storing beans and grains in soda bottles

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I remember someone saying that they use soda bottles to store beans and grains and seal them with a vaccum sealer. I am sorry that I don't remember who posted this. Just wanted to know exactly how you do this. Do you use a manual sealer - pump-n-seal? Does the seal really hold over time?

Thanks!!

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[A.T.Hagan]

You can use a pump-n-seal on soda bottle lids, but better still would be oxygen absorbers. They won't put quite so hard a pull on the plastic and will remove even more oxygen.

I discuss oxygen absorbers, vacuum sealing, and soda bottles in the food storage FAQ along with many other forms of long-term storage.

There is also info on using plastic soda bottles on the LDS Provident Living site at www.providentliving.org if you look in the food storage area.

.....Alan.

 

[nannygoat]

All I did for 98 /99 is fill the bottles with corn or beans or rice and shake them down and tried to get more and more in the bottles until I could get no more in the bottles - then I put them in the freezer for at least 24 hrs - tried to do most for 2 days - since we are moving I am using all the grains and beans [ have some goats that think pinto beans are wonderful ] have had none go bad - have had none get bugs but the beans are harder than fresh - friend put them in pressure cooker and ok and I have thought about grinding them and also turning them into refried beans - the rice was fine for eating but the dogs are getting alot now since have to use up quite alot in the next two months - they think it is great -

I guess what I am trying to say is that I plan to do the same thing again when we get established again - the key is to freeze the stuff for sure - did the same with cake mixes and rice and noodle mixes also and nothing that I freeze treated and then put in plastic bins went bad - with this low carb diet will have to last longer to I guess <g>
easy no fuss way to save beans/corn/rice - good luck

 

[spinner]

Thank you both for your responses.

I keep my grains and beans in the freezer when I have the space, everything gets frozen before it is stored on the shelf. The reason that I specifically asked about the soda bottles is that I can get them from my sister. I do not drink soda so never investigated this before. I have been using canning jars and other food jars with the pump-n-seal, but right now I need my jars for canning.

My situation is such that I cannot afford anything that is not an absolute necessity so oxygen absorbers are not in the budget right now.

Thanks again for your help.

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[A.T.Hagan]

If you'll be doing ordinary beans (no soybeans, peanuts, or split peas) and most grains (such as whole kernel wheat, whole kernel corn, white rice, and so on) then just do what Nannygoat outlined above. No vacuum sealing or absorbers necessary for them to keep for many years at any decent storage temperature. Fill the bottles, seal tightly, then freeze at zero degrees for a day or two and you're good to go.

Freeze treating works well if you do it right. I cover that in the FAQ as well. It's free to read or download.

.....Alan.

 

[summerthyme]

I agree with Alan and Nannygoat said. Don't worry about special processing- except for the high oil content beans (like Alan already mentioned). Brown rice is the only rice I'd worry about keeping for long- even if you DO vacuum seal it.

I hear you on not spending any cash.... good idea even if things aren't extremely tight at the moment. It gets to be a habit- and not that bad of one, unless it's taken to extremes! <g>

I prefer 2 quart juice bottles for small size "free" storage containers, because they have wider mouths. We don't drink soda ever, either, but we do drink juice. And I think I've stored enough water so that I either have to find new uses for the empty juice bottles, or new homes for them....

Summerthyme

 

[Para36]

I was glad to read the above posts as I store a considerable amount of beans, seeds and some grains in tightly sealed glass and pete plastic containers I have recycled and which I do not vacuum seal. Mine are mostly approx. 1-3 liter spaghetti sauce jars ( we go through a lot ) and 2-3 liter juice containers. Except for some wheat I got in bulk I have always gotten the popcorn, lintels, bl eyed peas, pinto-kidney-grt northern etc beans, barley from Walmart or Tops- on sale and have never had an insect/ pest problem. I assume the freeze treatment is solely to kill any pests and since I havent had a problem when getting these items from a grocery supplier I dont bother with the freeze treatment.

I did encounter a major moth infestation once ordering some seeds for sprouting from a mail order supplier. That's back I first was learning about all this. It's just as easy now getting these seeds locally and even cheaper.

As to fortified white rice, I have some 50 lb bags that I have left in the original plastic bags that are going on 3 years old. I keep checking the oldest for any problems and havent seen any ( yet ). But at $ 7.95/ 50 lb from BJ's I couldn't pass it up.
Para.