When it comes to using buckets for food storage, there are a few things you should know before just dumping it in and putting a lid on it. Keep reading to find out why food storage buckets are a good idea, the process for filling them, and a simple tip that makes them more safe food storage containers.
**This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first – yes, you do need to find a space to store these buckets. They’re not quite as small-space-friendly. BUT, that doesn’t mean you can’t use this method of storing food if you have a smaller living space. One recommendation would be to get some bed risers and slide the buckets underneath beds. I really like these stackable risers you can get on Amazon (affiliate link).
So, why is it worth it to make room for food storage buckets? Well, if you get the right kind (food-grade), the plastic is really heavy duty and helps keep out things like:
All of these things will degrade your food in some way. Plus, some would just be gross to discover when you open a bucket of flour thinking you’re going to make some bread.
If you’re good about rotating your food storage, one thing I suggest is storing things you use larger quantities of in buckets and things that are smaller quantities in something else (like a #10 can). For example, wheat or white flour are great for bucketing. Whereas freeze-dried fruit, I’d probably go with a #10 can.
The things I use buckets for are:
There are so many options out there and I know people who use pretty much every option. But, if you really want to make sure you’re maximizing food storage and keeping your food free from nasty chemicals that could leech out of the plastic, then you’ll want to go with food-grade plastic buckets.
Here are a few options:
There really are so many more options; it would be impossible to link to them all. But, the key is to make sure they say food grade.
For sure you can use the lids that come with the buckets. Most companies sell them together, but double check because there are definitely options to buy a bucket and lid separately.
I really like these Gamma2 Seal Lids (affiliate link). They’re super easy to install to standard buckets and create an airtight seal. Plus, I like the twist on/off feature.
If you’re sealing your buckets with the cheaper lids (not the gamma ones that twist), then you’ll want to make sure you have something to open them with when you’re ready to use the contents. You can grab this bucket and pail opener for less than $5 (affiliate link). Just store it wherever you keep your food storage buckets.
You can simply wash your buckets and lids, and then dump the food in (with some oxygen absorbers) and be done with it. This is my preferred method. I don’t really feel the need to double up, but …
There are some people who like to do a mylar bag inside a bucket.
Why? In addition to the obvious reason of this just giving an extra layer of protection, buckets are not the best at blocking light. So depending on where you plan on storing your buckets, this doubling up method might be something you want to consider. Since I store all of my buckets in our under the stairs closet, I don’t feel the need for doubling up, because they see very little to no light.
To learn more about using mylar bags, I explain the process in this post.
Wash and thoroughly dry all your buckets and lids.
If you are using gamma lids, install the ring around the top of the bucket.
Make sure you have the following ready to go before you start filling the buckets:
Fill the bucket up as full as you can, leaving room to place the lid.
Make sure you don’t open the oxygen absorbers until it’s time to place them on top of the food. Read this post all about oxygen absorbers for a refresher on why this is important and which foods you shouldn’t use them with.
This part is kind of fun. Grab your mallet and start pounding the edges of the lid to get a tight seal.
If using gamma lids, just twist them on as tight as you can.
Please oh please remember to put labels on the outside of your buckets! Make sure to write down what food is inside and the month/year the food was put in the bucket.
**Pro Tip: I also like to put the expiration date on the bucket as well. Since different foods last for different amounts of time, I don’t want to have to look that up every time I am wondering how much longer my bucketed food will last. I do this while I have the list of oxygen absorber CCs and shelf life out, when I am doing the actual bucketing. It eliminates frustration later.
Once you’re done with this, go ahead and stash these big ol’ buckets in a dry, cool environment. For things I use regularly, I keep a bucket for daily use in my pantry. When it’s gone, I’ll just rotate in the next bucket.
You can also check out the following time-lapse of my husband and I going through this process.
So, why choose one over the other? Here are a few things to consider:
I know when you’re new to the idea of re-packaging dry goods for long-term food storage, it can feel overwhelming. Honestly, I feel like the hardest part is making sure you have the supplies you need!
If you got nothing else from this post and the one about mylar bagging, I hope it’s this:
It doesn’t have to be hard!
Don’t complicate the process. You can do this! And you’ll feel so much better having extra food in your emergency stash.
Like with all things emergency preparedness, Just. Start.
There will always be things we don’t think about before we encounter an emergency. But, I’m here to help you think about some of the non-food storage items you might want to keep on hand for the next rainy day.
Why you should schedule an emergency preparedness weekend every 6 months, and what you should be doing, reviewing, rotating, and maintaining. Free printable checklist!
Berkey water filters are THE BEST water filters, not only for emergencies, but for everyday use. They are so good, they are classified as a water purifier, which is a step up from a filter!
