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The viability of long term storable foods is governed by four things. Knowing each of these things is crucial in obtaining the longest shelf life possible for the food you have put up for your family. This is especially true if you are just starting a food storage program.

The four things are as follows. The storage area temperature, the food’s moisture content, the storage container atmosphere, and the storage container itself. Let’s look at each of these things.

1) Temperature of the Storage Area

The temperature of the storage area has the most to do with how long your stored food will last. Remember that food stored in a warm or hot environment will last only a fraction of the time it would in a cool, dry area. Store your food in the coolest area possible, but above freezing temperatures. An additional factor is that you want the storage area temperature to be relatively constant. Frequent temperature changes will also shorten the food’s overall life.

In short, remember to store a cool, dry, dark place, where the temperature remains relatively constant.

2) The Percentage of Moisture in the Food

Foods with a high moisture content can spoil in their containers. Generally, long term storable foods should have a moisture content of 10% or less. This is sometimes hard to achieve without specialized equipment.

Freeze dried foods are specially-prepared for this purpose. Their moisture content has been addressed in the preparation process.

3) Storage Container Atmosphere

Foods packed in storage containers with air will not last as long, because oxygen oxidizes many of the compounds found in food. Therefore, many people choose to pack their food in nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

One other alternative is to use oxygen absorber packets. You just place one of these in the storage container and seal it. The absorber will absore the oxygen in the container and create a vacuum. So, the storage container must be able to withstand the vacuum pressure.

Food packed in nitrogen in #10 cans is a very popular choice for many manufacturers of long-term storable foods.

4) The Food Storage Container

Food storage containers should have a hermetic (air-tight) seal. #10 cans and sealable food-grade quality storage buckets work well for this purpose.

I’ll stress again, that a very important factor of storage containers is that they must be food-grade. There are many 5 gallon buckets made of food-quality plastic. Since #10 cans are popular, they often have an enamel lining which makes them suitable for food storage.

If you buy a commercially-prepared food unit with #10 cans, then the second, third, and fourth factors are already addressed for you. In order to satisfy the first factor, you will still want to store the food in a cool, dry, dark place.

You can buy food-grade plastic buckets, add the food, and then seal them yourself. You will need to rent a nitrogen cylinder from your local welding supply company. When you pack the buckets with the nitrogen, the oxgen will be displaced.

Remember all these things when you are purchasing or creating a supply of food for your family.