Avoid storing grain in buckets that are not food-grade quality.
Families buy many things in bulk in an effort to save money and remain prepared for emergencies, but the item purchased most often is food. Grains in particular are excellent candidates for long-term storage. According to JewishMag.com, archaeological excavations have discovered that grain (along with olives, dates and vegetables) dates back to about 6,000 years ago. The grain survived little protection from insects or heat, which is characteristic of its hardiness. It was stored in pottery jars for the deceased to use in the Egyptian afterlife.
Instructions
1. Buy new or find used round 5-gallon buckets designed for food storage; do not use buckets designed for anything else. Used buckets previously utilized for food storage can be obtained from restaurants, bakeries and food processing plants. If purchasing them new, ask the retailer if your purchase is safe for food storage. Bucket storage offers several advantages: A filled bucket can be easily stacked or moved, and the plastic shields its contents from dirt and moisture.
2. Fill your bucket almost full with grain, leaving room for 1/4 pound of dry ice, which will kill any insects. Cut a piece of the brown paper bag to cover the top of the grain. Put it on top of the grain, place the dry ice on the brown paper and partially cover with the lid, but do not seal the lid as some air must escape. Remove the brown paper when the dry ice has disappeared.
3. Place the 2-by-4 on the lid and strike it with the hammer, moving the board several inches and repeating the process completely around the bucket lid. This will seal the lid tightly.
4. Remove the bucket lid with the plastic lid remover. The lid is tightly sealed and cannot be removed by hand.
5. Repeat the treatment with dry ice after approximately two to three weeks, because the initial treatment may not kill all insect eggs and pupae. Reseal the bucket securely using the hammer and 2-by-4.
Tags: brown paper, food storage, buckets designed