Page 32 - The Lost Book Preserving Food Naturally
P. 32
The Lost Book of Preserving Food Naturally
In order to package foods in this manner, you will need:
• Food-grade five-gallon buckets (the food grade ones are white)
• Six-gallon aluminized Mylar bags
• Food to be stored
• 1,000 cc Oxygen absorbers
• Vacuum cleaner with hose
• Hair straightener
• Permanent marker
• Rubber mallet
Oxygen absorbers and aluminized Mylar bags can be purchased from a number of online
sources; most of which carry both of these items. While these sources will tell you that
you need different size oxygen absorbers for different types of dry foods, I have found
that using the 1,000 cc ones (basically the largest size you can get) ensures that you
always have enough. A little overkill doesn’t hurt.
These oxygen absorbers are highly sensitive and act quickly. So they need to be used
rapidly. I would recommend having at least one assistant with you when you package
food this way, giving them responsibility for the oxygen absorbers, opening the package,
putting them in the buckets and then resealing the package quickly.
Food-grade five-gallon buckets are available from the larger home-improvement
warehouses. You can also get used ones for free from your local bakery or some
restaurants. But you’ll have to clean these used ones out, before you can use them.
To store the food:
1. Open the bags and place them in the buckets
2. Fill the buckets with dry food, one type of food per bag, to about 1” from the top
of the bucket
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