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There are many different kinds of food storage containers. We will examine each type in this article, and look at the pros and cons of each type.

To begin, you must use food grade containers to store your food. This is because you don’t want the chemicals in the food to react with the material in the storage container. The most common types of food storage containers are five gallon plastic buckets, glass jars, and #10 metal cans.

Five gallon buckets made of food grade plastic have been used for years for food storage and work very well. Just remember that you must have a bucket made of food grade plastic. If you are tempted to use non-food grade buckets, you will find that they will impart an off taste to the food or even chemicals as they react with the food.

Food grade buckets can be purchased from a supply house. I have used the Ropak brand for years, and they work very well. However, Ropak is a manufacturer, and to buy directly from them, you will have to buy a palette worth of buckets. So, you may want to do this with a few friends so you can split the cost.

These buckets have nice gaskets in the lids that provide a great seal while your food is in storage. If you use nitrogen to pack your food in the buckets, the gasket will keep the nitrogen in, and the air out for many years, or as long as the gasket is good. I have had some food stored in these buckets for fifteen years and have never had a problem.

A very important point to remember is that you don’ want to stack too many of these buckets on top of each other. You will notice that the well in the lid on the bottom bucket will just fit the bottom of the top bucket. So, there is no way that the top bucket(s) will slip off the one underneath. This is very nice, but all the weight on the center of the bottom bucket lid may cause it to break, causing loss of atmosphere, contamination, and insect infestation.

Early on in my food storage career, I learned about the problems with stacking buckets, so I have never had the problem. As a result, I can not tell you how many buckets you can stack on top of each other and get away with. I built shelves specifically for my food storage buckets. The distance between the shelves is a few inches more than the height of the bucket. Using this method, I have never had problems with any of my buckets. If you do this, make sure you build the shelves very strong in order to support all the weight.

Glass jars are another popular method of storing food. They are easy to come by as most grocery stores sell them. Initially, the cost of home canning equipment may seem expensive, but the jars can be used over and over, as long as the mouth is in good shape (no chips or cracks). The lids however can not be used over. Some may tell you that they can be used over, but they would be incorrect. If you try to use the lids over, you will just waste a lot of time and energy, not to mention the grief it will cause.

Canning lids are actually comprised of two parts, a ring and a lid. The ring holds the lid down on the jar. I think it is a good idea to store some canning rings and lids in addition to your food, so you will always have a supply on hand. You will also need a pressure cooker to seal the jars. There are various types available along with lots of information on learning how to do home canning.

Metal cans are very popular for storing food. The cans used by the canning industry for wet-pack canning are designed to be economical and as a result will only last for a few years. This is why canned goods must be rotated frequently to keep the stock fresh.

If you decide to buy empty metal cans and a can sealer, and do the canning yourself, you will find that they are not as easy to come by, and are somewhat expensive. Members of the Mormon Church have been storing food in cans for years and are very experienced at it. Their canning facilities have all the necessary equipment to do this. However, if you dont have access to one of these facilities, you will have to acquire the equipment yourself. This can be costly, and you will have to determine if the cost is worth it to you or not.

The #10 metal can is very popular in the food storage industry. The size is great for storage and the inside of the cans are lined with a material that will not react with food. Another advantage here is that #10 cans that are packaged by a food storage manufacturer will me made of the proper materials, and will be sealed with the proper atmosphere that won’t react with the food, and will provide the longest possible shelf life. One drawback to #10 cans is that they can not be resealed. However, once opened, you can put a plastic lid on them which will be better than nothing. I have used #10 metal cans for years and have never had any spoilage when using the contents. However, that is because I have purchased freeze-dried food packed in metal cans. Resealing this type of food with a plastic lid while you the contents are used has never posed a problem for me.

I feel a person should use diversification when putting together a food storage program for your family. It is a good idea to have food storage in #10 cans, 5 gallon buckets, and home-canned jars. I have all three types and like the flexibility that this provides.

If I was just starting to create a food storage program for my family, I would start with a commercially-packaged food unit comprised of #10 cans. Yes, you will have to pay some money, but it is the quickest way to start a food storage program for your family. In addition, some manufacturers like Mountain House, offer food that has a 25 year shelf life! After you get a food unit comprised of #10 cans, you can expand your food storage to include 5 gallon buckets and home-canned jars. This way you would have all three types of storage.