If you’re looking to get into prepping or long term food storage, buckets are one of the best options to keep your food edible long term.

Food grade buckets are great for storing food because they protect your food against contamination, and have a tight fitting lid. New buckets are also relatively cheap and

Table of Contents

Considerations for long term food storage

There are five main factors which you must control for when storing food long term. Failure to protect your food from any of these will reduce it’s shelf life. Using food grade buckets will protect your food from most contaminants.

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.

Food grade buckets

There are two main types of plastic buckets you will encounter. Food grade buckets and non-food grade buckets.

Food grade buckets are made of a food safe plastic that will not contaminate the contents of the bucket. These are the best options for long term food storage. It is safe to pour food directly in these buckets although I still don’t recommend that.

You are probably already familiar with normal buckets. These are what you typically find at home improvement stores. Normal buckets are not made of food safe plastic and you should never put food directly into these buckets. It is safe to store food in these buckets if you are first sealing your food in mylar bags.

There are two main reasons you may want to use normal buckets instead of food grade buckets. Prices vary but food grade buckets are about double the cost of a normal bucket.

Last I checked a five gallon bucket at Home Depot or tractor supply costs about $3. A food grade bucket will run you about $6-7.

The second reason you may go for normal buckets is that they are easier to find. Every hardware store and home improvement store sells them. I typically have to buy my food grade buckets online because they are harder to find locally.

A word on food grade bucket sizes

The most common food storage buckets you will find and 5 and 6 gallons in size. For many people, these work perfectly for their needs.

A five or six gallon bucket can weigh up to 40 pounds and get extremely heavy depending on what you’re storing. This can make transporting or moving full buckets difficult. Keep this in mind and buy smaller buckets if needed.

If you are buying smaller buckets make sure your lids will fit them. I like all my buckets to share the same lid size.

Lids

There are three main types of bucket lids you will encounter.

Press on Lid

This is the most common. These lids are pressed onto the top of the bucket. You may need to use a rubber mallet to seal the lid. To open the bucket you must pry off the lid using a screw driver or similarly shaped tool. Regularly accessing the contents of a bucket with this lid is a huge pain. These lids are cheapest.

Tear Strip lid

This lid is similar to the press on lid in that it is also pressed onto the top of the bucket to seal. To remove the bucket there is a pull tab that must be removed from the lid. Thus allowing access to the contents. You can push the lid back on to reseal but the seal isn’t as good after opening the first time.

Gamma lids

These lids thread onto the top of the bucket. They are very convenient to open and reseal. A gamma lid is more expensive but well worth the extra cost if you plan on accessing the contents periodically. I use a mixture of lids depending on what I’m storing.

Oxygen absorbers

These little packets will absorb any oxygen in the containers you’re using to store food. They come in many sizes and are typically measured in cubic centimeters or CCs.

Pay attention to the size of mylar bag or bucket you’re using. You need to ensure you have enough oxygen absorbers in the bag/bucket to remove all oxygen.

You can’t use too many oxygen absorbers but if you use too few they won’t be able to remove all oxygen which will reduce your food’s shelf life. Below is a quick reference to determine how much oxygen absorbers you need.

• 32oz canning jars: 100cc

• Half gallon mylar bag: 200cc

• One gallon mylar bags: 400cc

• Five gallon buckets: 1500cc

Any unused oxygen absorbers should be vacuum sealed in a container with an airtight seal. This will keep them good for future prepping use. If you don’t keep them sealed the oxygen absorbers will fill with oxygen rendering them useless. For more details on proper oxygen absorber use check out our post dedicated to the topic.

Storing food inside buckets and mylar bags

Preserving your own food in food grade buckets is really quite simple. I strongly recommend putting your food inside vacuum sealed mylar bags regardless of which type of buckets you’re using.

By using mylar bags you will have a secondary barrier for contamination should your buckets get damaged or the seal broken. This will also allow you to break your food up into smaller mylar bags so you can keep more of your food sealed until it’s needed.

This food storage method is best suited to dry foods. I like to store bulk foods like wheat berries, white rice, white flour, sugar, brown sugar, dry pasta, and rolled oats using this technique. For more info on storing pasta long term check out our post here.

There isn’t much benefit to storing fatty foods this way. The mylar bags and oxygen absorbers don’t do much to prevent fats from going rancid.

1. Decide on your mylar bag size. For many foods I like half gallon or one gallon bags. You can even use five gallon bags and line an entire bucket but I don’t do this.

2. Place the appropriately sized oxygen absorbers in your mylar bags.

3. Fill the bags with food. In some cases it makes sense to keep the food inside it’s original package. You can also save one empty package and place it inside the bucket so you can reference it for preparation information.

4. Vacuum seal the bags. You can also use a clothes iron for sealing mylar bags. Press out as much air as you can and ensure an airtight seal.

5. Pack your sealed mylar bags into your food grade buckets (or normal buckets)

6. Attach the bucket lids and label with contents and date they were sealed.

7. Stack buckets in your cool and dry storage space. Do not stack more than three buckets high. This can cause them to crack.

8. Periodically check your food buckets for evidence of compromise. I’ve found rodents can chew into a bucket if given enough time.

Butter is a wonderfully delicious and versatile food. It has a high fat content which is crucial to thriving during a survival situation. I generally recommend people buy freeze dried butter powder because it lasts the longest. However, you can still dehydrate butter yourself if you wish.

Dehydrated butter can be combined with all kinds of dry ingredients to make baked goods.

In addition to butter, many dehydrated and freeze dried foods are suitable for long term storage. You can make or purchase dehydrated peanut butter powder, powdered milk, dehydrated butter milk, and many others. Rice and pasta are excellent to store long term along with butter and other foods. For information on keeping rice long term check out our post here.

If you’re interesting in long term storage of butter (or alternatives) or adding butter to your emergency food supply, you will want to dehydrate butter.

Why dehydrate butter?

When it comes to long term storage of nearly all foods, one of the primary concerns is moisture. Foods that contain moisture are more prone to spoiling and generally speaking they do not have as long of a shelf life. This is why many canned foods are not as good for long term storage as dry foods. For information on the best canned foods for survival check out our post.

If you remove moisture from butter it will extend the shelf life.

How to dehydrate butter using a home dehydrator

The simplest and likely most accessible way of dehydrating butter is by using a consumer-grade food dehydrator.

Start by making sure your butter has been refrigerated for a while to harden. This will make cutting the sticks of butter much easier. It will also prevent the butter from melting while working with it.

Cut your sticks of butter into thin pieces about 1/4 inch thick. Place the pieces of butter in an open container, plate, or the parchment paper.

Put the butter in the freezer uncovered for at least 24 hours. This will kickstart the drying process. You can leave it in the freezer to let it dry even further.

After at least 24 hours in the freezer you will notice your butter should start to look dry and cracked. This is a good sign.

Place the pieces on parchment or wax paper. Ensure the pieces of paper will fit within your dehydrator while still allowing airflow.

Place the butter into your dehydrator. And turn it on. The cooler you can keep the butter the better. If you are able to control the temperature, keep it low or put your dehydrator in a cool place while dehydrating butter.

The dehydration process will take at least 24 hours. Check on it periodically, when it looks dry and cracked that is a good sign the butter is fully dehydrated.

Keep in mind, the butter will not be completely dry because it is an oil. You can still spread the butter. It will just be devoid of nearly all moisture.

Freeze drying butter

One of the best preservation methods for butter is freeze drying. The process is essentially identical to using a standard dehydrator.

The end result will be a butter powder. The powdered butter can then be stored much longer than any other form of butter.

The biggest downside of making freeze dried butter is the high cost of most freeze drying machines. Typically these machines can cost thousands of dollars.

A good alternative is to simply buy bulk quantities of freeze dried butter if you don’t want to spend the money on a freeze drying machine.

How to store butter long term

One of the most generally accepted methods of long term food storage is through the use of vacuum sealed mylar bags with an oxygen absorber.

First dehydrate your butter. Freeze drying is best but typical dehydrated butter is fine too.

Place the dehydrated butter in a solid container like a jar. Place this in your mylar bags along with an oxygen absorber.

Vacuum seal the bags and place them in a food grade bucket or other airtight container.

This process is the same if you’re dealing with freeze dried butter powder.

How long will dehydrated butter last

Regular dehydrated butter can last up to 5 years with proper storage. This is assuming you were able to dry the butter very well.

Because dehydrated butter is a fat, it can go rancid regardless of how well it has been dried. For this reason, it is best to rotate your stocks of butter over the years to ensure you stockpile does go rancid.

How long will dehydrated butter powder last?

Mechanically separated butter powder has the longest shelf life of any butter product. You can expect it to last 20-30 years with proper storage.

This is the best type of butter suitable for super long term storage.

How to make homemade butter

There is nothing better than fresh butter. Homemade butter not only tastes amazing but it’s incredibly satisfying and easy to make.

Since you already know how to store it long term lets take a look at how you can make your own butter.

To make butter do the following:

You can use a hand whisk or any electric mixer.

1. Refrigerate a large mixing bowl. This will help keep the cream cool while mixing it and make the butter form much more quickly.

2. Fill your chilled bowl with heavy whipping cream and begin whisking.

3. As you whisk you will notice the cream start to thicken.

4. Continue whisking until the cream starts to get airy and will hold it’s shape.

5. When the cream will hold cold hard peaks you are at the whipped cream stage.

6. Keep whisking and the butter fat will start to separate and you will see liquid form at the bottom of the bowl.

7. Continue to whisk for several more minutes. Then strain the butter through cheese cloth to separate the butter from the liquid.

8. Roll the remaining butter into the shape of your choice and then wrap with wax paper.

9. Refrigerate and you now have fresh butter!

Types of butter

There are a few common forms of butter beyond regular butter. All can be dehydrated for long term storage.

Ghee – Excellent for cooking. This is a form of clarified butter in which the milk protein has been removed. It is made by melting the butter until the milk solids sink to the bottom of the melted butter. The liquid is then strained.

Clarified butter – Similar to ghee, this is butter that has had the milk solids separated from the butter fat. It is made by melting the butter then skimming out milk particles.

Whipped butter – This is real butter that has been whipped with a whisk or mixer to add air to it. The process makes the butter softer and easier to spread.

Honey butter – This is butter mixed with honey. It combined the rich flavors of butter with the delicious sweet flavor of honey.

Butter substitues

I love butter and like having some included in my emergency prepper stockpile. There are many other foods which can be used in place of butter if needed.

Cocoa butter – This is an edible fat from the cocoa plant. It has a cocoa flavor and can be great for cooking and skincare products.

Shea Butter – Typically used for skincare. It can be used for cooking if it is grade A. Does not go rancid.

Coconut Oil – This oil has a mild coconut flavor and makes a great butter substitute. Cold pressed unfiltered coconut oil is best.

Gatorade is a popular sports drink for athletes because of it’s high calories and electrolytes. It’s a fantastic thirst quencher while also helping maintain energy when playing sports or when you exert physical strain.

Does powdered Gatorade expire? Eventually powdered Gatorade can expire but it can last for years if stored correctly. This makes it great for SHTF and storing for emergency situations.

Why Drink Gatorade and other Sports Drinks

Gatorade was developed in the 1960s in the United States as a way to help athletes perform better during long football games and other sports.

When doing things like playing sports matches or other physical activity we sweat. Our bodies excrete electrolytes like sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphorous, calcium, and even magnesium.

These electrolytes all serve important purposes in the function of our bodies and without them we will quickly notice negative side effects. Because of this, we need to replenish these elements through food and drink.

If our bodies become depleted of electrolytes it can cause things like muscle craps, headaches, and cognitive impairment. Drinks like Gatorade are designed to help quickly replenish these electrolytes.

In addition to the electrolytes, Gatorade also contains sugar for energy and flavoring. Originally there was just one flavor but now there are numerous flavors featuring sweet fruity notes.

Since the creation of Gatorade the market for sports drinks and electrolyte drinks has exploded. Many new products are on the market which incorporate electrolytes and are marketed as an energy drink and even energy chewing gum.

Types of Gatorade.

There are two main kinds of Gatorade available. Bottled gatorade and powdered gatorade mix. Both are commonly available and contain the same ingredients (with the exception of water).

The main difference is powdered gatorade mix must be reconstituted by adding water. Because powdered gatorade does not contain water it can have a longer shelf life than Gatorade bottles.

Gatorade Bottle Shelf Life

Unopened bottled gatorade will typically have a shelf life of between one and three years. The time will depend on when it was manufactured and when you bought it. An open bottle of gatorade should be consumed within five days.

One thing to note, Gatorade has a best by date. This means the product is best to be consumed before that date.

In most cases the Gatorade will taste mostly fine and be safe to consume well past the best by date. You can usually find the best by date on the bottle’s neck.

If a product has an expiration date you must consume it before the date. Consumption beyond the expiration date may be unsafe.

Powder Gatorade Sports drink Shelf Life

Unopened Gatorade mix has a best by date printed on the container of typically one to three years. The benefit of powered gatorade mix is that if stored properly it can be good to consume for much longer.

The Best way to Store Gatorade Long Term

If you’re adding Gatorade to your emergency food supplies or prepper stockpile you’re going to want to use powdered gatorade. It can be preserved much longer than bottles of Gatorade.

For information on storing rice check out our post here.

Considerations When Storing Gatorade Long Term

When storing any food products long term you must protect from the following:

• Moisture

• Oxygen

• Pests

• Sunlight

• Extreme temperature fluctuations

There are many ways to extend the usable life of Gatorade. The best method to store unopened Gatorade mix long term is by using mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and food grade buckets.

This method will protect the Gatorade from moisture, oxygen, sunlight, and pests. Excess moisture may lead to mold growth. By placing the sealed mylar bags in a bucket you will also have redundant seals should your bucket or a bag fail.

If done correctly, this method will extend the shelf life of your gatorade mix for many years. This technique can also be applied to many other electrolyte drinks.

What You’ll Need to keep Gatorade Powder Fresh Long Term

1. Mylar bags

2. Vacuum sealer

3. Oxygen Absorbers

4. Food-grade buckets (or normal buckets)

5. Gatorade mix

How to prepare your Gatorade for Long Term Storage

1. Place your Gatorade Powder (in it’s original container) in the mylar bags.

2. Place an appropriate sized oxygen absorber in the bag.

3. Vacuum seal the bag

4. Neatly place the bags in your bucket

5. Store your sealed buckets in a cool, dry, and dark place.

Other Ways to Store Gatorade Powder

If you choose not to use mylar bags, an airtight container can work to improve the long term storage of Gatorade powder.

Some people use mason or a glass jar along with oxygen absorbers to store their Gatorade. The downside is these containers can be fragile and they do not protect from light. You can place the tightly sealed containers in boxes or buckets to protect from light and breakage. For details on proper oxygen absorber usage check out our post.

How to Store Unopened Bottles of Gatorade

Even though bottled Gatorade cannot last as long as the powder, it can still be stored for several years.

Bottled Gatorade should be kept in a dry and cool place out of direct sunlight. High temperature may cause the Gatorade to deteriorate faster.

There is no need to refrigerate unopened gatorade bottles but it is best to keep it near room temperature.

Storing Opened Gatorade

Once you open bottled gatorade the airtight seal has been broken. This exposes the Gatorade to contamination from air and anything else that is able to get into the bottle.

If you’re drinking directly from the bottle you are also contaminating the Gatorade with bacteria from your mouth. This will dramatically reduce the time you can store the Gatorade bottle.

If you have opened the bottle it is best to drink it within five days. You should store the bottle in a refrigerator when you’re not drinking it.

If you freeze gatorade it can extend the shelf life if you have already opened the bottle. By freezing gatorade it will prevent the growth of any bacteria.

You can freeze a bottle of Gatorade but be sure to remove some or else the bottle may break. I like to use an ice cube tray to make convenient Gatorade ice cubes to add to other drinks.

How do I Know if my Gatorade has Spoiled?

Gatorade drinks can last a long time past the best by date if stored correctly. That doesn’t mean Gatorade can’t make you sick if you drink it beyond the date on the bottle.

Check your Gatorade before drinking it to be sure it is safe to drink. If the bottle is unopened make sure it looks normal. If you see any discoloration or particles floating in the liquid that is a clear sign that something is wrong.

Even the powdered mix can spoil after a period of time or if it was not stored correctly.

Old gatorade may start to clump or harden when it has been compromised. This is not always a sign it’s spoiled but something to consider.

Bad Gatorade may also have an unusual or sour smell. Pay attention to the taste when first trying the Gatorade. It you notice a bitter taste or other unusual flavor it may be a sign the Gatorade has spoiled.

If you have any doubts about the expired Gatorade, do not consume it.

Jello is tasty treat many know and love. It’s cheap, tastes great, and can be a fun wiggly dessert. People use it for all kinds of creative jello shapes. Kids love rubbery jello desserts and jello shots can add a unique experience to parties.

The gelatin found in jello is also surprisingly nutritious and high in protein. There are also numerous health benefits associated with consuming gelatin on a regular basis.

Powdered dry jello mix can have a surprisingly long shelf life if stored properly. For this reason it can be a great idea to add some jello to your emergency food supply.

Types of Jello

The main forms of jello that you will find are powdered jello and ready to eat prepared jello.

Ready to eat jello will generally be found in refrigerator section of most grocery stores. Powdered jello can usually be found in the baking isle.

Lastly, there are jello pudding pops which must be frozen and aren’t suitable for long term storage.

All jello typically has the following main ingredients:

• Sugar

• Gelatin

• Food coloring

• Flavoring

Does Jello Expire?

The short answer is yes, it can eventually expire. How long will jello last depends entirely on how you store powdered jello or prepared ready to eat jello.

Ready to eat jello generally won’t last more than a few months if the package is sealed and kept within a refrigerator.

How long does jello last?

If you keep jello gelatin mix powder in it’s original packaging in the pantry you can expect it to last about a year. The jello mix I just bought at the store has a best by date of 11 months from the date of purchase. Beyond that you may notice the jello powder to start to harden. The dessert may not have the best flavor if you decide to make it.

If you store jello power in vacuum sealed mylar bags with oxygen absorbers you can expect a shelf life of two years or more.

I recently opened a package of jello I have had in storage for over five years and it still tasted fine.

How long does prepared jello last?

Prepared and packaged jello won’t last more than a few months in the refrigerator. Freezing jello can extend the shelf life over a year if it is inside an airtight container.

If you decide to freeze jello you may find your jello turns to a watery liquid when thawed.

Eating jello past expiration date

If jello has been stored in a cool and dry place in the original package you can safely eat it beyond the best by date. This date simply means the flavor, texture, and nutrients of the jello will be best before this date.

Better storage methods will preserve the jello well past the date on the package.

Pre packaged prepared jello can be eaten past the best by date but one must be much more careful. Check to see if there is any sign of mold or dark spots on the jello. If the jello has a sour smell or unusual color that is an indication you have spoiled jello and it is not safe to eat.

Unless you are in a dire situation or if there is any doubt, avoid eating prepared packaged jello beyond the printed date. Food safety is not something to mess with.

How to maximize jello shelf life

If you’re looking to add jello to your prepper stockpile you’re going to want it stored correctly.

The best way to store boxed dry mix jello beyond expiration date is by using vacuum sealed mylar bags with oxygen absorbers placed within food grade (or normal) buckets.

If you’re interested in learning how to store rice long term check out our post here.

This method protects the jello from oxygen, moisture, light, and pests. All of which can spoil your jello and reduce it’s shelf life.

An alternative method to store jello is by using air tight containers. Glass mason jars or other plastic food safe containers will help preserve jello’s shelf life. If you include oxygen absorber better still.

Regardless of your chosen storage method, your containers should be kept in a cool dry environment.

How to prepare powdered jello desserts

One of the benefits of jello is how simple it is to prepare with limited resources. All you need is the jello mix, boiling water, and a container. It’s best to follow the instructions on the package of jello mix but here is a rough guide that should work for most jello

What you need:

1. Jello mix

2. Boiling water

3. A container to let the jello set

How to make homemade jello:

1. Mix about two cups of boiling water with twelve ounces of jello powder.

2. Stir until combined completely.

3. Pour the liquid into your container

4. Refrigerate until firm

Storing dry pasta is one of the best ways you can build out your emergency long term food storage supplies.

Not only is dried pasta cheap, readily available, and delicious but it can have a very long shelf life when stored properly.

Lets get into the nitty gritty details on how to store pasta long term. If you’re interested in how to store other foods like rice long term check our out post on the topic here.

What will cause your dried pasta to spoil?

You need to protect your long term food storage from the following. This applies to nearly all foods being stored long term.

• Moisture

• Oxygen

• Pests

• Sunlight

• Extreme temperature fluctuations

The best method for long term storage of dry pasta is by using mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and food grade buckets. This method protects the pasta from moisture, oxygen, sunlight, and pests. You also have redundant seals with the bucket and each individual mylar bag. Check out our post on oxygen absorbers to learn more.

How long can I store dried pasta?

Without any special care, most pasta can last two years in the pantry.

Some gluten free pasta contains extra oils which will reduce it’s shelf life.

In ideal conditions, pasta can remain edible for up to thirty years. If you’re interested to learn how to maximize your pasta storage keep reading.

What kind of uncooked pasta should I choose for long term storage?

There are numerous varieties of pasta. Most will work well for long term storage.

I prefer smaller pasta shapes because they can be packed more tightly in mylar bags and food grade buckets.

Avoid pasta with sharp edges such as bowtie pasta. Sharp edges can puncture your mylar bags.

Consider cooking effort and time of the pasta you choose. Smaller, thinner pasta cooks faster than large thick pieces of pasta. Faster cooking will help you conserve fuel and save time.

Non-traditional kinds of pasta such as vegetable pasta, egg noodles, egg pasta, flax pasta, semolina pasta, whole grain pasta, and buckwheat noodles may have shorter shelf life than traditional wheat pasta due to the extra oils and ingredients that may be present.

How to store pasta long term

I will cover multiple methods to store your pasta starting with the most effective.

Vacuum sealing pasta is a fundamental step. Food stored using a vacuum sealing method will have a longer shelf life than if kept in the original package.

A food vacuum sealer will typically be able to seal mylar bags but you can also use a hot iron or clothes iron for sealing.

Food safe buckets combined with the mylar bag method will improve pasta shelf life dramatically.

Mylar vacuum bags with Oxygen absorbers inside food grade buckets

This is the best and most effective method to store pasta long term. It’s also the best method to store other dry foods.

1. Remove your pasta from it’s original package and place it within mylar bags

   1. Choose an appropriate bag size. I like 1 gallon or half gallon bags most of the time. This keeps most of your food in sealed bags until you need it.

2. Place a oxygen absorbers in the mylar bags.

   1. Make sure to choose the correct size oxygen absorbers for your bag size.

   2. Half gallon bags need 200cc oxygen absorbers and 1 gallon bags need 400ccs.

3. Use a vacuum sealer to remove all the air from the bags and seal them.

4. Place the sealed mylar bags in food grade buckets with lids.

   1. Since your food is already sealed in mylar bags you can also use normal buckets from the hardware store.

5. Seal the buckets with lids

   1. I highly recommend Gamma lids. They are a screw-on lid that makes opening and closing buckets much easier than conventional bucket lids.

Canning jars with Oxygen absorbers

This is also a highly effective pasta storage method. Canning jars are an airtight container and they are very resistant to rodents and insects.

The downside to glass jars is they are fragile and don’t protect the pasta from light.

1. Remove your pasta from it’s original package and place it inside your jars.

   1. Fill the jars to the top to remove as much air as possible.

2. Place oxygen absorbers inside the jars

3. Attach the lids

4. Place the jars in a safe place for storage

   1. I like to keep multiple jars in buckets or cardboard boxes which helps protect them from damage and light.

   2. Be sure to store everything in a cool, dry place for optimal shelf life.

Food grade buckets with oxygen absorbers

Long term storage of pasta can be done simply using food grade buckets.

I don’t like this method because if the bucket gets cracked or fails your entire 5 gallon supply of pasta may be destroyed. If your pasta is also sealed in mylar bags it will still be protected should the bucket seal fail.

1. Remove your pasta from it’s original package and place it inside your jars.

   1. Fill the bucket to the top to remove as much air as possible.

2. Disperse oxygen absorbers throughout the bucket

   1. A 5 gallon bucket will need 2000ccs of oxygen absorbers.

   2. Using several smaller oxygen absorbers can be used to spread the coverage.

   3. Seal the bucket using the lid.

Vacuum sealer bags

Basic food vacuum sealers and plastic vacuum sealer bags are a poor choice to store pasta long term. The plastic bags are not moisture resistant or airtight. Eventually air and moisture will permeate the bags and cause your pasta to spoil.

Plastic vacuum sealer bags are not really an improvement over the plastic bags your pasta was in when you bought it.

Shelf life of pasta stored this way will be a max of two years.

Pest Prevention

All preppers need to be mindful of common pests such as rodents and insects. Improperly stored pasta or other foods can easily be contaminated or destroyed if pests are able to get to them.

Ensure your storage containers are kept in a cool, dry place free of wild temperature changes.

Vacuum sealing your mylar bags properly will keep things airtight and prevent moisture and insects.

Using durable, pest-resistant containers like a food grade bucket, glass jars, or metal cans will protect your pasta stores from rodents.

If you’re worried about insect eggs you can freeze pasta to kill them. Also, if you’re using an oxygen absorber it will prevent insect eggs from surviving.