Long Term Food Storage Buckets & Supplies on the cheap for the beginner

[Freshly Minted Georgian!]

This dude in ATL sells new food grade buckets for $2/each.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/bfs/d/riverdale-gallon-food-grade-buckets/7314505009.html

Down by the airport.

 

[james357]

because over time the bags degrade and get sticky...like within 5 years or so

Since I have just started buying bulk maybe the shxx will hit the fan soon. Lol.

 

[SKEETER25]

Check with the Publix close to your house. Call the bakery. They have 4 gallon icing buckets with lids they will give you for free. ( You'll have to wash them out)
I buy bulk rice and beans, put them in quart mylar bags with ox sorbers and seal them with a mylar bag sealer. Should last 10-15 years.

 

[sniper22]

I spent some time researching long term food storage and was amazed that the cost and price differences everywhere I looked. The prepared/freeze dried/dehydrated stuff is really expensive- so I started looking into DIY 5 gallon food buckets and understanding what the beginner really just needs to get started without spending a fortune. Here is what I found and thought I would share...

Here's the short list of what you need:
5 Gallon Food Buckets x10
5 Gallon Mylar Bags x10
Oxygen Absorbers 2000cc x10
Lid opener
Mylar bag sealer (eg. Old Iron, pickup at local thrift store or steal the one from your linen closet...I won't tell)
Rubber mallet or hammer & block of wood (I bet everyone has a hammer)

For oxygen absorbers, you need 1 x 2000cc per 5 gallon bucket for high density food (like rice). 2 x 2000cc per 5 gallon with low density food (like large beans)

Here is what I found:

Lowe's has the least expensive 5 GAL Food Grade Buckets & Lids that I have found, and FREE SHIPPING from your local Lowe's store.
Bucket = $3.97 Lids = $1.97
For a quantity of 10, you're in under $60.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=356492-1152-50640
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=356493-1152-50000

5 Gallon Mylar Bags
On Amazon, quantity of 10 for $12.49, and these come with 10x 2000cc oxygen absorbers!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077CSRXQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Additional Oxygen Absorbers
30x 2000cc for $14.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FRZ45K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lid Opener $2.97
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KKPBFE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So for under $100, probably much less then you blow in ammo on a trip to the range- you can have everything you need to start storing away up your favorite rice, beans, pasta, etc from your local grocery store.

Put bag into bucket, add food, throw in 1-2 oxygen absorbers, seal with hot iron, close lid with rubber mallet. Label and stick in the closet for 25 years.

Walmart has buckets for 2.94 and lids were 1.26

 

[dondon48]

rice will keep for a very long time, decades...freeze it for a couple of days before you seal it in buckets to kill any rice worms. pinto beans are excellent to store, they will at some point no longer be cookable...at that point you can grind them and make flour with them or put that in other things so you still get the protein.

 

[Captain Kaboom]

Walmart has buckets for 2.94 and lids were 1.26

online? Do you have a link to those?

 

[sniper22]

online? Do you have a link to those?

Walmart.com

 

[sniper22]

online? Do you have a link to those?

The stores around here had tons last time I checked. For a few bucks each the buckets and lids are way better than the "storage containers "

 

[Sneakypete]

A packaging company I started back in the mid 90's distributed all types of rigid containers... including 45-50 T.Trailer loads of 5 gal. buckets per mon.

When people would call looking for small quantities when we didn't have a broken pallet I would suggest that they go to either sandwich restaurants (i.e. small local restaurants, Firehouse Subs., Subway, Pizza franchises, etc.) for their old pickle, mayonnaise, icing, etc. buckets & then just buy the lids unless you could get both from them. Many of those places will let you have them for nothing or just charge a small amount.
While no longer "food grade" they still can be airtight & be used for foods with the mylar bags.... something to try or consider.

Excellent idea

 

[sniper22]

I'm not certain the lids from Walmart, home depot, or lowes are airtight.