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The viability of long term storable foods is governed by four things. Knowing each of these things is crucial in obtaining the longest shelf life possible for the food you have put up for your family. This is especially true if you are just starting a food storage program.

The four critical factors are the temperature of the storage area, the percentage of moisture in the food, the atmosphere inside the storage container, and the storage container material itself. Let’s look at each of these factors.

1) The Temperature in the Storage Area

The factor that has the most to do with how long storable foods will last is temperature. Food stored in a warm environment will last only a fraction of the time that it would last in a cool, dry place. Generally, you want the area to be as cool as possible, but certainly above freezing temperature. Another important consideration is that the storage area temperature be relatively constant. Frequent temperature changes will also shorten the food’s life.

Remember to store you food in a cool, dry area with a relatively constant temperature.

2) The Food’s Moisture Content

Foods with excess moisture can spoil in their containers. For long term storage, food should have a moisture content of 10% or less. This can be hard to achieve because the average person doesnt have specialized equipment.

Freeze dried foods are specially-prepared for this purpose. Their moisture content has been addressed in the preparation process.

3) The Storage Container’s Atmosphere

Foods packed in storage containers with air will not last as long, because oxygen oxidizes many of the compounds found in food. Therefore, many people choose to pack their food in nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

Oxygen absorber packets are also a popular method of packing food. You place one absorber in the food container and seal the lid. The absorber will remove the oxygen in the container and create a vacuum seal. Obviously, your storage container must be strong enough to withstand this vacuum pressure and hold it for the term of the storage.

Many food storage units are made up of food packed in nitrogen in #10 cans.

4) The Storage Container

To get the longest life out of your stored foods, your storage containers should have a hermetic seal (air tight). #10 cans and sealable food-grade storage buckets work very well.

One very important fact about storage containers is that they must be food grade containers. #10 cans used for food storage often have an enamel lining. You can also buy plastic food-grade 5 gallon buckets.

If you buy commercially-prepared food units, the second, third, and fourth factors are taken care of by the manufacturer. However, you still want to store you food unit in a cool, dry, dark place, in order to satisfy the first factor.

If you decide to buy plastic buckets, add the food, and seal them yourself, you will need to rent a nitrogen cylinder to fill the airspace in the buckets. When you do this, the oxygen will be displaced leaving only the nitrogen. Make sure you purchase food-grade quality of buckets. This is very important.

Remember what you have learned and put it to good use when you purchase or create a supply of storable food for your family.