Resource--Plastic Buckets for Longer-Term Food Storage

Plastic buckets may be used to store food commodities that are dry (about 10 percent moisture or less) and low in oil content.

• Only buckets made of food-grade plastic with gaskets in the lid seals should be used.
• Buckets that have held nonfood items should not be used.

To prevent insect infestation, dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) should be used to treat grains and dry beans stored in plastic buckets. Treatment methods that depend on the absence of oxygen to kill insects, such as oxygen absorbers or nitrogen gas flushing, are not effective in plastic buckets. Avoid exposing food to humid, damp conditions when packaging them.

Dry Ice Treatment Instructions

• Use approximately one ounce of dry ice per gallon (7 grams per liter) capacity of the container.  Do not use dry ice in metal containers of any kind or size because of the potential for inadequate seals or excessive buildup of pressure.  
• Wear gloves when handling dry ice.  
• Wipe frost crystals from the dry ice, using a clean dry towel.  
• Place the dry ice in the center of the container bottom. 
• Pour the grain or dry beans on top of the dry ice. Fill the bucket to within one in. (25 mm) of the top.  
• Place the lid on top of the container and snap it down only about halfway around the container.  The partially sealed lid will allow the carbon dioxide gas to escape from the bucket as the dry ice sublimates (changes from a solid to a gas).  
• Allow the dry ice to sublimate completely before sealing the bucket. Feel the bottom of the container to see if the dry ice is all gone. If the bottom of the container is very cold, dry ice is still present.  
• Monitor the bucket for a few minutes after sealing the lid. If the bucket or lid bulges, slightly lift the edge of the lid to relieve pressure.  
• It is normal for the lid of the bucket to pull down slightly as a result of the partial vacuum caused when carbon dioxide is absorbed into the product.

Storage of Plastic Buckets

• Store plastic buckets off the floor by at least ½ inch (1.3 cm) to allow air to circulate under the bucket.  
• Do not stack plastic buckets over three high. If buckets are stacked, check them periodically to ensure that the lids have not broken from the weight.

Source: ProvidentLiving.org

NOTE: Plastic buckets explanation of information change

• The absence of oxygen (nitrogen remains) kills food borne insects, but not the eggs.
• Plastic allows oxygen (gases) to pass through in small amounts over time. Oxygen absorbers cannot get oxygen level low enough to kill food borne insects. 
• Dry ice (carbon dioxide) acts like a fumigant to kill food borne insects and eggs. It kills before oxygen re-enters and carbon dioxide levels decrease in the porous plastic containers.  
• Nitrogen gas is not toxic to food borne insects eggs. The absence of oxygen prevents eggs from hatching, but once oxygen re-enters the container over time the eggs may hatch. Food kept in these containers may be lost to food borne insects over a longer period of time. Nitrogen gas flushes are not effective (especially if done at home) in killing food borne insects.  
• Commercial companies sell food-grade Mylar bags that may be used to line the plastic buckets before adding product for longer-term storage. These bags cannot be sealed with stake pouch sealers as they are a thinner material (3ml. instead of the 7ml. bags sold by the Church). These must be sealed with a household iron by placing a board on the bucket after placing 6 oxygen absorbers inside bag, fold over the excess Mylar bag, seal, check seal and replace the lid. 

Source: Bishops’ Storehouse Services —March 2008