HOW TO STORE my WHEAT!!!!

[LBMarie9]

just bought 12 50lb bags of wheat from Lehi Roller Mills...don't have a clue how best to store it---we are in a condo and have a garage---not the ideal storing environment!

I am scared silly I will spoil this wheat---I use it a lot in cooking- but need to save some for LONG time storage----

I asked the lady there and she said they say NOT to put those oxygen packets in them because their wheat then won't Germate which I think means sprout- which I would want my wheat to be able to do that in emergency for better protein etc! HELP- everyone share your knowledg.

we also don't have much space to store it but I decided it was worth teh sacrifice and we're gonna make it work--are those bucketsthe best thing? do I need the expensive gamma lids on all of them?

also- the wheat I am cooking out of---do I need to seal it inbetween EVERY use? (I haven't beenbut it's in a clean closet area)

SHARE your knowledge people! thanks!

[katiekat]

This info is probably too late for you- but Lehi Roller Mills has a wheat storage program where you buy your wheat and they will store it FOR you!! You can go and get it when ever you want- as flour or as wheat and it will always be fresh- no need to worry about rotating it. I have some wheat at my house and some with them- it is fabulous!

As for storing all that wheat you've got- air tight 5 gallon buckets work really well. No, you do not need the gamma seal lids on all the buckets- those lids are really just to make it easier to get into the bucket- so you only need one on the bucket you are currently taking wheat from. But- if you are using it regularly- you don't need that bucket to be airtight. The closet is just fine. My SIL has all of hers under her beds. We joke that she has wheat bed frames! The garage would not be the best place in the summer- but would be fine in the winter. When we lived in New Mexico though, my mom had no other place for food storage and used our garage- everything survived just fine. Heat and cold are not as big of problems as air and bugs and moisture- keep those out and it will be fine for a long time- no matter where it is. If you want to put it into smaller containers, like #10 cans, you could probably fit those in lots of places- under couches and chairs, etc.

[Tressa]

If you have your wheat sealing in an airtight container I think that you do need the oxygen packet thing. I had some wheat sitting in my really well sealed container on my counter. I didn't make bread over the summer (too hot to turn the oven on!). Then suddenly about 2 weeks before I started making bread again my container shattered in the middle of the night. The only thing I can think of is that it built up some gas and eventually exploded.

[s275hv]

Mine is in buckets. I "helped" my grandma rotate her 30 year wheat, it was just in buckets and worked fine. The fresher wheat does rise better for bread. I think as long as it keeps out bugs and moisture you are in good shape. The buckets for me are by farthe easiest way to go. I too wouldn't use the oxygen packets because I want to be able to sprout my wheat should I need to. I keep mine in the basement now, but when we had apartments I kept it in the bottom of th coat closet, and in the bedroom closets with out a problem.

" If you have your wheat sealing in an airtight container I think that you do need the oxygen packet thing. I had some wheat sitting in my really well sealed container on my counter. I didn't make bread over the summer (too hot to turn the oven on!). Then suddenly about 2 weeks before I started making bread again my container shattered in the middle of the night. The only thing I can think of is that it built up some gas and eventually exploded."
Tressa, your story is nuts! That would have scared me to death! I would maybe ask around and see if anyone could tell you why that happened. I know Kitchen Kneads in West Jordan has seemed pretty knowledgeable!

Good Luck!

[AmyZC]

I am leaving my wheat in the bags for now because I plan to use it up within the next couple of years. When buckets go on sale at Macey's I'll buy a few and store some of my wheat in the buckets. I do have my bags of wheat up off the floor. I'm mainly worried about spiders and mice getting into it in the short term. (Not that we've ever had mice in the house, but you never know!)

[LBMarie9]

any experts out there? I'm getting mixed advice (thank you bTW) I hear both sides and am so scared to ruin my wheat!

[jennytee]

I don't know if this will ruin the sprout, but I thought I would share what I've been told to do. If you are putting the grain in buckets, (which if you are storing for long term you will need to do) you put an about 3 inches in the bottom then you put dry ice in, and then you put the rest of the grain and put the lid on. This will kill any bugs that you have. Then you put backing tape around the rime of the lid. This helps to keep any unwanted visitors out. Does anyone know if this would kill germination as well? I also have 9 bags that I need to put up and I have been told to do this by two seasoned food storage storers.

[fanofvintage]

Call the Utah State Extension service and you will get the correct answer to your storage questions!

[LBMarie9]

do you have their number?

[fanofvintage]

do you have their number?

Try this web site for your local extension office:

http://extension.usu.edu/htm/counties

[Mommasue]

Let us know what you find out. I'm picking up wheat soon from the Roller Mills and would love to hear what you learn.

[MommaDonna]

I am leaving my wheat in the bags for now because I plan to use it up within the next couple of years. When buckets go on sale at Macey's I'll buy a few and store some of my wheat in the buckets. I do have my bags of wheat up off the floor. I'm mainly worried about spiders and mice getting into it in the short term. (Not that we've ever had mice in the house, but you never know!)

Before you buy buckets - check with Albertson's or any other grocery stores that use frosting in the bakery. The frosting comes in 4 - 5 gallon plastic buckets and most stores will save these for you and you can pick them up for free. They work great for storage and don't "flavor" the wheat, flour, or whatever you choose to store in them.

[LBMarie9]

haha thank you---unfortunately I need to get buckets tomorrow---my nephew spilled water by all my wheat bags and a couple wripped open---well atleast it will make me get them out of my kitchen faster

[LBMarie9]

I called and the lady told me to put 2 oz of Dry ice at the bottom and add wheat and let it sit for 30 min + and then cover with lid (if bulging it needs more time to sit) she says this will keep bugs out and the Wheat will still be able to sprout (or Germate?!) I am a little worried though---what if it won't sprout? has anyone done this and tried to sprout your wheat?

[fanofvintage]

I called and the lady told me to put 2 oz of Dry ice at the bottom and add wheat and let it sit for 30 min + and then cover with lid (if bulging it needs more time to sit) she says this will keep bugs out and the Wheat will still be able to sprout (or Germate?!) I am a little worried though---what if it won't sprout? has anyone done this and tried to sprout your wheat?

All that you are doing is freezing the kernals to kill any bugs. If extension service says that you can sprout it afterwards, I'd be confident that you can.