Having an extended pantry is great for saving money in the kitchen. Here are the best Amazon long term food storage containers
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Having an extended pantry is a good idea, in my opinion, for many reasons. We actually started our extended pantry out of convenience. Having four young children made going to the grocery store harder to do, so I started looking for ways to go longer between trips. After getting used to working from a larger pantry, I began doing research in to other reasons why having more food on hand is beneficial.
Historically is was advised that most households have at least 6 months worth of food supply at their home in the even of a natural disaster, or long term power outage. It seemed like a good idea to take our food storage more seriously, so I put together an entire home goods inventory of what I would like to always have on hand. I encourage you to make a master grocery list yourself to start, if you are curious about what to put on yours you can get some ideas by checking out our pantry inventory list to boost food security.
Long term food storage builds slowly
After learning how to keep long term food storage, we invested in a harvest right freeze dryer. If you are curious what we think, I wrote an extremely honest in depth review here. Now we have turned an entire bedroom into one walk in pantry to serve our family. I love having a “little store” right at home! It makes meal planning simple and eliminates unnecessary trips to town.
If you are just beginning and are wanting to protect your food stores from pests and the elements, I would definitely check out this post that goes in depth on how to have long term food storage. If you are ready to invest in some long term food storage containers delivered straight to your door from Amazon, I’ve rounded up what I believe to be the best options. Before purchasing any containers, you should determine what your long term food storage goals are because this will help you know what kind of container you should buy.
Assess your specific environment before purchasing long term food storage containers
The enemies to long term food storage are oxygen, light, heat, humidity, and pests, so before you make choices about food storage containers you should evaluate:
- WHAT kind of climate do you live in? Hot, cold, humid, dry, or mild? All of the above?
- WHERE will you be storing your food? In a temperature-controlled pantry or closet? A basement or a garage? Is it susceptible to pests or is it stored within your living space where you can keep an eye on things?
- HOW LONG do you plan to store a particular food? The length of time you need or hope to have your food viable will dictate how you store it. Obviously, the longer you plan to store a food, the more carefully you will want to choose the container to store it in.
- HOW MUCH do you want to spend on food storage containers? There are lots of ways to frugally store food, however, if a food is critical to your long-term food supply, you will want to protect it as best you can.
A few basic notes about all long term food storage containers
- All plastic is permeable to gas and leaks oxygen over time. The thicker the plastic, the slower this happens. Although plastic keeps out water and humidity, it cannot keep out oxygen forever. Storing your food with oxygen absorbers is helpful.
- Most plastic is slightly porous and can leach chemicals, and odors and into your food. Therefore, used food-grade plastic containers because it will be safest for storing food.
- While you can get creative with containers, you must still follow food safety practices. Make sure your containers are clean and sanitized. If you are unsure whether a container is food grade plastic, use mylar or other bag liners.
- Finally, few containers protect against temperature extremes. The location of your food storage plays into this far more than any individual container. Remember to store your long term food somewhere that is cool.
Best Amazon Long Term Food Storage Containers
Though you can get creative with where you source your long term food storage containers, Amazon is a great option to get food grade buckets in mylar bags. Here are the best long term food storage containers from Amazon.
Luvan 15PCS Food Grade Dry Food Storage Container
These dry food containers are airtight so they will keep your food fresh for months at a time, however should not be used past 6 months for long term food storage since they allow in light. If you are just starting and need to get started with airtight containers these are a great option for storing spaghetti, baking supplies, cereal, flour, sugar, oats, pasta, rice, coffee, tea, snacks, nuts and other dry goods. The square vacuum storage containers with lids prevents air and excess moisture from entering. This helps keep food fresh for long term food storage.
3.5 Gallon White Food Safe Plastic Bucket & Lid
The 3.5 gallon food grade bucket is perfect for storing heavy grains like wheat, corn, and even rice. If you have a smaller family or physical limitations, then you may prefer this over the 5-gallon bucket. Use it for storing your annual supply of dry beans and grains. When a 5 gallon bucket takes up too much space, this 3.5 gallon holds smaller quantities. For storing food long term, pair these food grade buckets with Mylar Bags and oxygen absorbers. These lids are not gamma seal, so if you are storing your food longer than one year, pack your food into Mylar Bags first. If you need more information on how to pack Mylar Bags easily check out my article here.
House Naturals 4 Gallon Square Food Grade Bucket Pail with Lid
4 Gallon Square Plastic buckets store with less wasted space because they are square. Comes with Square Plastic lids covers. The plastic is Food Grade and BPA Free. These containers are suitable for various storage needs including dry goods, cat food, dog food, herbs, and spices. These buckets are NOT gamma seal, so if you are storing for 1 year or more, consider backing your food in mylar bags first.
Hudson Exchange 5 Gallon Bucket with Gamma Seal Lid
This 5 Gallon bucket is food grade and BPA Free. The 3 pack is an amazing value for your long term food storage pantry. Heavy duty plastic is used to manufacture this bucket. The sides are sturdy for stacking strength. For long term 20+ year food storage, however, buckets should not be stacked on top of each other. This bucket comes with a gamma lid which is perfect for frequent air-tight bucket access.
27-Gallon Tough Storage Containers with Lids
These 27 gallon totes are not food grade plastic, but they made the list since we use these quite a bit with Mylar Bags. As long as the food is not touching the plastic they are good to go for long term food storage.
Using totes rather than buckets saves space in the pantry because they are so easy to stack. The weather-resistant snap-tight lid keeps contents protected. Integrated slots allow the tote to be locked or zip tied for added security.
Emergency Water Storage 5 Gallon Water Tanks
The 5-Gallon Blue Water Container from Legacy Premium is the perfect solution for efficient and effective water storage. Water storage is critical for any emergency preparations, and most survival experts agree that having at least 1 gallon of water per day per person is essential. A 5 gallons per container, these highly portable tanks are perfect for camping, RV trips, boating, or any other outdoor activities.
1 Gallon Mylar Bags for Food Storage
These one gallon Mylar Bags come with a zipper. This is nice for resealing after they have been opened. Mylar bags are sturdy, aluminum-coated plastic. If sealed properly, these bags are water and airtight. If you want to know more about how to properly seal Mylar Bags, check out this article.
They come in varying thicknesses from 3.5 mil to 7.5 mil. Ideally, 5 mil to 7 mil is used for long-term food storage.
Because they are impermeable to gas, they keep out oxygen for longer shelf life. Combined with an oxygen absorber, mylar bags are unbeatable for maintaining a low oxygen environment for dry foods.
However, despite their sturdiness, they aren’t puncture-proof. Sharp contents can puncture bags when vacuum sealed and mice can chew through a mylar bag with ease. That is why using something like a bucket or a bin to protect your Mylar Bags is a good idea.
For the best long term food storage container method.
To have the best results with your long term food storage goals, combine a 5 gallon bucket (or tub) with Mylar Bags, and oxygen absorbers. This is hands down the gold standard for serious long-term food storage. Dry foods can literally last for decades if stored this way! If you believe you need some staple foods for the future, you want to store at least some basics in this way.
You May Also Like:
How to Seal Mylar Bags Easily for Long Term Food Storage
Pantry Inventory List to Boost Food Security
How to Have Long Term Food Storage
Harvest Right Freeze Dryer Review (Extremely Honest)
Why a Freezer is Essential on the Homestead
How to Beat Inflation at the Grocery Store
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