FREDERICKTOWN – The popularity of stocking up has grown— perhaps to avoid shortages or simply to minimize the number of trips to the store.
But many who are new to buying in bulk may not be familiar with the best ways to store goods in order to ensure their bulk purchases don’t go to waste.
Some added advantages of buying and storing in bulk are reduced waste, cost and even improved nutrition for those who are careful about what they buy, an article on the Life Your Way website said. But keeping bulk purchases from spoiling takes some planning and work as well.
One of the simplest steps in storing bulk foods is just identifying things; such as dried fruits, beans, starches and similar dry goods; that can be kept dry and preserved that way, Life Your Way said. Honey, for example, makes a good sweetener and is already desiccated by bees in the production process, making it a good candidate for long-term storage.
Many 5-gallon buckets that can be purchased from hardware stores are food-safe— but always check the labeling— meaning they can be put to good use for long-term food storage, Life Your Way said.
Preparedness Mama recommends storage solutions such as Mylar bags and 1-gallon zipping storage bags, depending on how long the food is going to be stored. Food that may be stored for up to a year can also benefit from a single 300-cc oxygen absorber as a means of maintaining freshness. For food that is going to be stored for more than a year, the website recommends Mylar bags instead of plastic; the bags can then be placed into 5-gallon buckets with lids to help protect them. For larger storage quantities, include one 300-cc oxygen absorber for each gallon of food stored.
Knox County residents who want to stock up can find what they need at Ridgeview Bulk Food, 7889 Ridge Road, west of Fredericktown.
