Explain: Storing grains: Keeping the Bugs Out
Sorry, but it's true: All wheat has tiny insect eggs that - if left untreated - will eventually hatch into insects that will eat you out of your food supply. When storing bulk grain, you will need to keep the oxygen out to keep the insects from growing. There are 3 good ways to do this:
Storing beans in buckets with dry ice -- See U-tube videos listed below for demonstration
· Get dry ice from Price Cutter – Carry home in plastic container with lid mostly on-put in freezer
· Put dry ice in center bottom of plastic bucket – PET 2 not metal: (1 oz dry ice per gallon)
· Add grains to 1” of top, jiggle to settle grains closely, but don’t jiggle after this
· Close lid half way around – carbon dioxide gas can escape as dry ice sublimates
· Check every 20 minutes to see if bottom is not very cold anymore.
· When pail bottom is NOT very cold anymore, seal lid. Takes 1-2 hrs & up to 5 or 6 hrs
· If bucket bulges, slightly lift edge of bucket to relieve pressure.
· Normal for lid to pull down slightly as result of partial vacuum.
· Store buckets off the floor by at least ½ inch to allow air to circulate around bucket.
· Do not stack over 3 high.
· You can use dry ice with powders, such as flour, powdered milk, eggs, cheese
Storing grains in mylar bags with oxygen packet and iron -- U tube video
· Fill mylar bag with grain
· Insert oxygen packet
· Bend top of bag over to press out as much as air as possible
· Run iron over the end on hottest setting
Seal A Meal
· Seal just like you would any other food products
Freeze it
· Put your grain in the freezer – will kill all live insects – but won’t kill eggs. Then let stand at room temperature 30 days till eggs hatch. Refreeze and should get all newly hatched.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth won’t hurt people or animals, but for bugs it is terrible.
For each 5 gallon container, put ¼ C diatomaceous earth, then seal container and roll around until dust is evenly distributed.
How to keep grain safe once bucket is opened by expert at King Arthur Flour Company
Flour, mixes, cereal, spices, & dried fruit are susceptible to infestation with beetles, weevils and moths even in the cleanest kitchen. If your flour has black flecks or weevil webs– you’ve got them. They come in products we buy & are contaminated before you bring them home.
· Unequivocally he recommended bay leaves as the best grain moth repellent.
· Sprinkle bay leaves on shelves, or tape bay leaves inside of canisters or cereal boxes.
· Bay leaves won’t leave a flavor.
· Grain moths like warmth & moisture, so store grains in airtight containers and in a cool place.
· The only other material he found to deter grain moths is Bazooka Bubble Gum! (You follow the same directions as with bay leaves.)
Where Should You Store It?
Consider the temperature of the room where you plan on storing bulk grain. The ideal temperature range is between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also try to keep your grain away from areas that are high in humidity. If you plan on storing your grains in the garage or a shed, set your containers on boards so they won't be in direct contact with concrete or the ground.Also, keep your grains away from bright lights.
Demonstration: How to bottle beans without cooking
a. Wash & sort beans
b. Fill jar with ¾ Cup of beans. Fill with water and cover with towel over night
c. Empty jar, refill with hot water & ½ tsp salt, leave 1” headspace
d. Double beans for quart jars.
e. Process pint jars for 75 minutes 10 pounds pressure
f. Process quart jars for 90 minutes 10 pounds pressure
You can skip the soaking stage and just fill jars with clean, sorted beans and then cook.
How do I cook old dry beans? Longer dry beans are stored, the longer they take to cook.
· First, sort and rinse the beans.
· For each cup of beans, bring 3 cups of water to boil, add the beans to the boiling water, and boil for 2 minutes.
· Next, add 3/8 teaspoon of baking soda for each cup of beans, cover, and soak for 1 hour or more. More baking soda may be required for older beans.
· Next, drain & rinse the beans thoroughly, cover with water, bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1-2 hours or until tender.
· Do not add salt or other ingredients until the beans have softened adequately. See All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage Basic Recipes for additional information.
FOOD STORAGE WEBSITES AND ARTICLES
Sealing mylar bags – UTube Videos:
How to seal a mylar bag with clothing iron: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk9b0dAtJ80
How to vacuum seal a mylar bag with a Foodsaver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU8W92U37PU
Storing grains with dry ice website:
Canning help websites:
http://thebeginningfarmerswife.blogspot.com/2007/11/canning-pinto-beans_30.html (This is my favorite website for canning pinto beans - no cooking involved)
http://www.paulnoll.com/Oregon/Canning/ - Lots of pictures for canning lots of foods.
http://www.doityourself.com/scat/homecanning - How-to on canning everything you can imagine
http://www.pickyourown.org/allaboutcanning.htm - How to can anything
Food Storage Websites:
http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,8133-1-4352-1,00.html (Bishop's storehouse form at providentliving.org.
http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/ (Order hard to get grains, dehydrated fruits & vegetables, other items for food storage) 4.49 shipping no matter how much you order - offer 10-20% off monthly)
(Emergency Essential website) http://beprepared.com/
Utube Using your long term food storage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc48RTpYIgQ&feature=related
Find recipes you already like and then switch out for food storage ingredients!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc48RTpYIgQ&feature=related Interview w/tips on using food storage in everyday cooking
www.funwithfoodstorage.net All kinds of ideas, videos and tips to help you get your food storage
Bush Beans Recipes: http://www.bushbeans.com/recipes/recipes.php
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