Food Storage: Should Dry Goods Be Frozen Before Packaging for Storage?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 มี.ค. 2022
- Should dry goods be frozen to kill bugs before packaging for long-term storage? Yes and no. The answer depends on the situation.
In this video, we review when it might be appropriate to freeze foods before storage and the correct method to achieve the effective control of bugs and their eggs. We also talk about some popular methods that are not effective.
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I am fortunate that my log cabin is on sand. Sand makes it easy to bury plastic barrels of food, four feet deep, below the frost line. Freeze-dried meals, white rice, dry beans, oatmeal. In case the good Lord takes me home before I need to use it, I'll have a treasure map, engraved on the back wall of my shed. From top to bottom, the treasure map will read, "4' W 4' down" My grandmother did that same thing here, back during the Cuban missile crisis, she buried quart-sized Mason jars, filled with peaches.
How awesome!
The vacuum sealing lets you know that your bag is intact. Pinhole defects are occasionally found in brand new Mylar bags, which can let the oxygen diffuse in.
That's a great point! I was just debating with my partner about this exact subject. Maybe with this point I'll convince them lol
I have been freezing once- 3 days minimum in freezer. take out and let stand at room temperature for 2 days. Package with moisture absorbers. Store in cool dry place. Has worked for me
There are a few truly excellent and informative prepper channels on TH-cam. I have learned the most about food storage from you two. You have taught me much over the years, and I'm still learning more all the time. I imagine you've helped countless viewers improve their knowledge and skills. Thank you so much for taking the time from your obviously busy lives to share your hard-earned knowledge with others!
Hi, thanks, my first time here. Good to hear your vote of confidence! Oxygen absorbers, here I come!
Great info ,we have some things like rice,oats ect.. sitting in their original package because we were dreading the freeze/ thaw method do to lack of freezer space thanks so much for clarifying 👍😊
You are always a trusted voice for the person trying to store food for long term use
I've been prepping slowly over the last 10 years. Bug out bags, freez dried food extra water and food in the house. Defense supplies, totes with first aid gear as well as multiple ways to filter water and start fires , etc. Ive been telling my close friends and family for years to start and they always seem to get overwhelmed. I tell them i didn't aquire these items in a month its been over the better part of a decade and ive made sure to try and include these things in my budget. When covid hit and everyone was freaking out and hoarding food just seeing the calmness my three kids had knowing that dad was prepared and we were safe and would be ok and just having the peace of mind knowing i could take care of them made it worth every penny ive spent over the years. I am nowhere near where I want to be but I'm soo much further than I was 10 years ago. I love and appreciate your videos and will definitely be directing everyone to your channel! Very informative, simple, calming and caring family you have.
🙂👍
Thank you, Kylene and John, for providing clarity once again! You are wonderful!
Nicely detailed explanations. The summations you guys include really help too.
Thank you so much for this information!!! I have been asking other You tubers the question that you answered here, but you're the first I've found that have the answers.
Blessings to you from Portland, Oregon. I am thankful for the wealth of information you provide so concisely!! Its so helpful to learn from you !
You can also vacuum seal your jars in a freeze dryer.
Thank you for this video! I was so on the fence about this one with so many mixed answers but you I trust and this is so much easier than the freezing process!! Thanks again for all your help!!
The comments are worth a read. I've been using DE and Bay leaves here and there. Also just throwing bags o flour in a freezer. Guess I need more research. Thanks for the vid.
You remind me of my parents, I can 100% see the trust you have in each other. Great info!
This answered so many questions in one video. Great stuff thank you!
Just in time! 😊 Thanks we were just debating this very thing.
Thank you so much -this is exactly the information I needed. It was clearly explained!
I’ve never kept dry goods in the bag. I really like the idea. And it makes perfect sense. Thanks!
Thank you for this🙏🏽.. I just placed my first order for Mylar bags and your discount code worked perfectly.
Hi just received my package of mylar bags and oxygen absorbers yesterday afternoon! This video was right on time! I’m spending the afternoon working on my preps, thanks so much for sharing!
Good to know! I was always leery of the bay leaf thing. Now I know! 👍🏻
Thank you for your channel and content...it is very important and essential for everyone....💯👍
THANK you for clarifying much of this for me; I was getting so confused with all the contradictory instructions from various preppers...
I watched almost every flour preserve video on TH-cam and this is the best one. I did this system today. The o2 absorbers I had on hand were larger but I used them anyway.Just made a larger slit. One suggestion. After you insert the absorber, wipe off the bag before you tape it. The tape doesn’t stick well to flour. I used duct tape. Overkill but I already had some. Flour at Walmart today about $1.75 for a five lb bag of their brand. For this purpose quantity exceeds quality within limits. One bag is about 7500 calories.
Thanks for a great vid.
Thank you for this!!!! I have been discussing this with a few friends who all freeze their food before long-term storage, but I've always been afraid of the condensation/moisture ruining the food and causing mold. Instead, I have been using the oxygen absorbers in either Mylar bags or vacuum-sealed jars. However, I'm just loving your idea of using the oxygen absorber in the pre-packaged food by inserting it and then putting it in the Mylar- it can otherwise be so messy! Thanks again for all your videos!
This is the most intelligent, well done instructional video for storing dry goods that I've seen. BRAVO! Love your channel, chock full of the best information available. Thank you, thank you!
Really good info! I always do this. Also works for fleece/wool and hands-on wool
Ive subscribed to around a dozen prepper channels and this one is my new favourite, a great channel. 👍🏻
Thank you! We are honored to have you join us!
thank you for your videos.I really was interested in this
The 11 day rule was one answer I was looking for when I came across your video!
Well done’
I’m a new subscriber!
You guys are great. Thank you for keeping me from making a mistake.
Great Info As Usual! Have A Blessed Day!🙏💜🙋🏻 NW GA
This is the video that I’ve been waiting for! Thank you! You answered all my questions about freezing verses not freezing. Now I feel more confident about storing food for my family. And thanks for the resource guide. I’m printing it out to keep on hand when I have a question. It’s good to have a hard copy in case the internet goes down.
Yesss I agree! They did an amazing job on the PDF printables. Defs exactly what I was looking for, for my prepper binder! So many ppl don't think about having a hard copy bc the internet could go down for a multitude of reasons. This video popped up randomly while I was cleaning & I'm so glad it did bc I got a ton of info I've been needing, put together in such a great way. Everything happens for a reason😄
Great tutorial about things I did not know.
thanks so much for being there
So much information. Thank You both
I can tell you bay leaves do help, I am using rice today from.2020 n 2021.
Still got couple pails and rice perfect as bought today, however i did freeze first..
Bay leaves do keep the bugs away, i live in the tropics n nothing keep bugs n other critters as bay leaves, I vacuum seal my dry good n still use lots bay leaves in barrels n totes to keep critters away..A great n informative video, I love listening to you guys, such a calming effect.
I agree....keep doing what has worked for you. At the end of the day it is still about preference. I use bay leaves too. I also use food grade DE with no issues on beans and rice along with the O2 absorbers in mylar bags. It may be overkill though.
We have an old non-defrosting freezer in the basement - anything which can get buggy gets put in there for 72 hours: grains, pasta, dried beans, cornstarch, and rice. Everything's left in the original packaging. Then it sits out at room temps for 24 hours before vacuum sealing. I'm not sure on just vacuum sealing alone since (rumor says) the plastic bags aren't 100% impermeable to oxygen. Everything's been creepy critter-free, even 6 years after storing that way. I'm with you on storing in original packaging! Nutritional info and cooking instructions are right there. If you're storing in clear vacuum sealer bags, you also don't need to make labels. I have to admit a little OCD kicks in when foods are stored long-term - I add a desiccant. The #10 cans of long term food has both an oxygen absorber and desiccant usually, so that works for me, too :-) Thank you!
I apologize for going off topic, but I just wanted to tell you guys that I just ate almost a whole can of Denison's Chil from 2017! The taste was the same. The only difference was that I needed to add a bit of water. I'm really impressed! 🤗
PS: The can was in good condition, was not dented, and the lid was not concaved. It was a pull top lid, amazingly..
Thank you! I had some small packets of food like baking mixes and I tossed them in my freezer no bag or anything now I think a mylar bag\oxygen absorber labeled with contents would have been the best way.
What about condensation? Even items in a waterproof container will get condensation during thawing. I do not freeze anything first. I go straight from package to Mylar with an oxygen absorber. Who has the space in their freezer for days of the freeze, thaw, freeze method? Glad you mentioned that there’s no need to freeze with O2 absorbers!
Great information - thank you.
Good informational video , thanks for sharing ,God bless !
You two ROCK!
Last year I put 25 lbs of oatmeal and flour in mylar bags with o2 absorbers. I thought I would have to redo them. Thank you for the info showing I don't have to redo them.
Great explanation :-)
I am on a crash course, increasing my knowledge of various food preps, while continuing to use what I have on hand to preserve as I go through the growing seasons. I mostly dehydrate for now, but just bought an electric vacuum sealer to enjoy unless the grid goes down (then the brake bleeder comes out). Also just bought the Instant Pot pressure canner and am super excited about it! Tomorrow, I dehydrate eggs for the first time.
I would caution against using your Instant Pot (IP) as a pressure canner. The manual for mine says NOT to use it for that purpose. While the IP can be used as a pressure cooker, it does not get up to the pressure needed for safe canning. Pressure COOKER and pressure CANNER are two different things. I would get a dedicated pressure canner to use for safe canning.
@@binfordtoolman5674 Yes, "Pressure COOKER and pressure CANNER are two different things." I have both the Instant Pot pressure cooker (11 psi) and, as I said in my original comment, the Instant Pot pressure canner (15 psi), called the Instant Pot Max. I hope no one reading my original comment misses the distinction, because the 11 psi models are indeed insufficient pressure to safely pressure can food.
I freeze eggs...no dehydrator....$$$$
@@karlacomenzind3987 Twice now I have lost over $800 worth of food when the electricity was down for several days. I got rid of the big freezer and downsized to a small one to hold some food and containers of frozen water to use during future outages. In my case, the dehydrator cost me a whole lot less than the freezer.
@@karlacomenzind3987 HOW DID THAT WORK OUT? IN THE SHELL?
Very good and informative video. Would this method also work for garden vegetable seeds to extend the life of them for a few years? I’m not wanting to save seeds for twenty-five years or anything like that, however I’ve read just storing seeds in a box etc., will only keep for a couple of years. Thanks so much for sharing such great information! 😊
Thank you for including a link to the information and I will check that out after watching the rest of the video.
One question, though: Doesn't the oxygen absorber kill the insects but leaves the eggs unaffected? This is why I always used the freeze and O2 absorber storage methods.
Also, I guess my question just answered your question of the day!
As always, great information! Thanks and God Bless.
Great discussion. Oxygen absorbers will leave the insect eggs unhatched, it likely would not kill them. So at the end when you open up the container you would still need to be concerned then. But you are correct that introducing freezer moisture is not good.
I do tend to vacuum seal and use oxygen absorbers if I can. It makes for a smaller stored package is the food can be happy with it. As well coarse food like FD mango chunk will have more air between the chunks than raw rice and hence more oxygen to remove. While one could use a bigger/more QAs, I figure the vacuum seal helps the OA get the excess. I will likely have to wait 15 years to check this out,
I combine vacuum and O2 absorbers for the same reason. As an apartment dweller, I try to shrink every inch I can!
@@donfrost9457 I understand space issues, while in US, we have been living on our sailboat. Trying to store 6-12 months of preps on a 45 foot boat is not so easy. Would love to hear more ways of storing in a boat
Thank you.
Thank you
Just found this video {subbed} and agree 100%. Moisture is a big problem with the freezing method. No O2 is always the best way if you have the ability.
I’ve never heard of freezing letting dry then re freezing again then drying then storing I’ve only heard of freezing for a couple days then letting it come back to room temp then storing with oxygen absorbers in mason jars or Mylar bags or those clear food storage bags too I believe.. Some people even throw in a bay leaf too. People swear by it and it makes sense all this stuff didn’t exist back then and food storage has been around for a long time. Anyway, I love your guys videos!!! It’s so informative!!! Thanks and God bless you guys!!! 🙂🙏
For our long term storage needs we are inventorying what we have on hand and meal planning to use items that are far past expiratory recommendation. We are setting realistic goals and being frugal in purchasing due to our limited income. It is great to know what products and foods have no expiration. And we are doing our spring cleaning of our pantry.
Thank you for this video. I will download the USU manual right away! :)
One technical issue with the video: the sound is predominantly coming out of the left channel for some reason.
Thanks for your clear instructions & advice
I don’t have the freezer space needed as suggested by many
However I do have a good vacuum sealer
Back to prepping
So happy I’ve already begun
THANK YOU so much! I'm very new and learning was told freeze for couple months then a bay leaf.
I didn't know and put flour in original packaging, how do I know if moisture got to it?
I love yalls videos ❤❤❤
I have a friend who is Dominican-Haitian, whose family farmed in a remote area of Dominican Republic which had no electricity and no running water. He told me that each year when his father sold their harvest of yams and cassava he would buy a 100 lb sack of rice and preserve it in pails with just olive oil and bay leaves until next year's harvest.
These people survived year after year in a place with no electricity, no running water and no EBT/food stamps with what you state that cannot be done. It must be done correctly. Most people skimp on bay leaves and olive oil.
Yes.. freeze your dry goods but make sure that you leave them out for a while so the condensation dissipates. Don't put anything in a sealed container while it's still wet!!
It is ALWAYS worth pre freezing all grains / beans first . I freeze everything 10 days , than bring it to room temperature/ 24 hours to be safe . ALWAYS worth using oxygen absorbers even if U feel there is no need . That extra back up / assurance is vital .
If your boiling beans who cares eat the bugs , don’t think dried beans or lentils get many bugs? Not sure?
@@tinrat-n-teet : I pre freeze DRIED beans - than cook em’ as usual , when I need them . No bugs will be in them .
All grains / beans have a certain amount of weevil eggs - freezing the products will kill them off . Blessings to U - keep preparing ❤️
I am a subscriber and I love your channel. This video is awesome. Would you please advise your viewers whether store-bought, packaged barley is a good food to store in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. I like barley as a soup and stew extender as well as a breakfast cereal with cinnamon and milk. However, I don’t want to put barley in my long term food storage if it is not going to last.
This was so helpful! Thank you!! Iv been seeing so much conflicting info and was just about ready to freeze flour. I’ll just do the o2 absorber now with the Mylar. Can someone point me in the direction of the shelf life for flour with the o2 absorber and Mylar? TY!
Great video answer a lot of questions I had about grains storage and other things thank you bye. By the way, why would you store bubble Gum?
I have always been afraid of freezing then thawing, due to fear of developing condensation. Thoughts?
Thank you all so much for the clarification!!! There are so many people online that swear that you must freeze first even with oxygen absorbers. It drives me crazy and was stressing me out so much. I don't have the freezer space to freeze every bag of food I bring in. I just use oxygen absorbers and mylar bags. Thank you again!!!
You guys are my go to source for Food preservation. Thank you so much. I have a question, Can ParBoiiled rice be stored long term? Also, I add a teaspoon of Diatamaceous earth (food grade) to my mylar storage. Probably will stop doing this after watching this video! Very dangerous to newly hatched critters.
Thank you! I bought diatamaceous earth but hesitated to use it. I won't now. I thought putting some in with bagged dry goods would create an unpleasant environment for bugs making their way into the buckets with the understanding that the substance is sharp and cuts their exoskeletons. You can't believe everything you hear! I don't have a freezer and it is just as well I didn't use the freeze method either because the added moisture can cause more problems than it solves.
In reading the pamphlet you referred to, I found something very telling that was omitted by you (and many others on the internet). It is recommended to do the freeze method to rid insects if there is an infestation, not as a preventative measure. Many are recommending this as something preventative and it's a waste of time and resources in my opinion. It's also something that really dissuades too many from storing food as it is overwhelming to many to add those extra steps (and cost).
I completely appreciate wanting everyone to have everything they need and be in an ideal state. Personally, though, I would rather they be storing something, anything than to be frozen in their inability to act because it all seems like too much. Now is really the time for people to get as much food as their budget allows stores up for use over the next year. If they have the ability, financial and other, to store for longer-term that would be ideal and removal of oxygen is the best method for sure!
It is my opinion that there is too much paranoia about dry goods and bugs. Agree that this intimidates people from storing food as they should be doing. If you have money for all the processing gear, fine, but most important is putting food away for your family. My goal is not 25 year storage life, too many variables can happen to that thinking. Bay leaves work, good containers work, candles work, relax. I am more concerned about bacteria/botulism in food storage than insects.
Thank you for clear and concise instructions. Question: Would it be over kill to vacuum seal in mason jars (without oxygen absorbers) and then put them in the freezer just to make sure the bugs are dead? Thank you in advance for your answer.
This is exactly the subject I’m investigating… my biggest worry is condensation after removal from freezer?? Then you have moisture inside your bag… 🤷♂️
Great video. V helpful. Could I use any jar with lid. ? 😊
Great video! Does this include dry beans? I can't see any in the video.
So glad I found your channel. I’m a senior adult and have never really stored food for long term. My husband bought a foodsaver for me. I bought bulk rice and put about 5 cups in one bag then vacuumed sealed. I then was going to put a couple of oxygen absorbers in my food grade bucket before screwing the lid on. Do you think that is a good way or should I be doing it another way. I was going to do the dried beans the same way. Thank you so much. This is all new to me.
You guys are the best! (No offense, Kylene) 🤔😂🤣🖖👽👍
We store grain in 55 gal steel drums. Place Mylar bag inside the drum
Fill bag with Nitrogen to form it to the drum
Insert Nitrogen tube.
Fill bag with grain
Refill bag with Nitrogen tube inserted to the bottom of the bag.
Remove Nitrogen tube
Vacuum Seal the Mylar bag immediately
Place drum lid on barrel and secure.
Done.
I'm an experienced user of freezing flower etc. for a few days and storing in Mason Jars vacuum packed with an Oxygen Absorber. I use Food Grade Diatomaceous earth for it's Silica to reduce aches and pains. It really works. I know it's off topic but I couldn't help sharing.
Question: I've heard you should not leave flour, etc in original paper packaging for long term storage because it breaks down. I love not having to freeze flour, etc. Thanks.
First, I must say that I enjoy your videos. I would like you to think about the use of vacuum sealing. It does NOT reduce the percentage of oxygen in the air remaining inside the container. It does reduce the amount of air that contains 21% oxygen. The oxygen absorbers actually reduce the percentage of oxygen by binding it to the iron. That being said, vacuum sealing reduces the work the absorber has to do by reducing the amount of air inside the container. Thank you for all the excellent information in your videos.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💥💥💥👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯
Great information. I have a question. How long can I store white rice in a mylar bag if it’s heat sealed and an oxygen absorber is also used
What vacuum sealer would you recommend? The website doesn’t show a vacuum sealer only freeze dry machines. Thanks for the great information.
Very interesting content. Have two questions one do I need oxygen absorbers if I’m using a chambered vacuum sealer? Two iSaute me using plastic bottles was bad as they break down and leave chemicals and also are good for bacteria to develop and grow? I have been reusing all of my glass jars and bottles instead of plastics. I could see why you would use plastic over glass in a freezer.
I freeze my flour then wait a few day, check for bugs and then store in infood grade plastic square container with bays leaves,. I then check the flour as I use it, so far so good T. G.
Would adding a higher cc oxygen absorber help with grains/beans/seeds in 5 gallon buckets? Or is the bucket too permeable for it to work? Thank you.
Hello! Is there any other type of bag one could safely and successfully use instead of mylar to store grain and rice inside the buckets? Would cotton/hemp or any other natural material be too permeable to keep oxygen out? Do you have any other ideas? Thanks!
Thank you for the information, I’m new to all of this so forgive my question if it’s redundant. So I only need to put oxygen absorbers In a 5 gal bucket of grain & not freeze it first?
I took the advice from another "prepper" channel and froze my beans and wheat. After I thawed my beans, they molded in my humid Florida pantry. :(
After I thawed my wheat, I got weevils. Yay!! You just answered why. I did put them back in the freezer where they still are now after several months. I would like to thaw them and store them using the mylar / bucket method. (I really need to reclaim the space). Unfortunately they are in a burlap bag and frost has built up in the freezer. Can you suggest how I can best thaw & dry the wheat prior to storing in the mylar bag? Thanks!!
How do you do beans rice and oats do you need to freeze them as well ?
I know this an old video but hopefully someone will answer my question:
I have 25lb bags of white rice. (The kind that come in a plastic bag from walmart,Walmart) I threw one in the freezer just yesterday to kill the bugs. Is that not enough of a moisture proof container? Should I have made the package smaller?
I just did the same thing only had 3 big bags tho
How do save nuts like pecans or walnuts? Thanks in advance.
Those knife hands!
Do you think using the hose on the food sealer to take out most of the air while still having an o2 absorber along with. I have 300 cc absorbers and 1 gallon mylar bag. Not sure if it's enough strength.
What is the best way to store the Maseca in the white and green package because that corn meal is very moist?
Bugs in your survival food in a SHTF = additional protein! Bugs are safe to eat. Just cook them well. People all over the world eat bugs.
Your right about that...😁
@Karla Comenzind, Bugs =Protein that our bodies need. I still haven't braved it and eaten "Horn Worms" yet, which visit 🍅 tomato plants. They are perfectly safe to eat, but I would Sautee them first in a bit of garlic and butter. LOL😂 Hey, in an Apocalyptic Situation, you will find them to be a treat!
I have a spare room to use for storage. I have no basement. Itsvery dark in there but house temperature is about 70 degrees. Coolest we can keep our home. With ceiling fans running we are very cool and use blankets while sitting. Only during summer. Other seasons we can keep it alot colder. Was thinking about running a portable AC unit to keep it cooler
during summer. Or is 70 degrees okay for chocolate n other things like mayo n cooking oils....?
I am a beginner prepper. I thought I read or watched a video that said I should freeze my dried beans and lentils - so I did. My original plan was long term storage - but now I'm learning that I shouldn't have frozen them before taking them out of the store packaging. I have taken them out of the freezer and would still like to store them, but I don't know if I can anymore. I have the bags (small one or two pound bags of beans or lentils)out on the kitchen table to reach room temperature - but can I still store them long-term? I am noticing that the bags are moist from the freezer at this point. Will they dry overnight? 😒
HI, I put 2 supposedly 500 cc Oxygen Absorbers in 11x17 Mylar bags (rice) and heat sealed them, but I don't notice any less air in the bags and it's been several hours. Should I be noticing a suctioning/tightening of the bags? Thank you!🤗
My grandmother's and myself been doing bay leaf for decades...
Thank you! I want to use 10 gallon food safe buckets…..would you just use a large oxygen absorber on top before sealing?