The majority of people keep a small stock of dry food in their pantry or kitchen cabinets. Though dry food is plainly uncomplicated to store – and, under the suitable conditions, can last on a shelf for months or even years – it is additionally true for dry goods to expire and go bad. If that transpires, you risk lower quality food and foodborne illness. Thus, it is essential 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 good thing regarding these forms of food is that they keep for a while, making it possible to purchase them at an earlier time you need to use them. Nevertheless, if you keep a stock of dry food in your pantry, kitchen, or storage room, it’s relevant to check and rotate your items repeatedly. As you possess new inventory, station them behind the older ones to be sure that you have an up-to-date stock. Be sure to write the expiration date on all containers and toss out expired items. Rotating your dry food is one of the best means to refrain from getting sick from spoiled dry foods!
Cooler is Better
Even while dry food can last a long time in favorable conditions, it can likewise spoil quickly under the wrong conditions. This applies especially if you aim 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 best temperature to store dry food is between 50 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything colder or warmer than that, and your dry goods will rot a lot faster than they should.
Drier is Better
On top of cooler temperatures, keeping dry food dry is exceedingly necessary. In humid climates, this can be a particular complication. Humidity can destroy dry food and the packaging it comes in. Cardboard and even some cans will spoil if there is too much moisture in the air. Boxes, mainly, can emerge as a breeding ground for mold and bacteria when wet.
In humid climates, storing dry food in airtight glass containers is more desirable than keeping things in bags and boxes. Although if that isn’t workable, and unless you live in a dry climate like that found in the southwestern U.S., you should utilize a dehumidifier or air conditioner to preserve your dry food stores during the more humid parts of the year.
Keep it Centered
When selecting where to keep your dry food storage, it’s important to always remember that temperatures and humidity levels can vary, even inside the same room. Take one example, temperatures differ around the outside edges of a room, near windows and doors, and up high. Exterior surfaces are more open to have condensation threats and act as an invitation to bugs or rodents.
Though you store your dry food inside your house, it’s fine to put it someplace centrally located and, if it is possible, up off the floor. Keep off areas that obtain direct sunlight or placed against an exterior wall. If you have a basement or cellar for storage, don’t shelve food along any unfinished exterior cement walls. This will support your dry food to stay dry, clean, and ready to use by the time they need to be.
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