How to Store Bulk Dried Food for Long-Term Storage

Buying and storing dried food is an easy and inexpensive way to have emergency food available.

The easiest way to store bulk dried food for long-term storage is to put them in mylar bags and 5-gallon buckets. Oxygen absorbers are added to the bags to prevent the food from spoiling. 

Using this method will allow you to store dried food for a long time.

Here's how to do it, step-by-step.

How to Store Dried Food

I'm going to assume that you already have some dried food like beans or rice. If you don't, then read the section towards the end of this article to find the best places to buy these supplies.

Now let's get into it.

The most efficient and cost effective way to do this is by using 5-gallon buckets. You can get them at almost any hardware or home improvement store.

On top of that, you'll need a few other items.

Here's your shopping list:

• Large bag of bulk beans or rice
• 5-gallon bucket(s)
• 5-gallon mylar bags for food storage (1 per bucket)
• Large food grade oxygen adsorbers (2 per bucket)
• Hair straightening iron
• Handheld vacuum (or equivalent device with crevice tool)
• Sticky label
• Tape (optional)
• Pen

First, clean the inside of the bucket with soap and water to be sure that there are no chemicals on the inside.

Dry it with towels or leave it in the sun to dry.

After the bucket is completely dry, put one mylar bag into the bucket.

Fill it with enough dried food to fill most of the bag. Make sure that you have enough space at the top to seal the bag properly.

Also be sure that you can close the lid before you seal the bag. Remove any excess food.

Then put 2 oxygen adsorbers into the bag, slightly below the surface. I separate them so there is more even coverage in the bucket.

Then use a hair straightening iron to seal the top of the bag, except for about 4 inches at the end. This is where you'll stick in the vacuum to suck out additional air.

Seal enough of the top to be sure that air doesn't get in and the seal doesn't break when the bucket is moved around. At least 6 inches will do the trick.

A thrift store is a great place to get a hair straightening iron for cheap. Then you won't potentially damage an expensive one in your home. eBay is another great place to buy cheap irons.

Next, put the vacuum into the unsealed part of the bag and suck out any excess air. Fold the top of the bag down to push out more air.

In this example, I used an air mattress pump and ran it in reverse to remove the air. If you use a vacuum cleaner, be sure it's only used for food so it's clean.

Once you've removed as much air as possible, hold the hole closed with your hand. Then carefully seal the hole with the hair straightening iron.

Start either above or below your fingers to be sure that you don't get burned and so you can keep your fingers in place to keep air from getting back in.

Then fold the top of the bag down so it fits in the bucket and put on the lid.

Double check that the lid is on tight and label the bucket with the date that you packed it.

You can tape the lid, if you want. This will prevent the lid from popping off accidentally.

That's it!

Now store the bucket in a dark, cool, dry place.

How Long Does Food Last Using This Method?

The length of time that food will last will depend on the type of food and how well you pack the buckets.

Dried beans for example, have been known to last for 25+ years when stored in mylar bags with oxygen adsorbers. Rice has a similar shelf life under these conditions.

Other types of dried foods may not last as long, so do your research if you plan on storing other types of dried food.

Without a mylar bag and oxygen adsorbers, dried beans only last 2-3 years, even when vacuum packed. So using this method greatly extends how long you can store them.

If you're just getting started with prepping, be sure to read my beginner's guide for more tips and gear.

Where to Buy Bulk Food

Now you're probably wondering where to get bulk food for long-term storage.

There are many wholesale companies that you can buy dried food from. The best one for you will depend on what's available in your area/country.

In general, here's what to look for…

You might be able to simply buy bulk dried food from a warehouse store like Costco or Sam's Club. There are many of these in the US and are very accessible.

Having a membership with one of these stores is a no-brainer, in my opinion.

Another option is to look for companies that sell bulk food to restaurants. The quality of the food is generally pretty good, but you may have to buy a lot of it.

Finally, there are companies that specialize in selling bulk food to individuals. My favorite is Azure Standard.

They schedule bulk drop shipments in different areas of the country, usually at someone's house or a public area like a parking lot. The advantage is that it reduces transportation and storage costs and passes the savings on to you.

Regardless of which option you choose, be sure to do your research before buying so you know the quality of the food you're getting.

Conclusion

Yes, beans and rice might not be the most appetizing food in the world.

But this method will allow you to easily store large amounts of inexpensive food for a very long time. And if you use your creativity, you can still create some very tasty dishes from these simple ingredients.

This is a much cheaper alternative to storing freeze dried food and should be a part of your preps. 

Now get to work!

To see all of my favorite tools and supplies, visit my resources page.