Plenty of people keeps a small stock of dry food in their pantry or kitchen cabinets. Even though dry food is really very easy and uncomplicated to store – and, under favorable conditions, can last on a shelf for months or even years – it is also plausible for dry goods to expire and go bad. If that befalls, you risk terrible quality food and foodborne illness. Precisely why, it is crucial to use these dry food storage tips to keep your stock clean, fresh, and nutritious for as long as possible.
Rotate Your Items
Dry storage areas typically store baking supplies, grains, dried beans, cereals, and canned goods. One amazing thing in regard to these classifications of food is that they keep for a while, making it possible to purchase them far in advance than when you need to use them. Although if you keep a stock of dry food in your pantry, kitchen, or storage room, it’s essential to check and rotate your items frequently. As you get new inventory, keep them behind the older ones to make sure that you use your current stock. Bear in mind to write the expiration date on all containers and put away expired items. Rotating your dry food is one of the efficient ways to keep away from getting sick from spoiled dry foods!
Cooler is Better
Though conceding dry food can last a long time in good conditions, it can equally spoil quickly under the wrong conditions. This is even more so if you try to keep your dry foods someplace that is not temperature controlled or that is too hot, even just part of the year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the perfect temperature to store dry food is between 50 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything colder or warmer than that, and your dry goods will become bad even more quickly than they should.
Drier is Better
Together with cooler temperatures, keeping dry food dry is greatly significant. In humid climates, this can be a particular problem. Humidity can spoil dry food and the packaging it comes in. Cardboard and even some cans will be damaged if there is too much moisture in the air. Boxes, especially, seem to be a breeding ground for mold and bacteria when wet.
In humid climates, storing dry food in airtight glass containers is ideal than keeping things in bags and boxes. But on the other hand, if that isn’t achievable, and unless you live in a dry climate like that found in the southwestern U.S., you will have to put into use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to keep up your dry food stores during the more humid parts of the year.
Keep it Centered
When opting for where to keep your dry food storage, it’s imperative to take into account that temperatures and humidity levels can vary, even inside the same room. For instance, temperatures differ around the outside edges of a room, near windows and doors, and up high. Exterior surfaces are very likely to have condensation issues and act as an invitation to bugs or rodents.
Even supposing you store your dry food inside your house, it’s excellent to put it someplace centrally located and, ideally, up off the floor. Stay away from places that have direct sunlight or put down various things against an exterior wall. If you use a basement or cellar for storage, don’t shelve food along any unfinished exterior cement walls. This will contribute to your dry food staying dry, clean, and ready to use when the need comes.
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