Stocking the Homestead Pantry

Soirée with The Sauce

Food is expensive and stocking the homestead pantry with bulk food, buying food on sale, and other strategies is a good thing—but pantry pest infestations can be devastating and expensive. In this episode I share my considerations for storing food and stocking up.

My favorite storage containers other than glass mason jars with metal lid and ring or fancy plastic lids like Mason Tops lids are Vittles Vaults. Vittles Vaults are made by Gamma 2 in San Diego. They are large food grade plastic containers (BPA-free) that are suitable for storing large quantities (50 pounds or more) of flours, grains, beans, etc.

Gamma Seals are made by the same company convert plastic pails and buckets into secure food storage containers. Vittles Vaults and Gamma Seals are widely available in the U.S. including farm supply stores, pet supply stores, home improvement stores, and internet retailers. The silicone gasket, lid, and ring can be replaced if required.

Good storage containers that are air and water tight not only protect foods from pests and moisture getting into the container but also contain an infestation from moving from container to container. Consider silica gel or other oxygen absorbers if you live in a humid climate. I use Wise Dry as the large pouches are great for Vittles Vaults and have indicator beads to quickly see if they need to be recharged and the smaller ones are suitable for smaller containers like half-gallon jars.

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Good food storage practice:

1. Inspect the food and packaging. Some folks store grains and flours in the freezer for protection or to kill any insects that might be present prior to long term storage. I don’t have a large freezer but this is something to consider depending on your situation.
2. Decant the food into a clean, air and water tight container. Many containers are not suitable for long term storage. Consider an oxygen absorber if you live in a humid climate or storage will be longer term (more than a month).
3. Discard packaging (compost, recycle, fire starter, etc).
4. Refrain from commingling container contents. My exceptions are pasta which I decant into clear bags to save space and store together in a Vittles Vault and commercially packaged and sealed mylar bags which I also store in together in a Vittles Vault.
5. Label with contents and date.
6. Rotate inventory if needed, adhering to the first in, first out rule.
7. Store in a dark and cool location.