My grandmother taught me to put a couple of bay leaves in the bottom of the flour jar, oats, rice etc and the buggies will stay away. This works for me
I live in a dry climate. In my home we have a cellar that stays between 50 &60 degrees year round. I have food that was left by the previous owners. I am currently using wheat that was stored there in 1981!, it tastes great!!
That is so cool!!! That's what I'm talking about - wheat berries store forever, and then you mill them fresh and they taste amazing. Thanks for sharing that!
New Grainy here, I love the look of the grains and such in the mason jars. I like that I can vacuum seal them as well. I am still unsure of the length of time that different grains and such will stay viable when stored properly. I did see your video concerning oat groats so I'm good on that one. Love your videos, they have taken me from thinking about milling and baking to actually doing it. The difference in all of our baked goods is amazing!! They taste outstanding and we feel that we aren't just eating "fillers" we are getting the nutrition that God intended us to receive all along! Thank you Felicia!! 🥰
I store beans rice grains & all my dehydrated foods in jars -on top of my cabinets-the empty wasted space up there looks so pretty now with all my pretty filled jars!😍. I used to freeze rice grits etc. prior to storing but I’ve recently learned that if you are putting in Mylar with oxygen absorbers-the bugs can’t survive without oxygen-therefore freezing prior to Mylar with oxygen absorbers isn’t necessary.
We started saving food up about 10 years ago, and we just opened up a pail of red wheat berries and ground it up to make bread and it was still just fine. We live up north where it get a couple of feet of snow every winter, and we keep it in a shed. We put it in mylar bags with 2 oxygen absorbers per pail, may be over kill, but it worked just fine. Thanks for this video!
Such a great testimony, thank you! And honestly, when it comes to saving food I don't think you can be TOO careful. Yes, you can go overboard, but if that makes you more comfortable then go for it. Better safe than sorry! I don't think oxygen absorbers are overboard, but the mylar bags I don't think are needed for grains. Dried grains keep their flavor very well :-)
@@GrainsandGrit I am going to try to sprout the grain to see if all we did to preserve it was worth it. In desperate times just eating the berries sprouted would sustain life. Again thanks for your videos, I enjoy them and I am just learning how to make bread (at 70 years old its better than never!).
I had stored some hard white wheatberries in a 5-gal. bucket and it had extra room so I added a big plastic bag of corn. Now I realize from your video that it was the CORN that contaminated that bucket. All the corn (which was less than 3 gal.) was ruined as well as the wheat berries -- which was more like 15 lbs. or more -- with weevils. What a sad sight that was! I poured all the wheat berries onto our small compost pile, and for weeks we had wheatgrass growing there. SO appreciate your explanations that let me know what was going on!@@GrainsandGrit
Thank you so so much for all the information you provide in your videos! They are extremely helpful and answer so many of my questions!! And good point about Joseph - I hadn’t even thought about that!
I'm really enjoying your videos and learning so very much. The use of the Bible is very much appreciated as well! One of my friends put Bay Leaves in her grain to helps if,, by chance any bugs get in there. Also, found that stacking more than 3 buckets is the limit as one person stacked higher and had a bucket on the bottom broke so it was good that the contents was in mylar with oxegen absorbers. Would you also recommend not staking more than 3? And, thoughts on Bay Leaves in with grains?? Blessings Sister 🥰
I’ve never tried bay leaves but someone else has told me that too. I don’t stack buckets more than three high mainly because I’m 5’2 and anything higher than 3 buckets would be a pain to get down lol
Another great video. I just pulled my first loaf of bread out of the oven that I made from your Simply Yeast Bread with Freshly Milled Grains recipe. It smells wonderful. Thank you for all the videos you put out there. They have been very helpful.
Thanks, Felicia! this was very helpful I knew not to freeze my wheat berries, but I did not know I needed to freeze my rice or corn. I don’t have any corn at the moment, but I will be cycling my rice through the freezer.
I didn't freeze my rice but I did seal it up in a mylar bag with oxygen absorbers so I hope that was good enough. I hope I don't get a bad surprise with I open the bag. 🥴
I buy 40 pound bags of wheat berries and put 5 pounds of berries in a 1 gallon mylar bag with 400gr oxygen absorber, grain stays perfectly fresh and no chance of bugs in a zero oxygen environment. I put the mylar bags in plastic totes that will hold about a dozen bags which is 60 pounds. I keep mine in our house at 70 degrees or below. I may buy a few cases of #10 cans (5.5#) from the LDS church, 33# per case of 6 cans all packed with oxygen absorbers and just store those under our house which usually stays about 65-68 degrees year round. Long term storage 30 year just in case the SHTF.
I enjoy your videos. I know from experience weevils will also show up in wheat berries unless they have been sprayed with pesticides. I use oxygen absorbers in all of the things you mentioned. The bugs can't survive in an oxygen free environment.
I have those lowes buckets, but they are not food grade and wouldn't use them to store food in them. I got 5 gallon buckets from TrueLeafMarket. I ordered 12 and got free shipping.They are food grade no BPA.
I bought hard white and hard red in buckets with gamma seal lids a couple weeks ago but when I went to use the hatd white today, there are weevils in it🤬🤬 So Im freezing all my other grains now. I am in Bradenton FL and was storing vacuum sealed grains/beans out in shed but I noticed several suppliers say they must be kept under 80 degrees. No storage room in my house due to all of my canning goods. Thanks for your videos.
WOW, I've never had issues with weevils in my wheat and I live in Florida too! Well, it never hurts to freeze it to be safe. You're not going to hurt it. :-)
Hi! I am new to your channel and am SO THANKFUL I found you. You have been very helpful in teaching me about grains and their storage. You mentioned in this video about freezing rice prior to long-term storing. I recently purchased some rice in bulk. Unfortunately, I currently don’t have a lot of space in my freezer. If I’m putting oxygen absorbers in my rice prior to sealing, is it still necessary to freeze the rice?
Hello! I have tried to read your replies to other's comments below but for some reason they are not showing up... SO I have just purchased my first bulk bag of wheat berries! So excited. BUT, when freezing rice or corn, do you need to let it sit out again to "dry" before storing them in airtight buckets? I wasn't sure if there would be too much moisture after freezing them?? If so, do I spread them out to air dry or simply leave them in the bags they came in to dry---or just do nothing and simply put them in the buckets? Thanks for your help! BTW, taking a trip to Bread Beckers tomorrow. Thanks to you I discovered this place and I mentioned to them that I discovered them on line through you. They sounded very pleased :) Have a blessed day!
Ah so jealous you're going to Bread Beckers! I have yet to be there. Every time I'm going around Atlanta I'm on the opposite side. As far as rice and corn, I take them out of the freezer and dump them in buckets. I've never had problems with moisture or anything. I think with them being in well sealed bags while freezing keeps out any moisture.
To clarify, how do you store your beans, in glass jars? I want to do an Azure standard order of beans in bulk, and I was wondering what you believe the best way is to store them...Looooooove your channel, BTW ❤😮
Very helpful information. Thanks so much!! If you have frozen beans, (thought I was supposed to and they’re still taking up valuable freezer space) how do you transition them from freezer to jar without the moisture from condensation.
I've never done this with beans. I have only done it with corn and rice and I just take the grains from the freezer and place them in to whatever container I want them in. If your bag was sealed up properly, any condensation would be on the bag the beans are in in the freezer and not the beans themselves. Hope that makes sense :-p
I take my preps that have been in the freezer and place them in large bowl lined with newspaper or paper towels and allow them to sit out until ALL the moisture has evaporated. Then I put it in my buckets with the lid with the seal on it
QUESTION: But we don't know if the wheat berries had any bugs in them when they arrive. Oh geez, I froze mine, and they were dewy when I took them out (the bag) but left it to get room temperature for 3 or 4 days before putting them in mylar bags in a 5 gal bucket. Do you think it'll be ok? I have pinto beans in the chest freezer now.Also I've heard nightmares that when people have frozen stuff it kills the bugs, but the larvae is still alive and when its bagged up and bucketed up, they will hatch out when left at room temp. Is this true? Oh wow, GREAT news, I don't have to freeze the berries. wooo hooo, what a pain that was, as I already did it. WHAT ABOUT STORING SUGAR. lol lol thanks so much
Hi Felicia, gaining so much good wisdom from you. So dry pinto or cranberry beans….how do I store? Oxygen bags? Dry can? Or same as wheat? Thank you. Debbie
I don’t think they’re labeled food safe. I’ve never had a problem with them, but sometimes I keep the grain in the bag it came in and put it in these buckets as a bit of a liner 😄
Instead of freezing corn, rice, couldn't one just put an oxygen absorber in the mason jar? I think there are also vacuum sealers for mason jars. Wouldn't that suffice?
I just found your channel. I love it. But my question is....Are you freezing rice and corn to kill any bugs so you can the store them dry in containers out of the freezer? Or are you storing rice and corn in the freezer for as long as you have it? Thanks for your videos!
Hi Felicia, great video. It’s very informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I have a quick question…Durum wheat would be the same as the wheat berries for storage? No freezing right?
As an alternative to freezing, would it be as effective to just throw in oxygen absorbers into the long-term storage buckets with things such as oats to prevent weevils hatching?
The short answer is yes. Freezing anything that is already dry, reintroduces moisture into the product. Perhaps the very worst thing you can do for any long-term storage. Also, the idea that freezing kills things like weevils, completely ignores the fact that they return every year after harsh Minnesota winters. For a long answer, look up what you can and what you should not store using O2 absorbers.
Question: I froze some bags of wheat berries last year. I froze them for a couple of days in the bag they came in. Then I took the bags out and set them on the countertop for the day. Then put them in mylar bags in a bucket with oxygen absorbers. Now that I've learned more, I'm concerned about moisture that may have gotten into my bags of wheat berries while freezing. How do I know if the wheat berries have gone bad? I'm really hoping I didn't ruin my berries and all of the other things I'vw put into long term storage.
I placed my rice in food saver vac bags and stored them in the freezer for 3 days, took out for 1-3 days and then froze again. What I’m hoping I did not do wrong is that I ducked all the air out of the bags first. Should I have just left the rice loosely in the food saver vac bags instead? Also when this technique is done with flours, should I do it with pasta as well before storing it for long term? If it’s good to keep moisture out of the foods, then why are silicone gel packs not used? I know you are not supposed to use Oxygen Absorbers along with the silica gel packs but which ones should be used? Lots of questions and any info will be greatly appreciated 🌹
There's no harm in taking all the air out before freezing the grains. As far as pasta, I have never stored that for long term so I don't have any personal experience with it. However, it is a dried food meant to be shelf stable for awhile. I would have to research further! I don't use silicone gel packs because so long as grains are kept in a good container with a good lid, moisture isn't going to get in. The key is a good container and lid!
Do you use oxygen absorbers, or moisture absorbers to store rice? I store the rice in glass jars. Also, can you vacuum seal the glass jars with the wire clamps?
So with dent corn freeze for 48 hours, take it out of the freezer and put in your storage container with an airtight lid. Then you are good to go forever.
HI, I have a BASIC Question that I need answered; nobody seems to address this in their videos (I am an absolute beginner @ storing and grinding wheat berries). Do you put the wheat berries directly into the food-safe buckets or does the bucket need some sort of a liner? Thanks for sharing your knowledge (I have another basic question but will ask on another video). Blessings
Thanks so very much! I want to store debt corn. Do o need an oxygen absorber? Someone else said on a FB thread NOT to put one in because it could cause botulism. Have you ever heard of this before?
You’re my hero, I’ve often wondered a lot about what you just covered. We have a chamber vacuum and we have been vacuum packing all our wheat berries, but one question, can we put sealed vacuum packed rice in the freezer without it getting condensation on the rice once we pull it out to be stored? It’s already been vacuum sealed before putting it in the freezer. Thanks for all your help 👍
I would think so. The point of vacuum seal is to suck out all oxygen and keep it out. If it can keep our oxygen pretty sure it will keep out moisture too 😄
In the midst of a disaster, we may not have electric, what mill do you suggest? However, we may not even have a way to bake bread either if there is a disaster… what is your back up plan for that?
Excellent questions! You can do all the above in a grid-down situation. I get into all of that in my complete course, How to Master Prepping with Grains: grainsandgrit.com/prepwithgrains
Can you just store Einhorn in a bucket with a oxygen absorber I been wanting to get Einkorn and I love pearl farro for salads I want to get that in bulk
Your videos are ao helpful. I am just getting started with home milling. Quick question; After you feeze the corn and then transfer to a bucket, do you have to worry about moisture when it thaws?? Thanks!
Ah good question, I should have clarified. No. I just take them out of the freezer and immediately dump them in the container I’m using 😄 I don’t keep them in the bag. If there’s any moisture due to condensation it would be on the bag so I don’t keep it in the bucket. *Note, the corn I am freezing is already dried corn. This is NOT fresh corn. Fresh corn would need to be dried, canned, or frozen 😄
What about the canning process? I've watched videos that say you have to put the jars in the oven before and after. Is that necessary? I'm not a canner... yet
Do you know how to store gluten free grains like millet, Quinoa, brown rice and buckwheat? Also do you have to rinse or soak the grains before grinding them to make flour? Thank you for your help. David
All rice and corn need to be frozen. As far as millet, quinoa, and buckwheat I haven't frozen them and I have had them in jars in my kitchen for many months now with no issues. As with any food storage, if all else fails - go a little overboard. It won't hurt it to freeze it! As far as rinsing or soaking, you do not have to do that. I did a video about phytic acid and the whole "to soak or not to soak" kind of debate. You can check it out here: ruclips.net/video/iudxmqan2CI/видео.html
If I'm putting them in direct contact with the bucket. But sometimes I just keep them in the bag they came in inside the bucket. I know 4 Generations sells their grains in food-grade buckets automatically.
@@GrainsandGrit this was my question too. If I can skip myler bags and put the grain directly in buckets with oxygen absorber, that would be so much simpler. Just don't want bugs showing up in my bucket like I had with my rice one time
I bought 2- 50 lb bags of wheat berries at a great deal & want your input on best way to store long term. I wont be using large quantities at once so will be needing storage ideas..thank you!
When you buy your grains and before you use them do you sort through them to get the bags and parts of the weed plant out? I guess what I’m asking is do you clean your grains before you grind them not getting them wet just picking through them?
If you see a stem or something in the berries while you're pouring them out, feel free to grab it. But if you're buying grains from a quality source like Pleasant Hill Grain, then you shouldn't have to worry about dirty grains.
Thank you for responding quickly about how to store your grains. Would it be ok to store my grains, beans, and rice in my living room closet, since I live in an Apartment?
I am wondering when storing whole grains for say a year or two, if just a tight fitting lid is sufficient, or if is necessary to extract the oxygen from the container? Is the purpose to just prevent moisture and pests with a good lid and the grains will be good for a year or two, or does it take lack of oxygen to keep grains usable for that long? Thank you for your informative videos. I am binge watching.
I don't think Joseph had access to oxygen absorption technology in Egypt. He likely just stored them in a cool dry place. I store them in buckets in hot humid conditions with no O2 absorbers and they do just fine for 1-3 years. Any longer and I'm asking, Why aren't you using your grain more??
@@GrainsandGrit well pretty soon wheat berries are going to sky rocket in price if you can get any at all. Best to try to get a few 100 pounds of wheat stored up for long storage, like 20+ years worth. My question would be why aren't you storing more?
My azure standard order of soft white wheat berries must have a little bug in it because all of a sudden there is a white dust at the bottom of the jar and some of the berries look hollowed out. They went from the bag into a clean glass mason jar. Any suggestions?
No good. Azure grains have been known to have bug problems. I would definitely freeze them next time. Or use oxygen absorbers, etc. from Wallaby: bit.ly/3HQkS7h ($5 off with code: GRAINSANDGRIT5)
If I'm storing rice and grains in 5 gallon 65ml buckets with gamma seals do I need mylar bag liners? I've heard that the 65 ml still let oxygen through which can allow bugs to thrive. I'll be opening the bags to refill my pantry jars so oxygen packs won't make sense. I'd have to change them out every time I open the bag.
Thank you for this video I bought a 25 pound bag of hard white berries from azure and put them in their jars will they be ok in there .also I have never froze my rice I put it in myler bags with oxygen absorbers do you think they will get bugs in them ?
Yeah, if your jars are stored in a cool dry place, I would think they'd be fine for a while. And freezing is sort of an either-or thing. If you're doing O2 absorbers, that accomplishes the same thing.
You mentioned in this video that you store some of your beans and grains in your kitchen because they look pretty. I agree but doesn’t light affect them and or shorten their life span? Thank you
I sealed my grains in my vacuum sealer bags and it sucks out all the oxygen. Is this an appropriate way to store the wheat berries? I bought 25 lbs so that should last us a year.
You could use oxygen absorbers BUT I’m opening my buckets frequently which defeats the purpose of an oxygen absorber if I’m always introducing oxygen. So keep that in mind when using them! 😄
My grandmother taught me to put a couple of bay leaves in the bottom of the flour jar, oats, rice etc and the buggies will stay away. This works for me
Does dry bay leaves work? Or it has to be fresh leaves?
@@DragonZelda I always use dry I put a couple in the bottom of the container and if there is a package I place a couple in there.
@@maureenhargrave3568 Thanks!
@@maureenhargrave3568 I always LOVE nature’s way of handling problems!
How helpful! Thank you so much!
The real beauty of these grains and beans is that you can plant them and get a whole lot more when you start to run low!
It only takes 6 months to reap the benefits…
@@Prosecute-fauci lol
Love the Biblical Wisdom applied to real life.
Awesome
I live in a dry climate. In my home we have a cellar that stays between 50 &60 degrees year round. I have food that was left by the previous owners. I am currently using wheat that was stored there in 1981!, it tastes great!!
That is so cool!!! That's what I'm talking about - wheat berries store forever, and then you mill them fresh and they taste amazing. Thanks for sharing that!
This was super helpful! Thank you! Also I absolutely love how you bring the up the Bible! God bless you!
New Grainy here, I love the look of the grains and such in the mason jars. I like that I can vacuum seal them as well. I am still unsure of the length of time that different grains and such will stay viable when stored properly. I did see your video concerning oat groats so I'm good on that one. Love your videos, they have taken me from thinking about milling and baking to actually doing it. The difference in all of our baked goods is amazing!! They taste outstanding and we feel that we aren't just eating "fillers" we are getting the nutrition that God intended us to receive all along! Thank you Felicia!! 🥰
Welcome! Grain stores indefinitely. Don't overthink it.
I store beans rice grains & all my dehydrated foods in jars -on top of my cabinets-the empty wasted space up there looks so pretty now with all my pretty filled jars!😍. I used to freeze rice grits etc. prior to storing but I’ve recently learned that if you are putting in Mylar with oxygen absorbers-the bugs can’t survive without oxygen-therefore freezing prior to Mylar with oxygen absorbers isn’t necessary.
Thank you so much, Felicia! I am getting some wheat berries soon and was concerned about how to store them. This really put my mind at ease!
You are so welcome!
We dry canned 50 lbs. of rice in 2015 and I’m still using it! It’s put up in 1/2 gal. jars!
We started saving food up about 10 years ago, and we just opened up a pail of red wheat berries and ground it up to make bread and it was still just fine. We live up north where it get a couple of feet of snow every winter, and we keep it in a shed. We put it in mylar bags with 2 oxygen absorbers per pail, may be over kill, but it worked just fine. Thanks for this video!
Such a great testimony, thank you! And honestly, when it comes to saving food I don't think you can be TOO careful. Yes, you can go overboard, but if that makes you more comfortable then go for it. Better safe than sorry! I don't think oxygen absorbers are overboard, but the mylar bags I don't think are needed for grains. Dried grains keep their flavor very well :-)
@@GrainsandGrit I am going to try to sprout the grain to see if all we did to preserve it was worth it. In desperate times just eating the berries sprouted would sustain life. Again thanks for your videos, I enjoy them and I am just learning how to make bread (at 70 years old its better than never!).
@@earlschultz7880 Yes sprouting would definitely show if the seed is still alive!
I had stored some hard white wheatberries in a 5-gal. bucket and it had extra room so I added a big plastic bag of corn. Now I realize from your video that it was the CORN that contaminated that bucket. All the corn (which was less than 3 gal.) was ruined as well as the wheat berries -- which was more like 15 lbs. or more -- with weevils. What a sad sight that was! I poured all the wheat berries onto our small compost pile, and for weeks we had wheatgrass growing there. SO appreciate your explanations that let me know what was going on!@@GrainsandGrit
You are a gem here on RUclips. Losts of good information and love how you answered the questions.
Thank you!
Thank you so so much for all the information you provide in your videos! They are extremely helpful and answer so many of my questions!! And good point about Joseph - I hadn’t even thought about that!
Thank you for this video, I love the glass Mason jars look too and hope to incorporate into my kitchen.
One good thing about living in the north (zone 3) is that it’s easy to freeze everything during winter, so that’s when I store things up. 🥰
I’m getting into storing grains and this info is godsend. Thanks!
Wonderful! So glad you found my channel! Please subscribe!
I'm really enjoying your videos and learning so very much. The use of the Bible is very much appreciated as well! One of my friends put Bay Leaves in her grain to helps if,, by chance any bugs get in there. Also, found that stacking more than 3 buckets is the limit as one person stacked higher and had a bucket on the bottom broke so it was good that the contents was in mylar with oxegen absorbers. Would you also recommend not staking more than 3? And, thoughts on Bay Leaves in with grains?? Blessings Sister 🥰
I’ve never tried bay leaves but someone else has told me that too.
I don’t stack buckets more than three high mainly because I’m 5’2 and anything higher than 3 buckets would be a pain to get down lol
Thank you for the tips. I live in the south and was hesitant about storing in the garage.
Totally understandable. The bugs and humidity are no joke! Glad the tips are helpful!
Thanks for sharing and making it plain and simple... Shalom!!!!!
You are so welcome!!
Another great video. I just pulled my first loaf of bread out of the oven that I made from your Simply Yeast Bread with Freshly Milled Grains recipe. It smells wonderful. Thank you for all the videos you put out there. They have been very helpful.
So glad these videos are helping you! Let me know how the bread turned out!
Very helpful thanks.First time viewer to your channel.Amherst Nova Scotia.❤
Welcome! Do you mill your own grains?
@@GrainsandGrit Not yet.That is not something accessible to us.But it will be.
Thank you so much for sharing your long-learned experience! You're a lifesaver!
You are so welcome!
Love how you broke it down easily! Thank you for sharing your experience with us all!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks, Felicia! this was very helpful I knew not to freeze my wheat berries, but I did not know I needed to freeze my rice or corn. I don’t have any corn at the moment, but I will be cycling my rice through the freezer.
Glad it was helpful!
Saludos from Texas. Thank you for information. Time is critical for storing.
I didn't freeze my rice but I did seal it up in a mylar bag with oxygen absorbers so I hope that was good enough. I hope I don't get a bad surprise with I open the bag. 🥴
I buy 40 pound bags of wheat berries and put 5 pounds of berries in a 1 gallon mylar bag with 400gr oxygen absorber, grain stays perfectly fresh and no chance of bugs in a zero oxygen environment. I put the mylar bags in plastic totes that will hold about a dozen bags which is 60 pounds. I keep mine in our house at 70 degrees or below.
I may buy a few cases of #10 cans (5.5#) from the LDS church, 33# per case of 6 cans all packed with oxygen absorbers and just store those under our house which usually stays about 65-68 degrees year round. Long term storage 30 year just in case the SHTF.
Clearly, you're a mind reader, too!! Does coffee store well in a vacuumed glass jar in the pantry? Thanks!
I enjoy your videos. I know from experience weevils will also show up in wheat berries unless they have been sprayed with pesticides. I use oxygen absorbers in all of the things you mentioned. The bugs can't survive in an oxygen free environment.
Palouse says that oxygen absorbers can introduce bacteria and not to use them. They grow wheat. This adds to my confusion.
Thanks for your input. It was very helpful.
Very helpful! I had no idea about a lot of this. Thank you!
I have those lowes buckets, but they are not food grade and wouldn't use them to store food in them. I got 5 gallon buckets from TrueLeafMarket. I ordered 12 and got free shipping.They are food grade no BPA.
New subscriber. Just found your channel. Looking forward to your ideas and tips. Thank you
Welcome aboard!
I bought hard white and hard red in buckets with gamma seal lids a couple weeks ago but when I went to use the hatd white today, there are weevils in it🤬🤬 So Im freezing all my other grains now. I am in Bradenton FL and was storing vacuum sealed grains/beans out in shed but I noticed several suppliers say they must be kept under 80 degrees. No storage room in my house due to all of my canning goods. Thanks for your videos.
WOW, I've never had issues with weevils in my wheat and I live in Florida too! Well, it never hurts to freeze it to be safe. You're not going to hurt it. :-)
Hi! I am new to your channel and am SO THANKFUL I found you. You have been very helpful in teaching me about grains and their storage. You mentioned in this video about freezing rice prior to long-term storing. I recently purchased some rice in bulk. Unfortunately, I currently don’t have a lot of space in my freezer. If I’m putting oxygen absorbers in my rice prior to sealing, is it still necessary to freeze the rice?
Oxygen absorbers do the same job as freezing :-) So you're good!
Thank you this was very useful for a beginner like myself.
I have stored my beans in half gallon jars for years. As I don't have counter space to display I just store them in my pantry...
Hello! I have tried to read your replies to other's comments below but for some reason they are not showing up... SO I have just purchased my first bulk bag of wheat berries! So excited. BUT, when freezing rice or corn, do you need to let it sit out again to "dry" before storing them in airtight buckets? I wasn't sure if there would be too much moisture after freezing them?? If so, do I spread them out to air dry or simply leave them in the bags they came in to dry---or just do nothing and simply put them in the buckets? Thanks for your help! BTW, taking a trip to Bread Beckers tomorrow. Thanks to you I discovered this place and I mentioned to them that I discovered them on line through you. They sounded very pleased :) Have a blessed day!
Ah so jealous you're going to Bread Beckers! I have yet to be there. Every time I'm going around Atlanta I'm on the opposite side.
As far as rice and corn, I take them out of the freezer and dump them in buckets. I've never had problems with moisture or anything. I think with them being in well sealed bags while freezing keeps out any moisture.
To clarify, how do you store your beans, in glass jars? I want to do an Azure standard order of beans in bulk, and I was wondering what you believe the best way is to store them...Looooooove your channel, BTW ❤😮
Excellent video / info.
Very helpful information. Thanks so much!! If you have frozen beans, (thought I was supposed to and they’re still taking up valuable freezer space) how do you transition them from freezer to jar without the moisture from condensation.
I've never done this with beans. I have only done it with corn and rice and I just take the grains from the freezer and place them in to whatever container I want them in. If your bag was sealed up properly, any condensation would be on the bag the beans are in in the freezer and not the beans themselves. Hope that makes sense :-p
I take my preps that have been in the freezer and place them in large bowl lined with newspaper or paper towels and allow them to sit out until ALL the moisture has evaporated. Then I put it in my buckets with the lid with the seal on it
@@coolpop19 Thank you. I will definitely try that.
Thank you! So helpful 😊
QUESTION: But we don't know if the wheat berries had any bugs in them when they arrive. Oh geez, I froze mine, and they were dewy when I took them out (the bag) but left it to get room temperature for 3 or 4 days before putting them in mylar bags in a 5 gal bucket. Do you think it'll be ok? I have pinto beans in the chest freezer now.Also I've heard nightmares that when people have frozen stuff it kills the bugs, but the larvae is still alive and when its bagged up and bucketed up, they will hatch out when left at room temp. Is this true? Oh wow, GREAT news, I don't have to freeze the berries. wooo hooo, what a pain that was, as I already did it. WHAT ABOUT STORING SUGAR. lol lol thanks so much
Freezing should kill any larva.
Thanks for your infos...
Hi Felicia, gaining so much good wisdom from you. So dry pinto or cranberry beans….how do I store? Oxygen bags? Dry can?
Or same as wheat? Thank you. Debbie
I've seen the blue ones at lowe's but didn't realize they were food safe.
I don’t think they’re labeled food safe. I’ve never had a problem with them, but sometimes I keep the grain in the bag it came in and put it in these buckets as a bit of a liner 😄
Instead of freezing corn, rice, couldn't one just put an oxygen absorber in the mason jar? I think there are also vacuum sealers for mason jars. Wouldn't that suffice?
Yep, I recommend Wallaby: bit.ly/3HQkS7h -And you can use my code to get $5 off: GRAINSANDGRIT5
I want to store hard white berries safely. Long term. I have a room size pantry. I have room for buckets.
Very helpful!! Thanks so much!!!
I just found your channel. I love it.
But my question is....Are you freezing rice and corn to kill any bugs so you can the store them dry in containers out of the freezer? Or are you storing rice and corn in the freezer for as long as you have it?
Thanks for your videos!
My rice and corn I freeze for about 24-48 hours to kill any bugs then I pull them out and dump the grains in the buckets 😄
Hi Felicia, great video. It’s very informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
I have a quick question…Durum wheat would be the same as the wheat berries for storage? No freezing right?
Yep! 😄
@@GrainsandGrit thank you!
As an alternative to freezing, would it be as effective to just throw in oxygen absorbers into the long-term storage buckets with things such as oats to prevent weevils hatching?
I don't use them, but I've heard of people doing that as an alternative.
The short answer is yes. Freezing anything that is already dry, reintroduces moisture into the product. Perhaps the very worst thing you can do for any long-term storage. Also, the idea that freezing kills things like weevils, completely ignores the fact that they return every year after harsh Minnesota winters.
For a long answer, look up what you can and what you should not store using O2 absorbers.
Great content, came here from the newbie video
Grains and Grit, you mentioned freezing corn before storing in bucket…is this also apply to the corn coming from pleasant hill? The 42lbs super Pail?
Nope, they do all of the prep for you. Their grains are all ready to store the moment they arrive.
Question: I froze some bags of wheat berries last year. I froze them for a couple of days in the bag they came in. Then I took the bags out and set them on the countertop for the day. Then put them in mylar bags in a bucket with oxygen absorbers. Now that I've learned more, I'm concerned about moisture that may have gotten into my bags of wheat berries while freezing. How do I know if the wheat berries have gone bad? I'm really hoping I didn't ruin my berries and all of the other things I'vw put into long term storage.
I've never had a problem with moisture as long as I keep them in their original packaging when freezing and storing.
I placed my rice in food saver vac bags and stored them in the freezer for 3 days, took out for 1-3 days and then froze again. What I’m hoping I did not do wrong is that I ducked all the air out of the bags first. Should I have just left the rice loosely in the food saver vac bags instead? Also when this technique is done with flours, should I do it with pasta as well before storing it for long term? If it’s good to keep moisture out of the foods, then why are silicone gel packs not used? I know you are not supposed to use Oxygen Absorbers along with the silica gel packs but which ones should be used? Lots of questions and any info will be greatly appreciated 🌹
There's no harm in taking all the air out before freezing the grains.
As far as pasta, I have never stored that for long term so I don't have any personal experience with it. However, it is a dried food meant to be shelf stable for awhile. I would have to research further!
I don't use silicone gel packs because so long as grains are kept in a good container with a good lid, moisture isn't going to get in. The key is a good container and lid!
Thank you 😇🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
So, You Never did say what size container will hold 25 Lbs. of Grain, or Wheat Berries. Thanks!!
Standard 5-gal bucket will hold it with room to spare.
Excellent thank you.
Do you use oxygen absorbers, or moisture absorbers to store rice? I store the rice in glass jars. Also, can you vacuum seal the glass jars with the wire clamps?
So with dent corn freeze for 48 hours, take it out of the freezer and put in your storage container with an airtight lid. Then you are good to go forever.
In my personal experience, yes that has worked for me. If you want to be extra, throw in oxygen absorbers too 😀
HI, I have a BASIC Question that I need answered; nobody seems to address this in their videos (I am an absolute beginner @ storing and grinding wheat berries). Do you put the wheat berries directly into the food-safe buckets or does the bucket need some sort of a liner? Thanks for sharing your knowledge (I have another basic question but will ask on another video). Blessings
I put them directly into a clean bucket, no liner.
Are you supposed to rinse grains before cooking whole/grinding/cracking/storing?
Thanks so very much! I want to store debt corn. Do o need an oxygen absorber? Someone else said on a FB thread NOT to put one in because it could cause botulism. Have you ever heard of this before?
I don't know about this. I've never had a problem.
Question: how long can you store dried corn, rye, and barley?
Under proper conditions, indefinitely
Would adding diatomaceous earth be a useful idea? Would you still need to freeze any corn or rice when using it?
Starting to Prepp. What size Mylar bags would you recommend for a 3 gallon bucket? I have around 50, 3 gallon size buckets.
You’re my hero, I’ve often wondered a lot about what you just covered. We have a chamber vacuum and we have been vacuum packing all our wheat berries, but one question, can we put sealed vacuum packed rice in the freezer without it getting condensation on the rice once we pull it out to be stored? It’s already been vacuum sealed before putting it in the freezer. Thanks for all your help 👍
I would think so. The point of vacuum seal is to suck out all oxygen and keep it out. If it can keep our oxygen pretty sure it will keep out moisture too 😄
Great video! Should I freezed rolled oats?
I've never needed to.
In the midst of a disaster, we may not have electric, what mill do you suggest? However, we may not even have a way to bake bread either if there is a disaster… what is your back up plan for that?
Excellent questions! You can do all the above in a grid-down situation. I get into all of that in my complete course, How to Master Prepping with Grains: grainsandgrit.com/prepwithgrains
Can you just store Einhorn in a bucket with a oxygen absorber I been wanting to get Einkorn and I love pearl farro for salads I want to get that in bulk
I don't even use oxygen absorbers.
What grains did in the Bible Joseph of Egypt store for 7 years of famine?
Thank you kindly,
John
No one knows for sure, but Kamut is a strong possibility.
Your videos are ao helpful. I am just getting started with home milling. Quick question; After you feeze the corn and then transfer to a bucket, do you have to worry about moisture when it thaws?? Thanks!
Thanks - not if you keep it in the original packaging through the whole process.
I can we put our wheat grains in a large non food grade plastic tote as long as they are still in the paper bags they came in?
I don't always use food grade buckets if I'm leaving them in the bags. Same concept I suppose.
Do I need to dry my corn after freezing before I store them? Thanks
Ah good question, I should have clarified. No. I just take them out of the freezer and immediately dump them in the container I’m using 😄 I don’t keep them in the bag. If there’s any moisture due to condensation it would be on the bag so I don’t keep it in the bucket.
*Note, the corn I am freezing is already dried corn. This is NOT fresh corn. Fresh corn would need to be dried, canned, or frozen 😄
When you speak about corn are you talking about dried or fresh?
Dried, definitely
What about the canning process? I've watched videos that say you have to put the jars in the oven before and after. Is that necessary? I'm not a canner... yet
I put my wheat berries in a bucket with oxygen absorbers. I keep hearing you need to freeze them.
I've seen weevils in wheat berries..
It can happen - that's why it's important to choose a quality source.
Felicia is a root cellar ok with these food grade buckets? Typically 50 degrees but can have some moisture
What do you think about the dry ice in the buckets idea?
What area of Florida do you live? I live on the Panhandle and wanted to check if your recipes would be the same for me
Cool, I'm in the North-Central region. But the first several years I was in Santa Rosa county.
Do you know how to store gluten free grains like millet, Quinoa, brown rice and buckwheat? Also do you have to rinse or soak the grains before grinding them to make flour?
Thank you for your help.
David
All rice and corn need to be frozen. As far as millet, quinoa, and buckwheat I haven't frozen them and I have had them in jars in my kitchen for many months now with no issues.
As with any food storage, if all else fails - go a little overboard. It won't hurt it to freeze it!
As far as rinsing or soaking, you do not have to do that. I did a video about phytic acid and the whole "to soak or not to soak" kind of debate. You can check it out here: ruclips.net/video/iudxmqan2CI/видео.html
Are your buckets food grade?
If I'm putting them in direct contact with the bucket. But sometimes I just keep them in the bag they came in inside the bucket. I know 4 Generations sells their grains in food-grade buckets automatically.
Thank you!! So, the grains will still last the 30 years in an uncontrolled environment in a 5 gallon bucket with a gamma lid and oxygen absorber?
Well, it lasted thousands of years in Egyptian tombs and still fresh!
@@GrainsandGrit this was my question too. If I can skip myler bags and put the grain directly in buckets with oxygen absorber, that would be so much simpler. Just don't want bugs showing up in my bucket like I had with my rice one time
I bought 2- 50 lb bags of wheat berries at a great deal & want your input on best way to store long term. I wont be using large quantities at once so will be needing storage ideas..thank you!
Sure! Have you signed up for my complete course on prepping with grains? Here it is: grainsandgrit.com/prepwithgrains
When you buy your grains and before you use them do you sort through them to get the bags and parts of the weed plant out? I guess what I’m asking is do you clean your grains before you grind them not getting them wet just picking through them?
If you see a stem or something in the berries while you're pouring them out, feel free to grab it. But if you're buying grains from a quality source like Pleasant Hill Grain, then you shouldn't have to worry about dirty grains.
Thank you for responding quickly about how to store your grains. Would it be ok to store my grains, beans, and rice in my living room closet, since I live in an Apartment?
Oh yes, of course!
When you buy a large sealed bucket of wheat berries, do you need to open it to add oxygen absorbers?
I don't.
Can you store wild rice this way long term?
I recommend freezing first. High starch grains are less stable.
I am wondering when storing whole grains for say a year or two, if just a tight fitting lid is sufficient, or if is necessary to extract the oxygen from the container? Is the purpose to just prevent moisture and pests with a good lid and the grains will be good for a year or two, or does it take lack of oxygen to keep grains usable for that long? Thank you for your informative videos. I am binge watching.
I don't think Joseph had access to oxygen absorption technology in Egypt. He likely just stored them in a cool dry place. I store them in buckets in hot humid conditions with no O2 absorbers and they do just fine for 1-3 years. Any longer and I'm asking, Why aren't you using your grain more??
@@GrainsandGrit well pretty soon wheat berries are going to sky rocket in price if you can get any at all.
Best to try to get a few 100 pounds of wheat stored up for long storage, like 20+ years worth.
My question would be why aren't you storing more?
My azure standard order of soft white wheat berries must have a little bug in it because all of a sudden there is a white dust at the bottom of the jar and some of the berries look hollowed out. They went from the bag into a clean glass mason jar. Any suggestions?
No good. Azure grains have been known to have bug problems. I would definitely freeze them next time. Or use oxygen absorbers, etc. from Wallaby: bit.ly/3HQkS7h ($5 off with code: GRAINSANDGRIT5)
Thanks! I’ll try that. Maybe I’ll start buying from 4Generations instead!
Do you need to freeze corn/rice if you use oxygen absorbers?
I don't.
Great info. Can you freeze pasta and although you do not freeze beans can you freeze it though
If I'm storing rice and grains in 5 gallon 65ml buckets with gamma seals do I need mylar bag liners? I've heard that the 65 ml still let oxygen through which can allow bugs to thrive. I'll be opening the bags to refill my pantry jars so oxygen packs won't make sense. I'd have to change them out every time I open the bag.
I don't use them, myself.
Thank you for this video I bought a 25 pound bag of hard white berries from azure and put them in their jars will they be ok in there .also I have never froze my rice I put it in myler bags with oxygen absorbers do you think they will get bugs in them ?
Yeah, if your jars are stored in a cool dry place, I would think they'd be fine for a while. And freezing is sort of an either-or thing. If you're doing O2 absorbers, that accomplishes the same thing.
What about using dry ice? The cold and CO2 will kill the bugs and eggs without the moisture issue
Do you have dry ice lying about?
@@GrainsandGrit I have no idea what you’re asking
You mentioned in this video that you store some of your beans and grains in your kitchen because they look pretty. I agree but doesn’t light affect them and or shorten their life span? Thank you
Light? No, perhaps you're thinking of wine?
I sealed my grains in my vacuum sealer bags and it sucks out all the oxygen. Is this an appropriate way to store the wheat berries? I bought 25 lbs so that should last us a year.
If you want to store long term. As you can see, I don't use bags or O2 absorbers.
Why freeze grains to eliminate bugs when including oxygen absorbers will do the same thing without risk of accidentally introducing moisture?
You could use oxygen absorbers BUT I’m opening my buckets frequently which defeats the purpose of an oxygen absorber if I’m always introducing oxygen. So keep that in mind when using them! 😄
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