One of the key factors in creating a self reliant in food supply is knowing how to store it. As most of you are aware, I’ve talked about different food storing strategies in past editions. I’ve shown you how to preserve beef and fish, build a root cellar for veggies, can your own fruits and veggies and dry your fruit.
Sound easy? Well it is! This month’s DIY project is so simple and easy that there’s almost nothing to it. All it takes is a few easy steps:
Buy 5-gallon seal-able paint buckets or food- grade buckets from your local hardware store.
Pour about a cup or so of salt into a small, plastic bag – a sandwich baggie is fine. Place a baggie of salt at the bottom of each of the buckets. This keeps the interior of the buckets dry.
Add a plastic container with a lid. Punch holes in the lid.
Pack your food into the bucket. Make sure you pack each bucket with every variety of foods that we’ve talked about. That way, you need only open one container at a time.
Put a fist-sized chunk of dry ice into each plastic container next to the salt. Then put the lid on the 5-gallon bucket, but not tightly. Leave a bit of space between the lid and the lip of the bucket. As the dry ice “melts” it will replace the oxygen in the bucket with CO2. That will keep all oxygen out of the bucket, preventing bugs and bacteria from existing within. For long term storage foods should have a 10% or less moisture content. Foods store best when oxygen free. Removing oxygen will prevent oxidation of compounds in foods.
Store your 5-gallon buckets of food in a cool, dark and dry place.
