If you are one of the smart ones and have started to obtain bulk foods, grains, cereals, etc., and have started a home food storage program, make sure you apply the following tips to ensure your food stays dry, fresh, and insect and pest free.
Whether you are canning or just storing bulk grains and cereals, be sure to use the utmost care in cleanliness. Containers must be clean and sterilized before putting any food into them. If you are using plastic buckets with lids, be sure they are food grade. After you have sterilized the containers, make sure the containers are carefully dried before putting food into them. Oxygen is what causes food to depreciate. So, it is imperative that you keep air out. In canning, this is made by ensuring you have a properly sealed lid.
It is vital to store your food at the correct temperature, and preferably in a cool, dark space. At all costs, avoid food being frozen, particularly your canned goods in glass jars. Equally important is to store your food in an area where the temperature does not go over 50 degrees for bulk foods. Ideally, your canned foods should be stored in temperatures that do not go above 70 degrees.