Food Storage: How to Keep Bulk Pantry Foods Long-Term

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Proper food storage is one of a homemaker’s most essential skills.

Our job is to make sure everyone is fed, clothed and has a safe, comfy place to sleep.

Mamas are known to be prepared for whatever comes our way!

I mean, have you seen the things we carry in our purses or diaper bag?

Why is long-term food storage necessary?

Anyone who has survived the chaos of 2020 can see why keeping extra food on hand is important.

Long term food storage and preservation might be a hot topic these days, however, it’s an ancient practice that has been around for thousands of years.

It has become a lost art in contemporary Western culture.

Many cultures still practice food storage and preservation skills in many parts of the world.

Before you begin this food storage and preservation journey, it is important to understand the “why”.

Reasons to consider buying food in bulk for long-term storage:

1. Save Money
2. Cook from Scratch
3. Be Prepared

1. Save Money

Buying food in bulk can save you a lot of money.

We are all feeling the economic crunch with inflation driving the current consumer price index to rise 6% overall from the last 12 months.

The cost of food leads the way at a 9.5% increase and groceries store prices rise 12.4% for some significant items according to the U.S. Beauru of Labor Statistics.

This has been a great incentive for Americans to buy more foods in bulk to hedge inflation. 

Bulk food items cost less per unit

Buying bulk food items, especially dry goods cost less per unit than regular retail prices.

Let’s take raw honey from Azure Standard for example.

It is sold at $9.50 for a 2 lb bear, which is $4.75 per pound.

The “per pound” is the “unit”.

The same honey is sold at $42.82 for 12 lbs (1 gallon), making it now $3.57/lb.

That’s almost a whole dollar off per pound when you buy the bulk unit price.

Upfront Cost vs Long-Term Savings

A dollar might not seem like too much of a discount but when added up, you save about $14 when you buy 12 lbs of raw honey!

You may pay a lot upfront but you definitely will get a discount long-term.

Raw honey would make a great investment, it is medicinal, healthy, and a non-perishable food type perfect for long term storage.

It can be easily stored in the gallon jar it comes in, it’s a good food storage container because it is made of food-grade plastic and has a good-quality lid that seals.

Heck, I reuse it when it’s empty to hold other bulk items in my pantry!

The container keeps pests away which is really the greatest threat to honey for long-term storage.

Save on Packaging Costs

In addition to the bulk unit discount, bulk foods usually come with fewer packaging materials such as plastic containers and cellophane and this brings the cost per unit down.

Dry foods like beans and rice come in large sacks of burlap or paper.

Items like bulk honey come in a food-grade plastic gallon jar as mentioned above however, it is a lot less packaging material compared to small increments of the honey packaged in little plastic jars shaped like bears.

The trick now is to make sure you properly store the food preventing it from spoiling so your money savings doesn’t go out the window.

We will discuss long-term food storage in great detail shortly.

Fewer Trips to the Store

Another great way buying in bulk saves you money is by taking fewer trips to the grocery store.

It limits the opportunity for impulse buying and it’s time well saved doing important things around the home.

Fewer trips to the grocery store save money by spending less on gas (we all know how much that has gone up) and also make it super convenient to always have your staple foods on hand.

2. Cook From Scratch

I like to bake often so keeping 50lbs of flour in stock is vital to the success of my baking ventures.

We can effortlessly go through a 1lb or 2lb bag of flour, that’s about a week’s worth right there.

Once I run out, it’s so easy to get out of the baking groove.

This also goes for other bulk foods like dry beans, white rice, and various cans of tomato sauce to keep our home cooking going.

Buying in bulk allows me to have food readily available in the pantry to whip something up when the inevitable question arises, “what’s for dinner?”.

Cooking from scratch versus eating out saves you money… We are coming full circle here!

3. Be Prepared

Another essential reason to buy food in bulk for long-term food storage is an emergency situation.

We never know when a natural disaster will strike.

The local infrastructure could be destroyed leaving people without food or resources.

There was also a lot to be learned from the 2020 outbreak disaster that shut down the ENTIRE world!

It is a good idea to be prepared for any potential disruption of the food supply chain.

When you buy food in bulk, you could have more than enough food for your family’s needs and could help out friends, neighbors, and other family members in emergency situations.

Where to buy bulk foods?

There are many places to buy food in bulk, but the most popular places would be big wholesale warehouse stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, Smart and Final, and US Foods CHEF’S STORE.

Another good place to buy bulk foods is your local grocery store especially those like WinCo which have plenty of bulk and family-size options.

Azure Standard of Healthy & Abundant Living

The best bulk food supply I’ve found almost 2 years ago is a natural health food distributor called Azure Standard.

They provide a full complement of healthy organic and natural products at family-friendly prices.

Their approach is different than that of typical food distributors.

Azure’s approach to getting food to you is by making it affordable to pick up your groceries and bulk food at their community food drop sites.

If you’re interested to find a drop site near you, click here.

Quality & High Standard

Azure holds the highest values and quality standards for the products they offer in its shop.

You will never find these ingredients in their food items:

• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
• Refined Conventional Sugars
• Artificial Colors
• Artificial Flavors
• Artificial Preservatives
• Artificial Sweeteners
• Bleached flours
• Fluoride
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• Artificial Nitrates/Nitrites in Meat Products

To find out more about their product standards, visit their page here.

What makes food spoil?

Have you been interested in buying food in bulk but not sure if you could use it all up before it goes bad?

Here we will focus on bulk dry foods that are shelf-stable as well as non-perishable items.

There are 5 elements that can damage food.

1. Pests
2. Heat
3. Humidity
4. Oxygen
5. Light

1. Pests

There are several types of creatures that are just trying to survive, especially during the harsh seasons when food is scarce.

These creatures include:

• Insects
• Rodents
• Parasites
• Microorganisms (when food deteriorates)

Use long-term food storage containers to keep pests away.

If your food is not stored properly, you will find creepy crawlies among your investment.

2. Heat

The temperature in which you store your food is very important.

Heat raises temperatures and begins to deteriorate food faster.

Foods that need to be refrigerated can begin to grow microorganisms at room temperature which will spoil food and pathogenic microorganisms (bugs that make you sick) will thrive. 

Recommended Temperatures for Food Storage Areas

According to the University of Nebraska, the recommended temperatures for food storage areas are as follows:

• Cupboard/Pantry 50-70°F
• Refrigerator 34-40°F
• Freezer 0°F or below

Using an indoor digital thermometer that measures the ambient temperature and also moisture content in your food storage area is an easy way to monitor and keep the area at the right temperature.

This is the one we use at home.

3. Humidity

High humidity in the air will spoil food, especially dry and dehydrated foods.

Storing your food in a dry place away from humidity is very important to its longevity.

We often use a dehumidifier during the winter months in our Oregon coast home to keep the moisture out of our food storage area.

This is the one we have below, it is well worth the investment!

4. Oxygen

Oxygen in the air causes oxidation which is a chemical process that reacts with food components causing them to degrade and spoil.

Oxidation results in a loss of nutrients, flavor, and color of food.

Items like airtight containers, oxygen absorber packets, and using a vacuum sealer are the best options for keeping air and oxygen out of your food storage.

I will go into greater detail about oxygen absorbers shortly.

5. Light

Food that is exposed to light degrades its composition by changing its color and loss of vitamins.

Light is also responsible for the oxidation of fats.

When looking for a food storage area, be sure to use a dark place, away from direct sunlight.

What NOT to Buy in Bulk for Long-Term Food Storage

Foods that do not keep well for long-term storage are items you should steer away from buying in bulk.

Some of these items include:

• Fresh produce
• Meat
• Eggs
• Milk 
• Cheese

There are ways to preserve these items for a long time like freezing, canning, dehydrating, and freeze drying, however, we will cover this in another post. 

Foods You Should Buy in Bulk for Long-Term Food Storage

We will be focusing on pantry food items (dry goods) to buy in bulk for long-term storage.

Here’s a recommended list of pantry items to acquire in bulk:

• Flour 
• Sugar
• Rice & other grains
• Beans
• Oats
• Pasta
• Coffee
• Tea
• Herbs/Spices
• Honey
• Extracts like vanilla

Items that don’t last as long but are still a great option to buy in bulk:

• Canned goods (soups, pasta sauce, beans, veggies, etc.)
• Cereal
• Peanut butter
• Crackers
• Cookies
• Chips
• Nuts

These last items could last up to five years or more if stored properly.

Types of Pantries for Food Storage

Now that we have covered the “why” buy foods in bulk, “where” to buy foods in bulk, and “what” foods to buy in bulk for long-term food storage, let’s look at some actionable steps to ensure our food investment is properly maintained.

Pantry Systems

Just like any good homemaker, I’ve created systems that keep our pantry goods organized and in rotating order.

The types of pantries I’ve created are as follows:

1. Kitchen or Working Pantry
2. Food Storage Pantry
3. Prepper Pantry

The Kitchen Pantry

We are finally getting into the nitty-gritty of the post where I divulge the details.

The kitchen pantry or the working pantry, as I like to call it, is where I keep the food items that will be used on a day-to-day basis.

You want to keep these items at arm’s reach and in quantities that are easily manageable.

For this reason, I like to store bulk food items in:

• glass containers 
• mason jars 
• recycled glass jars 
• metal containers like adorable recycled cookie tins 
• thrifted crock with a lid 
• and other food-grade recycled plastic containers

You don’t have to worry too much about the way you store these items because they will be used and rotated within a few months.

You certainly want to make sure you have a tight lid and store it in a cool dark place.

Label Similar-Looking Foods

I make sure to label them if they are different varieties of foods that look similar to other foods.

An example of this is white rice.

I keep 3 different kinds of white rice on hand.

If I pay really close attention I could tell the difference between them but having them labeled is so much more efficient.

How to Store and Label Baking Goods in Kitchen Pantry

I keep most if not all of my baking goods in my Hoosier or Sellers The Better Kitchen Cabinet.

All Purpose and whole wheat flours are kept in gallon glass jars, baking soda in a smaller recycled glass jar, sugar in a swing top glass jar, and tea in a thrifted tin. 

They are all labeled, some with cute black vintage-shaped labels with white chalk paint.

When I run out of any item, I go into my Storage Pantry to refill my jars. 

It’s like having my very own grocery store!

The Storage Pantry

We’ve looked at some examples of the Kitchen Pantry food storage, now let’s see what the next part of the rotation looks like.

My storage pantry is nothing fancy, quite the opposite in fact, I use a coat closet to store my 5-gallon buckets and other various bulk pantry items.

I also store them in our guest bedroom closet!

Best Ways to Store Large Bulky Items:

• Food-grade Plastic Buckets
• Gamma Lids
• Oxygen absorbers

Food items that are in my Storage Pantry will need to be accessed but not often. 

For this reason, food-grade buckets with gamma lids are a good choice for storing bulk foods.

For example, I like to store flour, rice, dry beans, whole grains, and sugar in 5-gallon buckets that hold about 25 lbs of each.

I use gamma seal lids that twist open and close for easy access to food when it’s time to refill my Kitchen Pantry jars.

Don’t forget to label your bucket, I like to cut out the label from my Azure bulk bags and paste it on the bucket with a glue stick.

Before I seal my bucket, I make sure to add oxygen absorbers into the bucket EXCEPT for sugar.

Can I use an oxygen absorber to store sugar?

The answer is no. 

Sugar is a non-perishable food, meaning it is shelf stable and will not spoil as long as it is kept dry and away from sunlight and heat. 

Simply storing it in a container with a tight seal and without an oxygen absorber is sufficient for long-term storage. 

 Using an oxygen absorber with sugar would cause it to harden and turn into a solid block.

Oxygen Absorbers for Long-Term Food Storage

Oxygen absorbers come in small packets that remove oxygen from the container they are placed in.

This allows food to be stored for longer periods of time, dry foods can last up to 30+ years in storage!

Oxygen absorbers are typically found sealed in a bag containing several small packets. 

There are brands that offer single individually sealed packets but come at a premium cost.

To use them, simply add the appropriate amount of cc of oxygen absorber packs into your food storage container.

See the chart below for reference.

Recommended Amount of Oxygen Absorbers

Dense foods like flour, wheat, grains, and rice occupy less air in the container, therefore need fewer oxygen absorbers compared to loose, less dense foods that leave more air in the container such as beans and pasta.

Average Amounts of cc Oxygen Absorbers per Container Type:

• 5 or 6-Gallon Food Storage Bucket: 2,000cc
• for Beans and Pasta 4,000cc
• 1 Quart: 100cc
• 1 Gallon: 400cc

Different sizes of Mylar Bags:

• 20in x 30in (4.25, 5, and 6-gallon): 2,000cc
• for Beans and Pasta 4,000cc
• 14in x 20in (2-gallon): 1,000cc
• for Beans and Pasta 2,000cc
• 10in x 14in (1-gallon): 400cc
• 8in x 12in (1/2-gallon): 200-400cc
• 6in x 10in (1/4-gallon): 100cc-200cc

Adding too many absorbers does not harm or negatively affect the quality of food.

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How to Store Oxygen Absorbers

A new package of oxygen absorbers will have a color indicator that tells you if the package has maintained its seal.

Once opened, you must use them right away.

Time is of the essence, the longer the package is open, the less effective the packets will become as they absorb the oxygen in the air.

Place the packets in the desired containers to store food, and seal the containers right away.

You can store the rest of the extra packets in:

• Clean Mason Jars
• Original Packaging, sealed with heat
• Vacuum Seal Bag

When re-sealing the original packaging, make sure to have the tool (such as hot iron, flat iron, and impulse sealer) hot and ready to go.

Which Foods are Safe to Use Oxygen Absorbers?

Foods that have less than 10% moisture are safe to use oxygen absorbers for long time food storage. 

Dried beans, rice, wheat berries, pasta, grains, flour, and freeze-dried foods are all great examples of foods you can add oxygen absorbers for long-term food storage. 

Note: Flour vs wheat berries

White Flour can last 5-10 years when stored properly.

Wheat berries can last 25-30 years when stored properly.

They can be ground and milled in smaller amounts as needed. 

Freshly milled wheat has increased nutritional value.

Caution: Oxygen Absorbers and Botulism

There are some foods that are not safe to use oxygen absorbers because of the risk of botulism. 

You should only use oxygen absorbers on dry foods that have less than 10% moisture content. 

Botulism grows where there is an absence or no oxygen in the container but does have an increased amount of moisture content in the container.

You cannot see botulism, smell, or taste it, it can go undetected and it’s lethal.

What foods are NOT safe to use with oxygen absorbers?

Foods that contain more than 10% moisture or are high in fat are not safe for using oxygen absorbers. 

These foods are usually pliable and soft, and sticky such as dried fruit, jerky, and fruit leathers.

Sometimes you will find silica packets sealed in jerky but it is to absorb moisture, not oxygen.

• Granola, nuts
• Seeds
• Dried eggs
• Brown rice

You can keep these foods in an airtight container but do not add oxygen absorbers. 

In addition, oxygen absorbers applied to the above foods will turn them into rock-hard bricks.

• Sugar, brown sugar
• salt
• baking soda
• baking powder
• freeze-dried powdered goods in a No 10

Baking powder and baking soda can be explosive when used with an oxygen absorber!

The Prepper Pantry

This type of pantry is for food that will be stored for 25+ years.

It is a set-it-and-forget-it type of pantry for your emergency food supplies.

This pantry can be an area that can be away from your kitchen or typical pantry because you won’t be accessing it very often (hopefully).

The best food storage containers for this type of pantry are going to be:

• five-gallon buckets
• mylar bags
• survival food kits

5-Gallon Bucket Food Storage for Prepper Pantry

When storing your bulk items in five-gallon buckets for the long term in your Prepper Pantry, you can opt for the more economical lids that have a tight seal instead of the gamma seal lids.

You can save some money by doing this and when you’re ready to use the food in an emergency situation, you can transfer a gamma seal lid from your previous buckets.

Be sure to buy the handy tool to open your lid and have it accessible in your emergency food supply.

Don’t forget to add the right amount of oxygen absorbers to the appropriate food buckets. 

 Mylar Bag Food Storage for Prepper Pantry

Mylar bags are a considerable way to extend food’s shelf life in your emergency food storage.

They are made of three layers of foil (aluminum) laminate (food-grade plastic) that do not allow oxygen, light, and moisture to enter the package once sealed.

Unfortunately, desperate creatures like mice and other rodents can chew right into mylar bags.

It is important to place the sealed packages in plastic totes, metal containers, or food grade buckets to keep them safe from rodents and other pests.

How to Use Mylar Bags for Food Storage

1. Pre-heat Iron
2. Fill Mylar Bags
3. Add Oxygen Absorber(s)
4. Seal Quickly

1. Pre-heat Iron

You can seal mylar bags with an iron, hair flat iron, or an impulse sealer.

It is important to have your iron hot or impulse sealer ready before you open the oxygen absorber package or container. 

2. Fill Mylar Bags

There are various sizes of bags you can use depending on your storage needs.

Once you found the appropriate size, line up your bags and fill them with your dried food items, leave ample space at the top about 2 inches or more to seal the bag.

If you’re using an iron to seal the bag, be sure to leave a lot more than 2 inches because you will have to lay the bag down to iron seal the bag closed.

You want to set up all of your mylar bags at the same time because once you open your oxygen absorbers, time is of the essence (see oxygen absorber info above).

3. Add Oxygen Absorbers

Remember the foods you should not use oxygen absorbers with?

This also applies to mylar bag storage because you will be using oxygen absorbers.

Once everything is set up, it is now time to add your oxygen absorbers. 

Be sure to reference the table above for the amount of cc oxygen absorbers per bag size.

4. Seal Quickly

As soon as your oxygen absorbers are placed into the mylar bag, use the hot tool of your choice to seal each bag.

You will notice over time that the oxygen will be removed from the bag and it will look as if it was vacuum sealed.

When you’re ready to use your food products, simply cut right under the seal. 

You can continue reusing bags as long as you don’t notice any punctures or degradation of the mylar bag. 

Remember to add a new oxygen absorber after opening.

You can even customize the size of a mylar bag by cutting a large one into smaller portions and sealing the open ends.

Emergency Food Kits for Prepper Pantry Food Storage

The last type of long-term food storage for your prepper pantry is emergency food kits.

They come in the right containers for long-term storage such as No 10 cans and mylar bags that are good for 25+ years of food storage. 

After a No 10 can has been opened, it will be good in the same container for about 1yr.

These are probably the easiest ways to have food ready for an emergency where electricity and gas are not available for certain periods of time.

It is a good idea to keep some of these foods on hand but not necessarily in large quantities.

Key Takeaway

1. Decide whether buying food in bulk for long-term food storage is the right choice for you and your family’s needs.

2. Create and Organize a food storage plan by using the 3 different pantries: 

1. Kitchen Pantry
2. Storage Pantry
3. Prepper Pantry

3. Invest only in the bulk food items that you and your family enjoy using in your day-to-day meals.

How about you? Was This Food Storage Article Helpful?

What bulk food items would be a great resource for your family’s food storage?

I’d love to hear all about it in the comments section!