Storing dried food

[gunslinger]

As well as rice and various pulses I am thinking about buying a dehydrator.

So what is the best way to keep dried food and how long will it keep for??

I know this is quite a general question but any advice appreciated.

GS

 

[IdahoBackwoods]

After you dehydrate the food, you can vacuum-seal it in Mason jars (canning jars) or in heavy vacuum-seal bags.

If you do this, the food will be good for a few years, if stored in a cool, dark place.

 

[xylaria]

I just wrap dry food in grease proof paper and store it in the cupboard in the kitchen. We have a not damp central heated house. My last house was damp and had gas fires, and used to store dried food in clean dry jam jars. I have never had any problems with either but, I find some things like acorn flour or home roasted hazelnuts go funky really quickly if they aren't stored in paper. Shop bought flour and sugar in stored in paper, so I figure some things need to breathe. I have never made jerky that wasn't eaten within 2 weeks, so I can't comment on that.

 

[cariboo]

We keep dried food in 1 to 4L glass jars. When we run out of jars we use plastic freezer bags. We dry around 40 - 60 kg of fresh garden vegetables for the winter every year, all dried in drying sheds. One shed is heated and is used in wet weather.

For dried meat we put a paper bag inside a plastic bag. Moose and deer mostly. We've kept meat this way for close to 2 years. By then it's all been eaten so I don't know if it would keep longer.

We talk about it in one of our blogs.
http://aki-and-scott-fireweed.blogspot.com/

Scott
http://www.caribooblades.com

 

[British Red]

If you pack in an oxygen barrier, sealed container some items will last indefinitely (sugar, salt etc.). Grains and beans (dried) can last a decade.

Care, preparation and a good storage medium are the key

Red

 

[rik_uk3]

Salt and sugar will last decades or longer, just keep bugs and rodents off them, freeze dried coffee should also last many years until you break the seal.

I've got a large can of freeze dried pork chops coming over from the States, if and when I open it I'll post some pictures

Home canning and drying is still very popular in the States, its worth spending a little time on google and looking at some sites and forums. I know Red is into preserving home food, but overall the Americans know a lot more than most of us so go and take a look, I've learned a lot of theory and I'll practise more when time and circumstances permit.

 

[javi]

Get the dehydrator!! I have one and use it quite a lot to make beef jerky, dried fruits, granola/ crunchy stuff - fantastic. I got a load of click n clip type plastic containers which seem to be more or less airtight - haven't had anything go off yet. I keep meaning to try drying out something like a pasta & tuna tomato sauce so that I can try rehydrating and cooking it out and about but haven't done it yet...