Every person who is involved in emergency preparedness would understand that having adequate survival food is one of the most important things in survival 101. Not only food is an essential source of nutrients and energy, it also keeps your body regulated and functioning properly like keeping warm, maintaining a healthy immune system, breathing and digesting food.
During an emergency, the majority of people would rush to their nearest grocery store to buy anything they can get their hands on. Unprepared individuals would be risking their safety especially when supplies are scarce, and people are afraid. In a situation where food supplies are restricted and many people lacking self-sufficient skills like growing their own food or even fishing, this would spell disaster for the whole family.
Hence, it is critical that we equip ourselves with knowledge on how to select the right kind of long-term emergency food and how we can provide suitable storage for them.
In this article, I will be discussing the different types of long term food storage container, what factors you will need to pay attention and how to select them based on the food you would like to store.
What is a long term food storage container?
A long term food storage container is a storage method to prolong the shelf life of your survival food by storing the food at optimal conditions preventing oxidation and growth of microorganisms that lead to spoiled food.
There are a variety of options when it comes to selecting the containers such as food grade buckets, Mylar bags, PETE plastic containers or bottles, glass jars and #10 cans (ten pound can). Fortunately, most survival food companies understood the importance of having a robust food storage container that any purchase from them comes with good packaging that keeps your food fresh for as long as possible.
Why do you need a long term food storage container?
Storing food the right way would provide safety to you and your family in time of emergency. Hence, it is crucial for preppers to understand the multiple factors that affect food storage.
These factors are:
- Moisture
Moisture prompts growth and spread of microorganism resulting in mold and bacterial growth. I recommend a 10% or less moisture content for long term food storage
- Oxygen
A common way to preserve food is by removing the oxygen content. By doing so, we can sustain the food’s colour, texture and aroma while you enjoy the full nutritional content. Since air contains 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, by utilizing an oxygen absorber, what remains is 99% pure nitrogen in partial vacuum preventing oxidation.
Prior to using an air absorber, you will need to ensure the products are dry and has less than 10% moisture content. Botulism poisoning may occur when moist products are stored in packaging that reduces oxygen. - Temperature
The United States Department of Agriculture had recommended that for every 10.8 degrees in temperature rise you decrease the shelf life of stored food by half. The ideal temperature range for long term food storage is a constant temperature between 40 to 60 degrees. - Light
Some food nutrients like vitamin A, B2, B6, B12 and folic acid are degraded when exposed to UV light from sunlight. It is recommended to always keep your food in dark areas to ensure long shelf life. - Infestation
Cold treatment, by placing your infested food in deep freeze (0 degrees) for three to four days) can be used to eliminate any live insects, larva and eggs.
How do you properly package food for optimal long-term storage?
It starts with the following steps:
- Start by selecting quality dry food products that are less than 10 percent moisture and low in oil content.
- Pick the right container to suit your personal needs and preferences.
- Select the best treatment method to prevent insect infestation in your chosen container.
Long Term Food Storage Containers
5 Gallon White Bucket & Lid
Background – This 5 gallon food grade buckets with lids made by Living Whole Foods comes in sets of three. Made with approved plastics of 90 millimeter (.09 inches) thick, these storage pails are strong and sturdy making it suitable for long term food storage. The all-metal handle has an attached plastic molded grip that protects hands from heavy loads while the lipped lids make stacking safe and easy. The lids also come with a sealing gasket to prevent any water leakages.
This food-grade container would be an economical and durable way of storing dry food. The thick plastic layer would protect the food of moisture from the external environment and also prevents the invasion of bugs or insects into your survival food.
Dimensions – Height = 14.5″ Diameter = 12″; 10 1/4″ at the bottom.
Items You can Store – Vacuum sealed packed food, seeds, flour, sugar, pet food or any dry food. You can also store liquid as the bucket lid is leak-proof but with 5 gallon of liquid, it will weigh at least 40 pounds.
Directions – To seal the pail securely, it is recommended that you use a dead-blow mallet. Here are 3 simple steps to follow when applying the cover to 5-gallon bucket:
1. Place the pail on an even and stationary surface
2. Apply the cover on top so that the gasket channel is centered directly over the pail top.
3. Hit the top of the outer channel using a dead-blow mallet, the targets would be based on a clock face where the first hit at 6:00, 2nd at 12:00, 3rd at 3:00, and final blow at 9:00.
Thoughts – It is always prudent to store the buckets at least one inch off the ground to prevent water cumulation at the bucket bottom that may lead to biodegradation. To keep things organized, I would suggest adding labels to your bucket (Food Name, Expiration Date)
There will also be times when you would like to get rid of the scent or taste left behind in the bucket, the best way to do this is by mixing baking soda and water to coat inside then thoroughly rinse it.
If you would like to turn the bucket into an airtight storage container, simply add a Gamma Seal Lid on top of the bucket. This would keep your food storage content fresh by keeping air and contaminants out.
| Pros | Cons |
| Made in the US Water-leak proof | Lids can be hard to open |
Mylar Bags
Background – Mylar bags are great for long term food storage because it is airtight and sealable. Made from Aluminium and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), mylar bag offers low oxygen transmission rate due to the thick foil laminate layer. This prevents moisture, light, and odor from entering thus preserving your long term food storage.
Besides being strong and durable, mylar also offers flexible and easy storage. These mylar bags can be sealed either using the Ziplock feature that allows you to reseal the bag after opening or simply seal the bag with hot iron or hair straightener to form an oxygen barrier to your food.
Dimensions – 1 gallon in volume (10 inch x 14 inch) 4mm thick
Items You can Store – Spices, salts, sugar, dehydrated meats (beef jerky), wheat, rice, pasta, potato flakes, instant coffee, freeze-dried fruits and vegetables
Thoughts – A general thumb is to use 300 to 500cc of oxygen absorber per gallon of food. I personally use 2 pieces of 300cc oxygen absorber in these 1 gallon mylar bags. These absorbers would then remove the oxygen in the air which makes about 21% of air to prevent oxidation from occurring.
Here is a quick guide on how that works out:
1-quart bag – 100cc oxygen absorber
1-gallon bag – 2 x 300cc oxygen absorber
2-gallon bag – 1,000cc oxygen absorber
5-gallon bag – 2 x 1,000cc oxygen absorber
| Pros | Cons |
| Perfect as a dispensary packaging bags Low Oxygen Transmission Rate | Non-rodent proof |
Plastic Container
Background – BPA-free Plastic food containers are also a suitable option to consider when it comes to food storage. Equipped with patented 4 sided-locking lids with silicone seal ring, these food containers are kept airtight and leakproof ensuring no air or water is able to enter.
Comes in a set of 16, these food-grade food containers also include chalkboard labels so you can organize your long-term food storage.
Dimensions – These food containers come in 3 sizes: 0.8 Liters or 27oz, 1.6 Liters or 54oz, and 2.0 Liters or 67oz (6” length x 4.3’’ width x 8’’ height)
Items You can Store – Beans, flour, sugar, coffee, cocoa powder, cereal, pasta, nuts, dried fruits and etc
Thoughts – Plastic containers are the most economical option among the other containers and it can provide decent storage for your survival food. However, plastics are slightly porous to air, thus it may not be able to maintain the food quality inside. I would recommend using an oxygen absorber in each plastic container to tackle this problem so you would be able to prolong the shelf life.
| Pros | Cons |
| Clear and see-through design Economical | Slightly porous to air |
Glass Jar
Background – Made with food-grade glass that is BPA free, odorless and non-toxic, these sturdy glass containers make a suitable long-term food storage container option.
Equipped with silicone gasket and stainless steel clamp, you can be assured that the storage jar is airtight and roden proof. With the clear design, these glass containers can also be used as your usual kitchen storage due to its sleek design and reliable quality.
Dimensions – 78oz (4.375” length x 4.375’’ width x 10’’ height) and thickness of the container is approximately 4mm
Items You can Store – Flour, cereal, pasta, grain, sugar, spices, nuts, tea, dried beans, biscuits, jams, chutneys and can also be used for fermenting.
Thoughts – While choosing a glass jar for long term food storage is a good solution, this jar may easily break during an emergency situation like an earthquake so it is important for you to install an additional board or railing at the front of your shelf to prevent the glass jar from falling.
| Pros | Cons |
| Clear and see-through design | Glass may easily break non-stackable design |
Conclusion
Selecting a suitable long term food storage container is critical in keeping your survival food fresh thus extending the food’s shelf life for as long as possible. I personally recommend all preppers to use both the mylar bags with an oxygen absorber and the 5-gallon bucket together.
By doing so, you get the best of both products where the mylar bags would provide an oxygen barrier for your emergency food while the bucket would prevent rodents from damaging it. This storage method had kept my emergency food safe and secured for a long period of time saving me tons of precious time and money from replacing spoiled food.
Let me know in the comments below your preferred long term food storage container and whether the suggestion above had helped you in preparing your emergency food storage.
How do I check the moisture level of my dry foods before sealing?