Food How do you store small packets of food

nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
As an example: the Knorr sides or Idahoan mashed potatoes. Do you store them in the packets that came in or do you re package in mylar. And then do you put the packets or mylar bags in a bucket or a tote? The small boxes of cornbread mix, do you store in the boxes or repackage?

Inquiring minds want to know,

God is good all the time

Judy
 
X

xtreme_right

Veteran Member
I keep them in a tote and make sure to rotate since they won’t last long. Because of that, I don’t keep too many on hand at once.
You could vacuum seal or use O2 absorbers and store in canning jars.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
naturallysweet said:
Leave in package. Stored in hard plastic tubs or buckets.
Click to expand...

The Knorr sides and the instant mashed potatoes are eaten fairly regularly here, so they stay in a state of rotation enough not to expire. I do put the packages in the freezer to kill off any nasties for about 2 weeks when I buy them, then store the packages in larger zip lock bags on a shelf.
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
naturallysweet said:
Leave in package. Stored in hard plastic tubs or buckets.
Click to expand...
Yep, this.

BUT... things like red beans and rice mixes thst come in cardboard boxes are a *big* risk for bringing in pests. They apparently lay eggs in the glue between the cardboard layers, and then hatch in your pantry or storage. The plastic or mylar envelopes things like the Knorr sides or potato mixes aren't glued, so are much lower risk of carrying pests.

I just put the cardboard boxes into lightweight Ziplock mylar bags and seal them. I've got some 1 gallon mylar bags thst will fit up to 6 boxes of the size product you're talking about here. All that does is limits the damage if a box is infested.

If you want, putting the boxes in the freezer for a week or so ought to kill any potential pests off...

Or, those products might be better off dumped into glass jars... I used to do that with "hamburger helper" type mixes (until I found recipes for tastier "from scratch" versions!)... I'd cut the instruction panel from the box and tape it securely on the jar.

Summerthyme

Summerthyme
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
summerthyme said:
Yep, this.

BUT... things like red beans and rice mixes thst come in cardboard boxes are a *big* risk for bringing in pests. They apparently lay eggs in the glue between the cardboard layers, and then hatch in your pantry or storage. The plastic or mylar envelopes things like the Knorr sides or potato mixes aren't glued, so are much lower risk of carrying pests.

I just put the cardboard boxes into lightweight Ziplock mylar bags and seal them. I've got some 1 gallon mylar bags thst will fit up to 6 boxes of the size product you're talking about here. All that does is limits the damage if a box is infested.

If you want, putting the boxes in the freezer for a week or so ought to kill any potential pests off...

Or, those products might be better off dumped into glass jars... I used to do that with "hamburger helper" type mixes (until I found recipes for tastier "from scratch" versions!)... I'd cut the instruction panel from the box and tape it securely on the jar.

Summerthyme

Summerthyme
Click to expand...
Have you done a thread of the from scratch mixes? Maybe I missed it.
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
I don't think so... I got them off the 'net from various places over the years. I have a 3 ring notebook that contains a recipe for "Master Mix" (basically a Bisquick clone) and dozens of recipes using it, including savory pies, "quiche", etc. And I also have various hamburger helper "clone" recipes in there. I think the beef stroganoff is the favorite around her, with the "impossible bacon pie" (or quiche) the favorite Bisquick type quick meal

(The great thing about making your own Master Mix is you can use butter, not shortening (or lard,) although you will need to refrigerate it if you do. But it keeps several weeks. And you can also replace sone of the white flour with whole wheat... as much as you like or your family will tolerate!

Summerthyme
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Thanks everyone, the thing is I don't use these products very often. I only have them to prevent food fatigue. Cooking from scratch to me is using the raw ingredients to make something. The only boxed food I used when I raised my sons was mac n cheese. I did ultimately start using canned or bottled spaghetti sauce because my was never consistent in taste and my youngest son said the store bought stuff tasted better. I've never even bought hamburger helper, I make my own.

I can remember, years ago, opening a box of cornbread mix and there were spider webs in the top of the box, I wiped them off and used the mix. I have a wonderful from scratch cornbread recipe that I used for years, but haven't used it in a good while, I don't make cornbread very often, as we are not bread eaters. And unfortunately when I do fix cornbread I eat too much., I really do like it.

The people around here eat bread of some sort at every meal. Silly me, when I move to the country 10 years ago I was shocked that people actually still eat white bread. I like Ezekiel bread myself, definitely an equired taste.

So as to the OP, it looks like I will be repackaging a bunch of things, in jars and mylar bags.

God is good all the time.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
summerthyme said:
I don't think so... I got them off the 'net from various places over the years. I have a 3 ring notebook that contains a recipe for "Master Mix" (basically a Bisquick clone) and dozens of recipes using it, including savory pies, "quiche", etc. And I also have various hamburger helper "clone" recipes in there. I think the beef stroganoff is the favorite around her, with the "impossible bacon pie" (or quiche) the favorite Bisquick type quick meal

(The great thing about making your own Master Mix is you can use butter, not shortening (or lard,) although you will need to refrigerate it if you do. But it keeps several weeks. And you can also replace sone of the white flour with whole wheat... as much as you like or your family will tolerate!

Summerthyme
Click to expand...

I have the masteer mix, its of LDS origins, my bestie made sure I had a copy, and sent me my first mix, when I got married. I need to make some up again as it makes the best short cake ever! Hmmm now I want beef stroganoff for dinner tonight, that should be easy enough since I have a lot of leather to case and then cut to size this afternoon.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
nomifyle said:
Thanks everyone, the thing is I don't use these products very often. I only have them to prevent food fatigue. Cooking from scratch to me is using the raw ingredients to make something. The only boxed food I used when I raised my sons was mac n cheese. I did ultimately start using canned or bottled spaghetti sauce because my was never consistent in taste and my youngest son said the store bought stuff tasted better. I've never even bought hamburger helper, I make my own.

I can remember, years ago, opening a box of cornbread mix and there were spider webs in the top of the box, I wiped them off and used the mix. I have a wonderful from scratch cornbread recipe that I used for years, but haven't used it in a good while, I don't make cornbread very often, as we are not bread eaters. And unfortunately when I do fix cornbread I eat too much., I really do like it.

The people around here eat bread of some sort at every meal. Silly me, when I move to the country 10 years ago I was shocked that people actually still eat white bread. I like Ezekiel bread myself, definitely an equired taste.

So as to the OP, it looks like I will be repackaging a bunch of things, in jars and mylar bags.

God is good all the time.
Click to expand...

If you're worried about it going rancid put it in the freezer.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
nomifyle said:
Thanks everyone, the thing is I don't use these products very often. I only have them to prevent food fatigue. Cooking from scratch to me is using the raw ingredients to make something. The only boxed food I used when I raised my sons was mac n cheese. I did ultimately start using canned or bottled spaghetti sauce because my was never consistent in taste and my youngest son said the store bought stuff tasted better. I've never even bought hamburger helper, I make my own.

I can remember, years ago, opening a box of cornbread mix and there were spider webs in the top of the box, I wiped them off and used the mix. I have a wonderful from scratch cornbread recipe that I used for years, but haven't used it in a good while, I don't make cornbread very often, as we are not bread eaters. And unfortunately when I do fix cornbread I eat too much., I really do like it.

The people around here eat bread of some sort at every meal. Silly me, when I move to the country 10 years ago I was shocked that people actually still eat white bread. I like Ezekiel bread myself, definitely an equired taste.

So as to the OP, it looks like I will be repackaging a bunch of things, in jars and mylar bags.

God is good all the time.
Click to expand...

I do most of my cooking from scratch. I do keep these type packages of food to add variety from time to time, especially the instant mashed potatoes. I only buy potatoes every two weeks, and sometimes I run out before my next shopping trip. I can fall back on a package of these potatoes. I also like to have these type of food items to use when I'm in a hurry, or don't feel like cooking everything from scratch. I still manage to use them, before their expiration date, because of rotation.

Cary, being half European, has to have bread of some type at every meal. He loves his bread! I was raised that way, too. I always make cornbread or biscuits from scratch. We have either one or the other every night with supper. Cary would not eat cornbread if it came from a box. His favorite homemade bread is dark pumpernickel, or German brioche.
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I too, was raised having bread at every meal. A stack of slices of white bread. It was good with butter on it, but out on my own I got away from it. Plus I switched to a more grainy bread back in the late 60's. Although nothing like a good grilled cheese on white bread, although I never seem to get it right so I don't fix them, DH cooks them great. I quit eating any thing white about 20 years ago, I've always fought my weight.

God is good all the time

Judy
 
G

Galoutofdixie

Contributing Member
A lot of the knorr or gravy mixes already come in the aluminum/mylar type bags, so I have a see through plastic over the door shoe bag thingy, on the inside door of my pantry, and put most of that type of packet things in there. Makes it really handy to store, see at a glance and rotate. Overflow stuff, or boxed mixes of stuff go into plastic totes. If it's a large box of baking mix like bisquick, it goes into a large glass jar with an oxygen absorber.
 
Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior
sorry but that food storage isn't long term - it's just re-packaging that is better protection than the retail boxes and retort bagging >>>> it's actually a loss to remove that processed cereal from that heavy waxed box bagging to a bare poly pail ....

those small buckets don't have an accomodating mylar bag and the lids aren't locking gasket compression - any use of a 02 absorber would be a waste >>> stick with the 5 gallon food grade buckets ...
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Illini Warrior said:
sorry but that food storage isn't long term - it's just re-packaging that is better protection than the retail boxes and retort bagging >>>> it's actually a loss to remove that processed cereal from that heavy waxed box bagging to a bare poly pail ....

those small buckets don't have an accomodating mylar bag and the lids aren't locking gasket compression - any use of a 02 absorber would be a waste >>> stick with the 5 gallon food grade buckets ...
Click to expand...
There is no reason the knorr sides wouldn't last an extended amount of time, its dried food, stored by taking the oxygen out of the package. Years ago I packaged hundreds of pounds of food in (new) paint cans, with a baggie and oxygen absorber. Periodically I open a can and the contents are fine. The paint can lids are extremely tight fitting. I really didn't know about mylar bags at the time.

God is good all the time

Judy
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
I put a lot of them in 5 gallon bakery buckets, they have the gasket seal. I also throw a bunch in my dry freezer, its large and doesn't work so I store dry stuff in there. My pantry is below ground so stays cool or cold most of the year. No problems ever.
Also use gallon glass and plastic jars. Got for a quarter at pizza place. They really store good. I'm still using pasta and rice and cornmeal thats been store 5 or 7 years ago with no issue at all.
 
Cag3db1rd

Cag3db1rd

Paranoid Pagan
Plastic clear shoe and boot boxes from Home Despot. The boot sized are packaged 2 boxes each. The shoe sized are 3 per pack. They have latching lids.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top