The best long term food storage containers

There are numerous options when it comes to long term food storage containers. Each type of container has it’s pros and cons.

What works best for my family may not suit your needs. It’s up to you to determine what works best for your situation.

Long Term Food Storage Considerations

It takes a fair amount of time, effort, and resources to put together a supply of long term food storage containers. If I’m going through the effort I want my supplies to last as long as possible.

To get the longest shelf life out of your long term food supply you must control for following five main things:

1. Moisture – When storing food long term it is best to keep things as dry as possible. Without moisture there is less risk for things like mold or other contamination.

2. Heat – The ideal temperature for food storage is about room temperature or 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If your food is experiencing warmer temperatures it will reduce its usable lifespan

3. Oxygen – Exposure to oxygen will cause certain foods to oxidize which can degrade their flavor and nutritional properties. If oxygen is present in your food stores it will also create an environment for microbes and insects to live.

4. Sunlight – If your food is exposed to sunlight it can effect the appearance, flavor, and nutrients of some foods. Oils and fats are prone to oxidation when exposed to sunlight increasing the risk they go rancid.

5. Pests – Rodents and insects can contaminate or completely destroy your emergency food supply.

6 Options for Long Term Food Storage Containers

You can use nearly anything for long term food storage containers but not all are created equal.

Original Packaging

Storing food in it’s original packaging is not going to give the longest shelf life but it’s still a viable option for many dry foods. You can still get at least a year or two shelf life from many dry foods in their original packages.

I keep a portion of our emergency food in it’s original package but we rotate through it regularly. We make sure to consume the foods prior to their best by date so the food is always fresh.

The original packaging of many things will not be very rodent proof so you must consider this if you’re opting to keep your emergency food in the original packages. I keep my foods stored in a storage room with rodent proof shelves so they are protected should rodents get into my building.

Pros:

• Very easy

• Affordable

• No special equipment required

Cons:

• Not rodent or insect proof

• Packages aren’t very durable

• Insect eggs may hatch if present in the packages

Plastic Containers

If you’re on a budget, recycling plastic containers like soda bottles and jars can work great. Make sure to clean and dry the containers prior to putting food in them. They will keep your food protected against most pests.

Plastic bottles are also quite durable and water resistant in case they get knocked over or wet.

Since many plastic containers can be porous there they may allow moisture and oxygen into the food storage containers over time. You can use desiccants and oxygen absorbers to help with this issue.

If you’re choosing to use recycled plastic containers to store food I recommend regularly rotating your stocks.

Pros:

• Cheap

• Durable

• Pest resistant

• Contents are visible for easy inspection

Cons:

• Humidity and Oxygen can slowly permeate the containers

• Plastic can degrade over time

Glass Jars

Mason jars and other glass jars have been used in long term food storage for over a hundred years. They are still an excellent storage container for keeping food stored long term.

The biggest downsides to glass jars is they can be fragile and heavier than some other containers.

I don’t use that many glass jars in my food prepper pantry but I keep them on shelving that won’t allow the jars to fall in the the event of an earthquake. I also store some of them in non-food grade buckets as additional protection from breakage.

Pros:

• Cheap

• Very pest resistant

• Contents are visible for easy inspection

• Reusable and does not degrade

Cons:

• Fragile

• Heavier

• Lids can rust in humid environments

Mylar Bags With Oxygen Absorbers

Mylar bags are one of the most popular containers for long term food storage. They come in all imaginable sizes and are relatively cheap.

The mylar bags when sealed correctly are airtight and moisture resistant. Mylar bags also have the advantage of being impervious to light.

When you combine them with an appropriately sized oxygen absorber you have a storage container which can keep some dry foods good for decades.

For more details on how to properly use oxygen absorbers read our post here.

Pros:

• Airtight and moisture proof

• Easy to reseal after opening

• Numerous sizes available

Cons:

• Can be damaged

• Not pest resistant

• Cost

Plastic Food Grade Buckets

Food grade buckets make an excellent food storage container by themselves. Some people simply dump their dry food inside and seal them up. This works decently enough but a plastic bucket may not be entirely airtight depending on the lid.

I prefer to use vacuum sealed mylar bags and place them inside the buckets. This gives an extra layer of protection for the food.

If you store food in plastic buckets you can be fairly confident that most pests will not be able to get to your food. Combine this with a mylar bag and your food can last decades.

Pros:

• Durable

• Pest resistant

• Protects from light and air

• Reusable

Cons:

• Cost and availability

• Some lids are not airtight

#10 Metal Cans

Pronounced “ten pound cans” these are commonly found metal can that can hold about 115 fluid ounces. For reference, the soup cans you find at the store are called #2 cans and hold about 16 fluid ounces of liquid.

When correctly sealed #10 cans are airtight and light proof. They are also quite durable.

The biggest downside is the sealing tools can cost around $1000 or more. This tool is required to seal these cans.

Pros:

• Durable

• Conveniently sized

• Airtight and light proof

Cons:

• Expensive tool required

• Can be difficult to open without a can opener

• Not reusable

• Can rust in humid environments

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