Fresh Preserving Discussion Boards

I just returned from the large chain grocery store and was surprised to see empty shelves for rice and flour. I live on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Is this happening in your community too? Is any one storing an extra bag of flour for the future? Does it keep in the freezer for very long?

Sorry, I guess you have not been watching the news or following all the information on the internet. Yes, worldwide shortage, rising prices, and stuff like that and not expected to end for several years at least.

Actually stockpiling at least a year's worth of groceries and other necessities, including water, is encouraged. I've been doing it for a little over a year (when I realized what was happening) and others have been doing it for a longer period.

The LDS (Mormon) church has quite a bit of information on the subject of long-term storage.
http://www.providentliving.org/

You can also do a Google search for Food Storage and also about Frugal Living. There are several other Message Boards that discuss this topic daily.

To answer your last question, yes, freezing flour is the best thing to do and it will last for years if you vacuum-seal or double-bag in freezer quality bags.

Yes, you can store flour and sugar in your freezer. It is best to put the paper sacks into plastic zipper bags if it is for longer than a few months because there is some amount of moisture. It doesn't effect the flour but the sugar can harden slightly. If that isn't a problem for you (and you are more environmentally sound), forgoe the plastic. These staples are cheapest right before the winter holidays, and I usually buy an extra bag every trip so I'm not buying 8 or 9 at a time. It keeps me in flour and sugar (and baking powder, baking soda, & corn meal) all year long.

Rice is better to buy in bulk and store up on a shelf - a less-humid spot is best. Try a 25 pound bag or so. You can find them at big box stores, some mom & pop grocery stores, and ethnic grocers.

And the world-wide food shortage (and limits put on by bulk purchases from Sams, Walmart, & Cosco recently) were to keep restaraunts from purchasing large quantities in anticipation of the jump in prices this summer. The largest staples impacted are corn and rice. It is a big news story in some areas, but a small line item in others so I can understand if you saw the impact before you heard about it.

Hi Great EB: welcome. thanks for the helpful tips for storage. Yes, it was a big surprise to see the empty shelves of rice even though I thought I was on top of the issues, I read and saw the news on TV. A real eye-opener. My neighbours are all talking about it now. I managed to get some rice and 2 bags of flour. I will do as u suggested for storing them. Thanks again.

ALWAYS FREEZE ANYTHING YOU PLAN TO DRY STORE for AT LEAST THREE DAYS TO KILL CRITTERS. Rice, beans, flour, wheat berries, grits (NOT SUGAR, unless you want a concrete BLOCK when you are done)....Even if you are going to store it in your pantry for everyday use in "airtight" Tupperware, sometimes a "BLOOM" of DISgusting little bugs that crawled into your bag in the warehouse and can happen INSIDE the container. If you buy a #50 bag of rice or wheat, it will be HUGE, so freeze it in batches, if you must. BUT DO FREEZE IT BEFORE YOU STORE IT.

The tips about LDS folks knowing their stuff is TRUE. They are WAY ahead of the rest of us.

ALSO---Check out this guy's archives on food storage. Ignore the stuff that will scare you (though I think he is 95% SPOT ON), if you need to, but he knows his stuff on food storage.... http://www.survivalblog.com His blog archives suggest suppliers of food grade buckets and storage needs as well as charts that help you cycle what you have stored.

MAKE SURE that if you decide to LONG TERM (up to three years on the OUTSIDE) you use FOOD GRADE BUCKETS and oxygen absorbers with mylar bags inside the food grade buckets (marked NSF). DO NOT buy plain buckets from WalMart, or somehwere. The mold releasing agents that are used on these "paint grade" buckets are NOT FOOD SAFE with ANY amount of washing.

Pardon my caps...its a crutch....I am not shouting, but I am too lazy to italicize... heehee.

I have wheat berries I buy in bulk at the health food store. I bought a grinder at http://www.lehmans.com/. I grind my own flour as I need it. To keep it this way in an air tight container it lt lasts forever. Keep it out of the sun. Flour is the most healthiest when ground before use. I have done business with this company for a long time. They have been very honest. I just have a cast iron grinder that secures onto the counter. It isn't difficult. I usually run it through the grinder twice to get my prefered texture. I buy jasmine rice. I either buy it at a local asian store, Costco wholesale, or a healthfood store... Hope this helps.

I feel foolish, but am asking anyway. I can make my own flour from wheat berries? I just grind to the desired consistency?

Yes, you can make your own flour from wheat berries. However, it will not be white flour ... it will be whole wheat flour. Depending on the type of wheat berries, it will have more or less gluten for baking.

Hi Leeska,

I'm baaaaack!!!!!!

Jerry