This is what I did and lecture on when I give a Prepping class.
1) Keep in mind bugs have to have Oxygen to survive. Rice and other grains keep longer with no O2
so the two work hand and hand.
2) I have purchased all of my bulk product supplies from:
https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/food_storage_faq/mylar_bags.htm They seem to be very reasonably priced and good quality.
3) I use and recommend big box home center (Home depot, Lowes, etc) 5 gallon pails if you can
not get used food grade buckets. Those big box store buckets are in actuality food grade. Don't
believe me look at the symbol on the bottom of the bucket.
4) I buy the 6 gallon mylar bags and 1,000 cc O2 absorbers from the above company.
5) To start you will need buckets, lids to the buckets, mylar bags, O2 absorbers, clothes iron, a 2x4
maybe 18-24" long and your bulk food. Make sure you have enough food to fill 10 buckets as
the O2 absorbers come 20 to a pack and once you open the pack you have to use them up. You
will need 2, 1,000 cc O2 absorbers per bucket.
6) Clean out bucket with warm water and a mild soap. You do not have to go crazy here. Let air
dry. Do not wipe dry as this can cause you to apply unknowingly germs.
7) Once dry open up a mylar bag and place in bucket. Open up O2 absorbers. Fill mylar bag that is
in the bucket about 1/4 full. Throw in a O2 absorber. Then continue to fill to 3/4 full and add
another O2 absorber. Now fill to desired level. DO NOT OVER FILL!. For Rice I typically use
30#'s per bucket. Wheat is a little less maybe 25#'s. Sugar 35#'s. Etc. I put bucket on a B-room
scale so I get a good idea where I am while filling.
Once the bag is at the correct weight or volume I bounce the bag in the bucket to help settle
the bulk item being stored. I then take the clothes iron place the bag lip on the 2x4 and seal
the mylar bag with the
exception of an inch or two on the corner. The iron should be set
on a
linen setting. Then I take the top of the mylar bag and pressdown trying to get as
much air out as I can. Then I seal the corner that you had left open to purge the last of the air
out.
9) I put the cover on the container and mark the side of the bucket with a code. I use a code and
do not write what is in the bucket so if I am robbed folks may think that it is only paint in the
bucket.
10) Last. A warning: Do this process in a well ventilated area. I have asthma and by the end of my
first 10 buckets I was having an asthma attack and had to go for the inhaler.
You can use several smaller mylar bags if you choose however you can reseal the 6 gallon over and over as you take out of the bag what you need.
If you have any questions just let me know.
