James,
Some time ago mention was made on the site regarding “square buckets” [that are food grade]. I came across this deal which readers may be interested in (I have no relationship with these folks). The company is called Five Star Preparedness, in Utah. God Bless, – Bob B.
JWR:
I have searched your great site, and the Internet in general for more info on storing grain (such as wheat) inside good used food grade plastic pails.
So far I have learned that a mylar food grade bag should be used inside the [sealed HDPE plastic] pail to put the food in, And a small (thumb size) piece of dry ice should be placed on top of the food and allowed to “melt” until almost all gone, And then seal the bag for long term storage.
What I cannot find out is if the dry ice should be applied directly to the foodstuff, or onto a small piece of cardboard etc to keep the extremely low temperatures away from direct contact with the food?
I live out in the boondocks where it is very difficult to obtain actual “dry ice” However, I have been picking up used (But still charged) CO2 fire extinguishers at rummage sales, etc for years and now have plenty of that source of “dry ice” available. Can that source of dry ice be used for food storage? (Of course I would clean up the inside cone of the extinguisher, etc before use to eliminate dirt, bugs, etc.)
If that source of dry ice will work, How big of a “pile” of dry ice from an extinguisher would be about right for a 5 gallon pail of foodstuff?
Any other comments about this source of dry ice, And it’s possible uses?
Thanks again for your great web site! – K9
JWR Replies: Brief direct contact from dry ice will not harm most grains and rice, using a square of cardboard works, fine, if you want your grain to be pristine. Starting with piece of dry ice that is about one cubic inch is sufficient for a five gallon bucket. As I describe in the “Rawles Gets You Ready” family preparedness course, wait until the piece of dry ice almost completely sublimates to fill the bucket with CO2 (displacing the normal atmospheric air. The piece of dry ice should be be allowed to “melt” until it is a disc about the size of a nickel. Do not pound the lid in place with a mallet any sooner, or dangerous pressure could develop in the container.