Curious how to store bulk foods long-term?
Then you are on the right page! Or should we say place ;-) 'Cause we're all about buying in bulk!
"I wish I could spend more time at the supermarket," said no one ever! With our days jam-packed, we have more things to attend to than spending our precious time in the shops.
Pssst, let us tell you a secret. Ever heard of bulk buying?? It's a lifesaver! Buying food in bulk makes meal planning, preparation, and healthier eating much easier! Not to mention the time, frustration, and expenses saved! Read more here on all the benefits of buying food in bulk.
When buying in bulk, there are, however, a few things you should consider to keep the food at its optimal quality and freshness, especially if you want to store your bulk foods for several years to maintain their quality and longevity.
Continue reading for our top tips for storing bulk food and the average shelf life of staple pantry items.
TIPS FOR STORING BULK FOODS
Clean, Dry, Cool, and Dark
------The biggest culprits for dry food spoilage are oxygen, light, humidity, and heat.
50–70 degrees F is the ideal temperature range to keep food fresher for longer.
Simple things like a pantry near an oven, or glass jars on an open shelf nearby a window, are situations you need to avoid.
It may seem obvious, but keeping your storage area clean from dust and pests, will go a long way when storing bulk foods.
Keep It Airtight
------Airtight containers are the best for long-term dry storage. The less the food is exposed to oxygen, the longer it will last.
Glass containers or Tupperware plastic containers work great for food eaten more often and smaller food items, i.e., seeds or nuts. Ensure the lids close or tighten properly.
Mylar bags or pail containers are excellent options for long-term storage and bulk foods like beans, grains, and flour. They protect against oxygen, light, moisture, and insects.
Once you open your pail containers, a gamma seal lid can ensure easier access while still sealing the bucket.
An Extra Layer of Protection
------Oxygen absorbers are used to remove oxygen from within a sealed environment, creating a nitrogen environment for long-term food storage.
They protect dry foods from insect damage and help preserve product quality.
A scoop of Diatomaceous Earth from Perma-Guard, a natural insecticide, can be added to your stored food in case there are any eggs left to prevent infestations.
This natural ingredient will kill any bugs immediately and could also help with the prevention of mold.
Store What You Eat & Practice FIFO
------Buying in bulk can be a huge time saver and save you money. But it is probably also not wise to buy buckets of wheat berries when it is not something you consume very often.
Stock up on foods your family regularly eats and keep track of what you have. Meal planning can also greatly help you to determine what foods you should buy in bulk. Read more here about the benefits of meal planning and how to get started.
Always practice the FIFO concept - first in, first out. Place newly bought products at the back and finish the oldest containers first.
AN IN-DEPTH VIDEO ABOUT LONG-TERM BULK FOOD STORAGE
EXPECTED SHELF LIFE FOR DRIED FOODS
These are the average shelf life periods for various dry pantry goods. The time frames can differ depending on circumstances and storage conditions. When using airtight containers, some goods like beans and rice can last you for many years when not opened!!
BEANS & LENTILS
Most dried beans and lentils can last indefinitely and won't spoil if stored correctly in airtight containers and under optimal conditions.
The great thing about beans and legumes is they won't lose their protein and mineral value over time. However, after two years, they may lose some of their vitamin properties.
BEANS
Beans stored in a pantry and airtight containers such as mason jars will stay fresh for up to 3 years. In the freezer, they can last indefinitely. Whichever you choose, always label your containers or freezer bags to note their first stored date.
If beans are stored in food grade packaging, sealed buckets, or Mylar bags, with oxygen absorbers, in a location at 70 degrees Fahrenheit or less, they can last for ten plus years. This helps maintain the oils in beans for easier rehydration and protects the bean from losing nutritional value.
Beans will lose their moisture after 2 years, so you need to cook them for longer. Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to every 500 grams of beans while you're cooking them can help make them softer.
READ MORE: The easiest beans to digest, making you less gassy and bloated
LENTILS
Lentils can be stored in their original packaging for up to 1 year, in airtight containers for 3 years, and when frozen indefinitely.
When kept in a firmly sealed container or Mylar bags in a cold, dry location, dry lentils can be preserved for nearly an indefinite period.
Pulses tend to lose color when exposed to light and will lose their vitamin content over the years but retain their carbohydrate and protein values. Lentils will also become drier the longer they are kept in storage.
READ MORE: 6 Types of lentils with their differences and ways to use them
GRAINS, PASTA & FLOUR
Grains such as rice, oats, wheat, barley, and cornmeal are some of the best staples to have in your pantry. When stored correctly and kept dry, they can last a good while.
RICE
Brown and wild rice will stay fresh for 6–8 months in your pantry and 8–12 months in the fridge. While white rice can last 3 to 5 years in its original package.
For long-term storage, white and wild rice can last up to 30 years and brown rice up to 2–5 years if stored correctly. As you can see, white rice is the most suitable for long-term food storage, as brown rice still has its husk or bran layer containing extra oils, making it more susceptible to spoilage.
WHEAT
Heat, light, and moisture can have a detrimental effect on the healthy oils contained in whole grain germ, so proper storage is essential. Intact or whole wheat will keep for up to 6 months on a cool, dry pantry shelf or up to a year in the freezer.
When storing bulk wheat products for long-term storage, the shelf life can be up to 30 years when stored in an airtight container, lined with Mylar bags, with oxygen absorbers, in optimal storage conditions.
CORN
Corn's thick outer shell helps to strengthen the grain against damage and environmental changes. You can keep corn in long-term storage for 10–12 years with close monitoring and environmental control. Just make sure your corn is dehydrated down to at least 15% moisture content before storing it long-term.
OATS
Rolled oats have a shelf life of 18–24 months when stored in the original packaging and, once opened, will stay fresh for about 6–9 months. However, they will last up to 3 years if you transfer them to an airtight container.
For long-term storage, they can last up to 25 years under optimal storage conditions! If you live in a humid area, add silica gel packets or oxygen absorbers to your containers to prevent mold issues.
QUINOA
Quinoa is high in oils, which means it can spoil much faster than wheat or corn. They also sprout easily with very little moisture. For these reasons, quinoa should be kept in a very dry location with careful moisture regulation and as much oxygen as possible removed.
Quinoa lasts up to 3 years in the pantry or fridge and upwards of 8 years for long-term storage with the perfect storage conditions.
PASTA
Dry pasta, spaghetti, and macaroni won't expire over time but will lose their quality. In pasta storage, moisture is the biggest enemy. It seeps into your pasta and spoils it.
Dry pasta can last for over 10 years if you store it right. However, egg pasta, gluten-free pasta, and flavored pastas may not last as long. Placing it in the fridge or freezer won't make any difference to dried pasta.
FLOUR
The three culprits to overcome when storing flour long term are insects, mold, and oxidation.White flour won't last more than 6 months in its original paper bag in the pantry and 6–10 months in an airtight container. In the fridge, it will stay fresh for up to 12 months and in the freezer, 2 years. For whole-wheat flour, you can divide these timeframes in half.
By using mylar bags and inserting oxygen absorbers, you can store white flour for 10 plus years, and whole-wheat flour for 5 plus years.
All grains, including oats, flour, and rice, will last indefinitely when put in the freezer. This will also kill any insect eggs that could lead to potential infestations.
NUTS, SEEDS & DRIED FRUIT
Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are not really suitable for long-term storage beyond 2 years, depending on how you store them.
NUTS
When stored correctly, most nuts can last up to 9 months in the pantry, except for pecan, pistachios, and walnuts. They'll stay fresh for between 3- 6 months.
When kept in the fridge, all nuts will stay fresh up until 1 year and frozen for up to 2 years. Nuts that are whole, raw, and unshelled will usually last longer.
It's also best to store your nuts away from high-odor foods such as onions, cabbage, and seafood. Nuts tend to absorb the smell of things around them.
CHIA & FLAX SEEDS
Chia seeds will be perfectly fine for up to 2 years in the pantry if they are in a sealed or airtight container and up to 4 years when still unopened or stored in the fridge or freezer.
6- 12 months in an airtight container in your pantry and 1+ years in the fridge or freezer.
SUNFLOWER SEEDS
They will remain fresh in your pantry for up to 3 months in their raw form and up to 5 months roasted. You can keep them in the fridge or freezer for up to 1 year.
DRIED FRUIT
Dried fruits will stay fresh in your pantry if you store them correctly for up to 1 year. You can prolong their freshness for up to 2 years in the fridge and indefinitely when you freeze them.
HERBS, SPICES, AND CANNED GOODS
As with nuts and seeds, herbs and spices are better suited for medium-term storage.
HERBS & SPICES
Ground or powdered spices can last about 2–3 years, and dried herbs 1 - 2 years if kept in an airtight container in a cool, dark place away from heat and moisture.
Tip! Don't add herbs and spices directly over food while cooking, the moisture from the steam will affect the quality and could lead to mold issues. Instead, add some to your hands and then transfer it to the dish.
HOME CANNED FOODS
Highly acidic foods that have been preserved by canning, such as tomatoes and fruit, can be stored for 12–18 months in the pantry.
Less acidic foods, such as meat and veggies, can be stored for 2-4 years if they have been preserved correctly through pressure canning.
Please note that these only apply if canning was done 100% correctly and stored in a cool, dry place.
Want to learn more about canning? This blog post from Azure Farm will be very helpful!
TINNED FOODS
Tinned foods stored correctly and not dented, damaged, or rusted can last indefinitely. They will, however, lose nutritional value and might not taste as good 10 years down the line!
The same applies to acidic and non-acidic canned foods as above.
long-term food storage solutions
Whatever your reason is for storing food in bulk, whether for emergency preparedness, savings costs, or living in a remote location, the principles of food storage stay the same.
And we do not want your bulk purchases to go to waste, realizing after a few months or years that something has gone bad!
That's why it is crucial to follow the best practices when storing bulk foods long-term, and to take the extra few steps to make sure all are stowed away in perfect conditions.
Mylar bags or pail containers are excellent options for long-term storage and bulk foods like beans, grains, and flour. They protect against oxygen, light, moisture, and insects. And once you open your pail containers, a gamma seal lid can ensure easier access while still sealing the bucket.
Pantry Provisions
If you are ready to buy food in bulk, our new long-term food supply product line, Pantry Provisions, might just be what you are looking for!
Our food bundles are emergency meal kits or pre-packaged MREs. However, having 3-6 months of all your kitchen staples on hand would not be a bad thing to have in case of an emergency.
The hardest part of starting with long-term food storage is knowing what foods to buy and knowing if they will be good quality. Well, we've done the hard work for you! We've curated the perfect bundles, whether you are just starting or a seasoned food storage expert 🕵️
Here's what you can expect:
✅30 Organic products
✅750,000 Calories
✅28,000G of protein
✅700lb pallet
✅and much, much more!
Read more here about our 3-6 month long-term food bundles!
