The first criteria we need to address when looking for where to locate our food storage is what conditions are best.
What exactly are the best conditions for the space you plan to use for long term food storage? There are several, and likely these is not a complete list, but are just some of the top few things that are important when looking for the best conditions for looking for the space to store your food.
These conditions must be met for the optimum conditions for food storage:
1) No direct sunlight. No windows that shine into the area to avoid the rays from killing off vital nutrients. The rays can still shine through plastic containers, so the sunshine is to be avoided.
2) Dry. Moisture often causes spoilage. A basement with a leak or an out-building in a humid environment can cause dampness to get into the food (especially if there is any flaw in the storage container) and ruin an entire stock in a short time.
3) Temperature fluctuation to a minimum. Ideally most foods store best between 40-60 degrees F with a few able to withstand up to 70 degrees F. Either way, you don’t want to store them where the temperature fluctuates more than 30 degrees F at any given time.
4) This ties in #1 & #3 – Stay away from any heat source. Due to fluctuating temperatures of appliances turning on and off, keep foods away from freezers, a furnace, water heater, sunlight (heat and ray damage), and clothes dryers must be ventilated outside of the room in which you store your food.
Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more. Millers Grain House
