Short-Term Storage
Long-Term Storage
The cheapest way to purchase grains is buying in bulk. When I am stocking up on my grains, I will purchase 100 pounds of any particular grain at a time. My last grain stock up brought 300 pounds of grain into our house and caused a bit of a ruckus because I needed to run for a couple more 5 gallon buckets with lids! The trick is always how to store large amounts of grain at any given time.
Short Term Storage
Short term options are pretty easy. If you have a Tractor Supply near you, I recommend grabbing 5 gallon buckets from them with matching gamma lids. This is the cheapest place to get both items (they are sold separately). Gamma lids are screw-top lids that are easier to open than popping of a sealed lid every time you want to grab some grain to mill.
A 5-gallon bucket will hold about 50 pounds of grain. So when I buy 100 pounds of hard red wheat berries, I will normally fill 2 of my 5-gallon buckets. Sometimes there is over fill, and for those moments I grab a 2-gallon bucket to store the smaller portions of grain.
My buckets have lasted 4 years now with no issues or breakages. So think of them as an investment in your food storage needs. I’ve also used these lids for storing 50 pounds each of flour and sugar going into the Holiday baking season, so they’re great for storing a whole host of things.
5-Gallon Bucket
The buckets at Azure Standard are sold without lids, you will need to purchase them separately.
5-Gallon Bucket
If you have Amazon Prime, these 5 gallon buckets have free shipping and would work well for grain storage.
2-Gallon Bucket
Azure doens’t alwayus have 2-gallon buckets on hand, so I buy mine from Amazon.
Buckets w/ Gamma Lids
There are tons of bucket and lid options on Amazon. Find the ones you like and grab them up!
Long Term Storage
If we are talking long term grain storage, there are some things to keep in mind: oxygen is your enemy and critters are an issue.
The oxidization process will kill your grain in long term storage, so there are some different tactics we would use. Instead of the gamma lids that are an easy off for short term storage, we will use regular lids that get tapped on using a mallet and left on for a long time. You might also want to invest in a lid opener because those 5 gallon bucket lids are tight on purpose and challenging to open.
Regular Lids
Regular lids get tapped on with a rubber mallet, sealing them tight. These are one-time use lids, they are cut off. Azure is currently out of this stock item, so you’ll need to get them from Amazon
5-Gallon Bucket
If you have Amazon Prime, these 5 gallon buckets have free shipping and would work well for grain storage.
Lid Wrench
If you’re using regular sealing lids, you’ll want a wrench to open them and save your fingers some pain. Don’t get a cheap plastic one, they will break.
Metal Can w/ Lid
If you are in the country with critter issues, you will need a metal can to keep them out of your grain. Most critters can and will chew through the plastic buckets to get to your grains. Investing in
Another great long term food storage option is mylar bags. These bags are light weight, keep out moisture, have oxygen barriers, and are puncture resistant. You’ll need to get oxygen absorbers sized for 5 gallon containers to help store grains long term.
5 Gallon Mylar Bags
These mylar bags have a zipper top opening for easy access.
Vacuum Seal Bags
Vacuum sealing is a great long term option as well.
Oxygen Absorbers
For long term storage, you must get oxygen absorbers. You’ll need the size 2,000CC for a 5-gallon bag/bucket.
If you have any questions about storing grain or home-milling, please reach out. I’d love to help you in your journey.