How To Store Whole Grains

This blog posts details ways to store whole grains at home.

INTRODUCTION

So now that you have bought some whole grains, perhaps some wheat berries, how do you properly store them?

Keep in mind that, with the exception of brown rice that can go rancid within about six months, whole grains can remain fresh in your pantry for a couple of years with minimal effort.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

I. Keep Them in a Cool, Dark, Dry Environment

Cool (optimally 62 to 68 degrees Farenheit, 16 to 20 degrees Celsius), dark and dry will prevent the grain from sprouting which would then lead to spoilage of the grain.

II. Keep Them Free of Insect Infestations

Insect infestations can happen over time as there could be insect eggs such a weevils lodged in the grain. 

With the right temperature conditions (typically a cycle of cold and then warm temperatures which mimics seasonal changes), the eggs could hatch. 

If the grains are stored in an environment where oxygen is present, the insects will thrive. 

If there is no oxygen, the insects will die. 

This type of scenario is more likely to occur with grains that are not clean or have been kept in sub optimal storage for a few years.

III. Keep Them Away from Rodents

Grains are a desirable source of food for rodents and if precautions are not taken, they could devour your grains and spoil any remaining grains with their infectious droppings.

IV. Keep Them Airtight

The presence of air (oxygen) will cause oils in the grain to oxidize. 

Oxidation will happen more quickly for brown rice (within around 6 months) but can happen to other whole grains as well over several years.

V. Rotate Your Stock

Generally speaking, a great approach to consuming whole grains at their best is to rotate your stock.

A simple way to keep track is to label each container with the type of whole grain it is as well as the month/year it was purchased.

Use up the oldest grains first.

SHORT TERM STORAGE OPTIONS

Included in this section are the simplest options available depending on the quantities of grains you wish to store.

I. Glass Mason Jars

In general, I have found that the easiest, most affordable way to store whole grains, especially when starting out, is in glass mason jars.

Based on over five years of storing whole grains, I would recommend sticking to one standard glass jar size, preferably the Ball half gallon wide mouth mason jar.

Pros

• Glass jars are bug proof:  bugs can’t get in – and if for some reason the grains were already contaminated with weevils for instance – the bugs can’t get out and will die soon after hatching.
• Since you can easily see what is in the glass container – it is easy to contain any infestation.
• Glass jars are rodent proof: rodents cannot chew through glass or metal.
• Glass jars are reusable.
• Glass jars with metal lids are airtight and they can be vacuum sealed to extend the grain shelf life.
• A half gallon mason jar will hold around three and a half pounds of whole grains – a manageable weight for most people to carry.
• Glass jars are reasonably priced. You can find them for under $20 per six pack in physical stores such as Tractor Supply  as well as at Ace Hardware. They can also be found online at Amazon but at a higher cost because of shipping.
• You can optimize the amount of space used when using the same standard sized jars by adjusting shelving to fit just above the jars.
• You don’t have to constantly be looking to match jar lids as they are all the same size.

Cons

• Glass jars are breakable which could be a concern if living in an earthquake prone area.
• Because glass jars are clear, you will need to find a dark place to store them or cover them for optimal shelf life.

II. Food Grade Plastic 5 Gallon Buckets

If you are purchasing more than 50 pounds of grain at a time, storing the grains in glass jars may not be a viable option – you may not have enough pantry space or may not want to spend large sums upfront on glass storage.

In that case, the next most affordable home option is the food grade 5 gallon bucket.

Pros

• A 5 gallon bucket can hold about 35 pounds of whole grains. 
• The bucket offers a clean, dry, dark environment for storing grains.
• Affordable. If you have one in your area, a lower priced option is from Tractor Supply where a bucket with a simple lid will cost under $10. Amazon has a reasonably priced option as well if you decide to get 5 buckets at a time. 

Cons

• If you want to scale up to using a screw top gamma lid which is much easier to open and close, one lid alone can cost more than $10.
• When using plastic pails, it is important to keep them elevated because if the pails are stored directly on concrete, over time, they can absorb chemicals from the ground which could be damaging to your grains.
• The heavy duty plastic is not considered fully rodent proof but rather rodent resistant.
• Because plastic is not completely airtight, insects could potentially hatch and survive within the pails over time.
• Because plastic is not completely airtight, the grains can oxidize over several years thereby losing some nutritional value.

LONG TERM STORAGE OPTIONS

If you are aiming to keep grains for anywhere from 2 years to 20 years or more, there are additional steps to consider.

Freezing, Diatomaceous Earth and dry ice can be used to prevent long term insect infestations.

Using oxygen absorbers (in glass jars or with Mylar bags) or vacuum sealing will prevent both long term insect infestations and oxidation.

Below provides overview of each option with its pros and cons.

I. Freezing

Method

• Freeze and thaw the grains in bags up to 15 pounds or in airtight plastic bottles for a couple of freezing cycles prior to placing in containers to kill insects at all stages of growth.

Pros

• No additional items to purchase.

Cons

• Condensation needs to be managed well by slowly bringing grains to ambient temperature otherwise grains will dampen which could lead to spoilage
• Depending on quantities of grains, this may be very time consuming
• This method is not precise as it may take more than a couple of freezing cycles to eliminate all types of insects..

II. Diatomaceous Earth

Method

• Blend in some food grade diatomaceous earth (DE)  at the rate of ½ cup of DE per 25 pounds of whole grains. More details.

Pros

• Consuming food grade DE is touted to have some health benefits as well.

Cons

• DE only kills adult insects.
• One needs to be careful to not breathe the abrasive powder.

III. Dry Ice

Method

• Fill 5 gallon bucket one quarter full with grains. 
• Add 3 oz of crushed dry ice (carbon dioxide). 
• Fill up the rest of pail with grains. 
• Place lid over pail but wait about 30 minutes to seal tight. More details.
• An interesting video on this process can be seen here starting at minute 24.

Pros

• Dry ice is relatively cheap.

Cons

• It’s an additional expense and it only kills adults and larval insects, not the eggs or pupae
• One needs to be careful to work with dry ice in a well ventilated space as carbon dioxide is deadly in large quantities.
• DO NOT USE WITH GLASS JARS AS THEY CAN EXPLODE.
• Dry ice must be handled with gloves as it can burn skin.

IV. Oxygen Absorbers

Method

• Place oxygen absorbers in glass jars. More details. 

Pros

• Relatively low cost option

Cons

• Oxygen absorbers are not reusable.

V. Mylar Bags with Oxygen Absorbers

Method

• Place Mylar bag in plastic pail. 
• Pour grains in Mylar bag and top with oxygen absorbers prior to sealing the bag with sealing tool.

Pros

• Grains can last up to 30 years.

Cons

• One needs to buy both Mylar bags and a sealing tool which are additional expenses

VI. Vacuum Sealing

Method

• Grains can be vacuum sealed directly in glass jars or in special purpose bags prior to be being stored in pails.

Pros

• Vacuum sealing removes oxygen and therefore hatched insects will not survive
• Vacuum sealing is sustainable as bags can be reused and glass jars can be resealed.

Cons

• It’s an additional up front expense to get the electric vacuum sealing equipment or manual vacuum sealer.

SUMMARY

The above gave you a summary of the most practical home grain storage options with their pros and cons.

If you are just starting out with less than 50 pounds of grains and intend to consume  your whole grains within a year, I highly recommend simply using Ball half gallon mason jars as discussed here.

As long as you rotate your grains, you should be able to enjoy delicious, fresh whole grains with minimal issues.

It is my hope this information will help you get started confidently on your whole grain journey.

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