Food Storage: Food Scientist Explains How to Extend the Shelf-Life of Dry Goods

[@TheProvidentPrepper]

Food scientist, Joseph Bell, explains how storage temperature affects stored foods. A huge thanks to Joe for taking the time to share his knowledge with us! You may be interested in some of these posts and videos to learn more: Food Storage: How to Reduce the Temperature In Your Garage kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHWsfIiaZ5edoLs 8 Food Storage Enemies and How to Slay Them theprovidentprepper.org/8-food-storage-enemies-and-how-to-slay-them/ The Actual Shelf-Life of Chocolate theprovidentprepper.org/the-actual-shelf-life-of-chocolate/ Dry Bean Food Storage Myth: Actual Shelf-Life Revealed theprovidentprepper.org/dry-bean-food-storage-myth-actual-shelf-life-revealed/ Food Storage Experiment: Are 29 Year-Old White Beans Edible theprovidentprepper.org/food-storage-experiment-are-29-year-old-white-beans-edible/ Food Storage: The Actual Shelf-Life of White Flour theprovidentprepper.org/food-storage-the-actual-shelf-life-of-white-flour/ Food Storage: How to Store Wheat So It Is Still Delicious 31 Years Later theprovidentprepper.org/food-storage-how-to-store-wheat-so-it-is-still-delicious-31-years-later/ Food Storage: What Is the Actual Shelf-Life of Granulated or White Sugar theprovidentprepper.org/food-storage-what-is-the-actual-shelf-life-of-granulated-or-white-sugar/ Thanks for being part of the solution!

[@audreylopez3851]

Most people cannot store food storage in the most ideal conditions. Not all people have basements or underground space. All we can do is do the best that we can. Rotation from oldest to newest and use what you buy...and replace/rotate what you've used.

[@lostboy8084]

You can make some adjustments to your pantry area with material that modify it to be as good as a basement or root cellar.

[@audreylopez3851]

@@lostboy8084 That's kind of what I did to my dining room (because of where that room is located) i live in a tiny 860 square ft home so it's been a challenge but I'm making it work as best as possible. Only problem is, I cannot have people outside my family over because I look like a hoarder. My family understands what I'm doing and don't trust that anyone else does. Plus, i look at it like it's none of their business

[@RyanMercer]

👍 (also got a job, two weeks from today, about a 40% pay cut but a job is a job!)

[@lyndasmith8747]

Ryanmercer, Hope your job includes medical insurance. I worked jobs that were lower pay and more hours only because I needed health insurance. My philosophy is 60% of my regular paycheck is better than 100% of nothing. God bless you. You are an inspiration.

[@RyanMercer]

@@lyndasmith8747 yeah it has decent insurance just below industry pay because some companies are stuck in the 90s apparently.

[@martinj2843]

Grats m8

[@RyanMercer]

@@martinj2843 thanks!!!

[@theimperfectpantry5936]

I’m in Texas. It’s been over 105 for weeks on end. Everything is inside, but it has been a battle to keep it below 75 degrees. I have a small a/c unit in my storage room, for extra cooling, and run it when I can, but the electric company has at times increased the cost up to 60 times the normal rate during peek usage. All that to say, I think all we can do is the best we can. Thanks for the information.😀 -Natalie

[@robertedwards7749]

May I suggest you look into a dedicated Solar panel for just your cooling system in your storage/garage area. This way you wont have to have a huge cost for cooling your garage with valuable food stuff. You may even run a light or two for just the area so nothing you do in storage will be charged for your electric bill. One other thing is to build a "Root Cellar" or maybe place earth berms around your garage to help insulate that area of your home. This should drop the temp down as well as make that area of your home invasion proof.The earth berm would need to be at least 3 feet thick. But adding a Root Cellar would be your best bet if you have your own home. Just a thought, hope this helps.

[@lilblackduc7312]

It's a given fact = Your back's against the wall of heat, in Texas! In south Georgia...For years...I've been keeping select cake mixes & various chocolate in a small 'dorm' fridge at 50-degrees F. It's all good 2yrs past the "Best by" date...(Baking Chocolate & bars don't like to be stored below 50F.) The Baking Powder/Soda doesn't seem to lose it's punch.

[@elfmom52]

@@GeorgiasGarden I'm in TX as well and it has been "breathtaking" to say the least! I only run a window unit in my BR where I spend most of my time. I'm alone so no sense in spending all the money to run the one up front. It has got to 110 up there! Oh boy...just one more reason to pray over my food! I am praising God for the short rain and temp break right now!

[@lostboy8084]

I wonder if you tried clay pots filled with water near as close to the roof the evaporated water is supposed to cool down the room

[@DanielBelliveau-y5x]

Thank you , this information is quite valuable in our food storage choices for our preps.

[@lindar6151]

This was very helpful! My food is in a closet and I am always concerned that if it gets to be 80 degrees, the food will be affected. It's good to know that it will be ok but maybe just for a shorter period of time.

[@lilblackduc7312]

For years...I've been keeping select cake mixes & various chocolate in a small 'dorm' fridge at 50-degrees F. It's all good 2yrs past the "Best by" date...(Baking Chocolate & bars don't like to be stored below 50F.)

[@heatherutterback8828]

Great information! Thank you so much for educating us!

[@MichaelR58]

Good informational video, thanks for sharing, God bless

[@cm9743]

Very, very good info!!!! Thank you so much.

[@philw7174]

Thank you Jonathan, Kylene and Joe for this video. I appreciate the professional explanation for this topic. Dang, Eskimo's have it made! Happy trails!

[@shaza6547]

I'm in Australia, I have bought quite a few hybrid chest freezers that can be fridges for some of my more expensive freeze dried food and grains

[@kandismueller7716]

Thank you so much! Great information!

[@stuntman762]

Next time you should ask him how freeze dried food stored in an oxygen free environment would fare compared with regular off the shelf food. I assume food that’s free of water, light & oxygen would degrade drastically slower, even in warmer environments. Would be very interesting to hear his take.

[@jackgoldman1]

I stored beans in a five gallon pail in Florida, with the AC on 85 degrees. They went bad in two years. Same beans in Northern MN, frozen all winter, lasting fine. Must be cool. Very true.

[@ronaldmiller3619]

Live in N. Mn 70 today low 55

[@Thefriendlyveteran]

This mskes food rotation even more important. I do need to become more organized in my food storage organization, through datinh it and organizing it.

[@julesf.]

Good information. What would happen if you have things stored in a hotter environment for a period of time (6 mos to 1 yr) and then move it to a cooler or more temperate area?

[@mrsdawnfoster]

Am also curious about what you mentioned.

[@juliabrown5948]

I was also wondering this! What about food being in the HOT car for a day and then temperature controlled environment

[@JosephBell-oq7kn]

Product deterioration and nutrient losses are not reversible. Sorry if that's unpopular. If you continue to store food in extreme conditions, obviously most vitamins will deteriorate. At least, the product becomes unpalatable. At worst, it could make you sick, depending on the moisture content and water activity of the product. There's a good rule of thumb for food storage: "When in doubt, throw it out."

[@marygallagher3428]

Thank you Mr. Bell!

[@shermdog6969]

I think it depends on a lot. Seeds aren't supposed to last but a couple of years but this year i got some seeds from my grandmother that were 63 years old. I planted them just to see what would happen and i had about 10% of the seeds sprouted. I was flabbergasted. But now i have new seeds from her very old tomatoes, cucumbers and squash.

[@MispelledOnPurpose]

What a gift!

[@citygirlhomestead]

thanks for all this information

[@lilblackduc7312]

Very good! Thank you...

[@kathym2501]

I live in an apartment in Illinois. My food storage is in the tiny second bedroom and anywhere else I can find around the apartment. I hate hot so my thermostat is set at 65 in the winter. In the summer windows are open unless it's over 80 then I turn my window/wall air conditioner on. I think the worse it gets in my little room is 80. The thermometer I have in there is high on the wall and heat rises... I also have a dehumidifier in that room. So all of this is working out for me unless we have a grid down situation in the summer😬😰

[@JosephBell-oq7kn]

It sounds like you are doing your best. Be sure to let air circulate around the product, so you inhibit rust from forming.

[@kathym2501]

@@JosephBell-oq7kn Yes I keep the door to my prep room open. Dark curtains on the window. Thankfully the air conditioner blows straight across the living room towards the room.

[@JH-tj9jd]

Sounds like a good root cellar would double my storage time for my freeze dried foods.

[@debbiec6216]

what about a basement , would that be okay ???

[@JH-tj9jd]

@debbiec6216 Absolutely. Not adding a basement when my house was built 27 years ago has been my biggest build regret.

[@juliabrown5948]

​@@JH-tj9jdsame, absolutely would have added a basement if we could have back when our house was built!!

[@alibali672]

You might find the garage air temperature much higher on a high shelf compared to a low shelf. Also, the garage floor might stay at a cooler temperature.

[@darlenecarter7859]

Thank you

[@ryansoo4000]

Hello, great video. I was wondering, does the type of packaging or container the food is stored in affect the amount of time the food will last when the temperature goes up? For example, wheat berries stored in buckets, canned food, pickled or preserved food, food in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers? Are some containers or packaging better than others at resisting the aging effects of higher temperatures on food?

[@juliabrown5948]

This is helpful. I'm confused about something Jon and kyleen. You say the"shelf life is cut in half or by a third" but what does that mean?? Loses nutritional value or spoils/ goes bad? Does it get moldy, get stale, lose nutrition content....? I understand that you lose b vitamins but what happens next?

[@JosephBell-oq7kn]

The product shelf life assumes the product was stored at about 73F. Changes in temperature affects shelf life by a factor of 2 or 3. That means, if its a 20 year shelf life, and you store it at 18F higher (or 91F) then the shelf life goes from 20 years to 10 years (for a factor of 2) or 6.6 years (for a factor of 3). (20/2 = 10 and 20/3 = 6.6) The reverse is also true. If you store it at 60F (which is 73-19), then the shelf life is twice as long (or 40 years) to 3 times as long (or 60 years). There's a wide range in these factors (the 2 versus the 3) because there are many many different chemical reactions involved, and they vary in how temperate affects them.

[@silver___]

Thanks for the insight. What about dry food stored in vacuum sealed glass jars. What's the ideal storage temperature for it considering no light, and how many years with it last

[@JosephBell-oq7kn]

There is no ideal temperature. The warmer they are stored, the faster they will change. The cooler they are stored (assuming they are not frozen), the slower they will change. Shelf life estimates assume the product is stored at about 73F and 50% humidity.

[@DebbieAndrews3435]

Love learning the “why” if some things. Thank you. I would like to know why some bottles of home canned tomatoes have black crystal type things on the inside bottom of the lid.

[@JosephBell-oq7kn]

#1 - I don't know. Sorry. Try researching tomatoes in Wikipedia. That's where I would start.

[@juliabrown5948]

Another question I have for Joe is What certain nutritional deficits would we be likely to have if eating from long term food storage food and what should we plan to supplement. For example you mentioned buying b, so I'm assuming we buy vitamin b for everyone, but what about other vitamins, fiber, etc. Should we store certain things or plan to grow specific things to counter those issues??

[@JosephBell-oq7kn]

Great question. The vitamins that are the least stable (most affected by heat) are vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Riboflavin is also degraded by light. I suggest buying a bottle of vitamin supplements, wrap it in foil (to prevent light degradation) and store it in your refrigerator. Then you can assume the shelf life is twice as long as is reported on the label. With that information, estimate when it will expire and write that new expiration date on the bottle. When you eventually reach that date, replace the bottle.

[@gaslightnation2964]

Hi again y’all. Great video. I’m wondering if anyone here can recommend an additional channel that more often discusses weather conditions so different from yours. Sincerely, -Hot, Humid, & Below Sea Level on The Gulf Coast Just fyi- I watch ALL ur vids on my personal channel on tv where I can’t comment but DO 👍🏻👍🏻.

[@robertedwards7749]

A while back on your other video with Mr. Bell i asked a question about something that happened to me. You responded with good question but never answered it. I am reposting it here in hopes that you can get the answer for it. I recently opened a can of Libby's brand peas dated 2014. There was no outward sign of dents or damage and the can did have a good vacuum sound when I opened it. The sniff test was good. However, the can liner was bubbled up. I took photos and saved the can along with two other cans from the same time period that didn't have any issues with the can liner. Has anyone else ever seen anything like this? I did not eat the peas but opened a different can. Any clues of what may have happened? The can has been stored in my home the hole time and not exposed to extreme temps or conditions. I look forward to hearing what this may have been caused by or if it is a fluke.

[@TheProvidentPrepper]

Reach out to me at theprovidentprepper.org/contact-us/ and we will see if we can get that answered.

[@shannoncraig509]

I wonder if freeze dried food stored in sealed mylar bags in a chest freezer would help.

[@lightgiver7311]

WE CANNOT ALL KEEP OUR FOOD AT REGULAR TEMPERATURES.

[@bastionwolf]

Maybe not all of it but the stuff you are keeping for more than a year, you definitely can.

[@droidian]

Muy importante! Good vid kids. ty I didn't realize that colder temps can make them last longer. I keep mine in the basement, but we just went through 6 days in a row of 100 degree temps. It got up to 98 upstairs, so just a bit cooler down stairs. I'll have to separate these items from any new ones I get ... OH! also will be getting my a/c fixed. kek Edit: Humidity in my house was around 90%. Humidity would be a great subject to talk about. I've got stories ...

[@JosephBell-oq7kn]

At 90% RH, be sure to have good air flow around the product so prevent rust. Obviously, humidity has no affect on glass jars, but it can cause the metal lids to rust.

[@mrsdawnfoster]

Had stored flour doing the freeze 4 days thaw 3 days refreeze 4 then thaw they are in mylar bags. They safe through our 100+ Temps in dark place or suitcases? Plus I also have self rising corn bread ..all 5lbs packages with 500ccs stored in tote bags and ect. in dark places closets and ect. Mid and low 90s at times, are they still good? All Sealed mylar bags

[@mrsdawnfoster]

Most times it's around 90s and for a day when we out but most time mid and low 80s with bad humidity here in SW Arkansas but stored in dark places in mylar bags

[@oldschooljeremy8124]

I store my food in the house, not an uncooled garage, but heat is still an issue. It becomes a choice: do I cool my house to 72 degrees all summer and go bankrupt paying the power bill or degrade my stores by setting the thermostat at 80 to save on expensive electricity?

[@vickiebonano2092]

I freeze dried some bell peppers 6 months ago and placed them in a zip lock bag and the are no longer crispy, do i need to theow them away. I just meant to do that for a few days and stuck them on a shelf and accidentally for for to repackage them.

[@TheProvidentPrepper]

Soft doesn’t mean bad. They are no longer candidates for long term storage. Personally I’d put them in a little Tupperware, stick them in the freezer and use them in soups or beans as soon as possible.

[@elizabethduncan6418]

I have a question how would I was Stewart medications

[@wendydriggs1539]

@elizabethduncan6418, Do a search in this channel of medications . They have made a couple videos on it.

[@MispelledOnPurpose]

Any idea how long the shelf life is for home freeze dried raw eggs stored in mylar? And also if they're freeze dried cooked scrambled? I'm having a hard time finding realistic numbers.

[@paw9568]

Same as store bought freeze dried eggs, 10-25 years.

[@JosephBell-oq7kn]

I agree with the 10-25 year estimate for cooked products. I would never freeze dry raw meat, eggs or otherwise. It's too dangerous.

[@MispelledOnPurpose]

@@JosephBell-oq7kn Uh oh, well I guess I should quickly use my raw food storage. I have seen some shorter estimates for eggs which is why I asked. I know that the Provident preppers have a lot of experience with using stored ingredients for a long time so I tend to trust their and your experience.

[@Thefriendlyveteran]

Sadly I don't have the option to store my foods in a temperature controlled place. I do try and keep most of it covered and am planning to cover the windows to make it a more dark room but that is the best I will be able to do. On the upside I'm not likely to live for 20 more years. I hope the Lord returns before long anyway. Your Friendly Veteran

[@sandraburke1258]

follow the numbers its just so easy--get it?

[@studerje]

You guys need to figure out a way to mic yourselves better on Zoom calls. Your normal video audio is such high quality, but when you do these calls there is a significant decline in quality. Love you guy!

[@clifford7594]

Just buy and enjoy fresh food. Food in my home never lasts longer than a week.

[@janaslambor1844]

Vráto nenapadlo tě že to můžou být ty tvoje ztracené kuřata? Also you can try nějakou síť a hodit ji na to sklípku. Good luck in hunting 😂😂😂