the rice still in the bag into the bucket or pouring it in? Should I wash the bucket with disinfectant or something? Anything special for the lid?

Re: Storage Question
 

Buy the Ball Mason Jars. If you have limited space this is your best option. Get a Foodsaver off eBay for $50 shipped and you are good to go. Smaller portions also so when TSHTF you don't have to be cracking open 5 gallon bucks.

Re: Storage Question
 

There is a sticky on this subforum for the mason jars if long term storage is what you are after.

Re: Storage Question
 

I'd say to go with the canning jars or the plastic storage bucket. What you want is the most airtight container you can get. If you can order some oxygen aborbers over the Internet, those will help. Some garbage bags have pesticides in them, so you wouldn't really want them around your food. If you're going to bag the stuff, use mylar with oxygen absorbers for long-term storage.

At any rate, avoid plain old plastic bags. Bugs will figure a way in, and your parents will look even less fondly upon your ideas. My mother still teases me about how my stash of survival food resulted in a bug infestation back when I was in high school. Mind you, she wasn't at all happy when she stumbled across the stuff at the time. That was over 30 years ago, and she still says, "Remember what a weird kid you were? Remember when you hid all that food in case the world ended or the Russians attacked or something, only instead of Russians we got bugs!"

Re: Storage Question
 

haha Maddie, I will keep that in mind especially looking for ways to make it airtight. Hopefully the Russians don't come either! :D

Re: Storage Question
 

Whatever you do don't store it in a safe deposit box... da G men will come take yer food and this weekend's a bank holiday. {{{HIC}}}