A few months ago, at a church activity, I bought several buckets to use for long term food storage. I had 25 lbs of pinto beans and 25 lbs of quick oats to put in these buckets. (I was going to buy other foods to put in the other buckets, but hadn't gotten around to doing that yet.) I went to our Church cannery and got oxygen packets. I was told the food would be fine in these buckets. Now fast forward to a few weeks ago when I was doing some research on Provident Living's website regarding other food storage items and I came across "storing food in plastic buckets". It said that oxygen packets weren't sufficient to use in plastic buckets with long term food storage. What?! It said you would need to use dry ice to keep the food safe in plastic buckets for long term. I had just bought these buckets and I thought I was doing good getting my food storage going. Grrrr... I called the cannery and talked to several different people and finally decided to not use the plastic buckets anymore and transfer all the food into #10 cans, which are rodent free and will last up to 30 years for sure. I was also told that I could reserve (for free) a sealer/lidder for the #10 cans and use it at home! What a great idea. So last week I picked up the sealer along with 58 cans (half were for a friend) and off to home I went to get busy.
All the cans loaded in my car. 
The sealer/lidder on my counter. It was really easy to use and it was nice to be able to can my own food I already had on hand. I ended up doing 25 lbs of flour, 25 lbs sugar, 25 lbs quick oats, 25 lbs pinto beans, 4 lbs corn meal, 6 lbs dry milk, 1 can spaghetti, 1 can of macaroni and 5.5 lbs black beans. I started at 8 am, ran to Walmart and Costco to pick up a few more food items to top off some cans, came home and fed the kids lunch and then I finished and had everything cleaned up by 12:30. Not too bad. It was fun too. Then my friend, Michelle, picked it up that afternoon. She called me later to tell me that you aren't supposed to put oxygen packets in with the sugar because it will turn it rock hard and I did!!! So she let me use some of her cans she hadn't used yet and I recanned my sugar. It was nice of her and I'm glad she told me. Overall, I would recommend this to anybody. It's easy and actually fun to do. 
9 Fabulous Comments:
I am impressed! Now I know where to come if there is a famine! I don't eat much........ Glad Preston is back to his old self. What no pictures of Fancy Fancy? Thanks for sending my PJs.
You are unstoppable! I can't believe the trip out didn't include a Happy Meal, that's the only way my kids would have eaten. I'm warning you now that this is on my list for the fall when the kids go back to school, that means you can't dodge my phone calls when I need advice on what I'm doing. Seriously though, GOOD JOB on getting all that done. What a great feeling!!
Wow! Umm...either you are crazy or Im really lazy!
Wow. Looks like quite the job. I don't know if I could ever do it at home by myself. Doesn't it feel good, though, to know you have all that stored away? That stinks about your other containers, but I guess it is good you found out.
Nice job! That's awesome you were able to do so much in such a short amount of time.
I think it is funny about the plastic buckets. We put wheat up about 25 years ago in plastic buckets with dry ice (1 time is all you need) and we are using that wheat today. The Mr and I were missionaries at the Dry Pack, Cannery in Murray, Ut for 3 years so I know how to use the machine and about the sugar.... It would have been like a rock if you had left it but you can chip away if you have to. Good job, where did you put it all?
That is so awesome! I totally want to do that now. Did you get the cans from the cannery, too? And where did you buy the dry milk? This could be my new hobby! :)
Oh, and Wandering Nana? Your profile picture totally cracked me up!!!
Way to go! We have been working on our food supply as well. I got some great looks at Winco as I was doing my stock up shopping. Some of the guys that Jason works with couldn't believe that we would have a year's supply of food stored in our house. How convenient to do it at your house though. Leave it to HP to be on the ball and so efficient. :) By the way, I tried the double stuff oreos in peanut butter. Excellent! But then I'm a succor for peanut butter...and oreos. Ha!
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