Anyone tried repacking dry cereal?

[RainyDayChick]

I'm just trying to think of ways to maintain convenience after tshtf.

My kids eat a lot of boxed cereal (high fiber, low sugar varieties) for breakfast, and we occasionally make our own granola. Has anyone ever tried repacking these using a vacuum sealer in bags or canning jars and will it extend their shelf life?

[Lowdown3]

We packed a bunch of dry cereals in 98 and 99 in #10 cans. We have used up a lot of it and it was all fine. I think we still have some Cheerios and Raisin Bran packed. I'll try to remember to pull some out and tell you know how that went.

[monkeybird]

I buy at costcos and have packaged large boxes of cereal into 6 separate vacuum bags. It was still fresh over a year later. However I was carefully not to pack anything with nuts due to the fat content. I'd be interested in the results of your 98 cereals test.

[Bearman202]

This seems like a good place to ask this one: If you are doing bulk packaging, and there's only two of you, aren't you taking a real chance of some of it going bad before you use it all? I'm thinking of the 6 gallon buckets of wheat, corn, etc. If there are only two of you using it, don't you stand a real chance of the stuff on the bottom getting moldy, or whatever, before you can use it? I'm thinking smaller containers here. Opinions?

[RainyDayChick]

I'm thinking of the 6 gallon buckets of wheat, corn, etc. If there are only two of you using it, don't you stand a real chance of the stuff on the bottom getting moldy, or whatever, before you can use it?

Using smaller containers will greatly increase your cost, but for some people it probably makes sense. For example, hefting those 6 gallon pails might be impossible for some people w/low strength.

If packed properly, red wheat is supposed to last 30 years or more. Once you open a 6 gallon bucket, I'm not sure how long it'll keep--maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in on that. And then after you grind it into flour, it goes rancid fairly quickly. One thought is that after opening a 6 gal pail, you might want to repack it in large mason jars or bags using a vacuum sealer. If a freezer is available, you can also freeze portions.

[protus]

This seems like a good place to ask this one: If you are doing bulk packaging, and there's only two of you, aren't you taking a real chance of some of it going bad before you use it all? I'm thinking of the 6 gallon buckets of wheat, corn, etc. If there are only two of you using it, don't you stand a real chance of the stuff on the bottom getting moldy, or whatever, before you can use it? I'm thinking smaller containers here. Opinions?

if it gets wet,sure it will mold. If you keep it covered( lid one, bag rolled over) the food wont spoil that fast. It would take months. Even then, if you did pop open that bucket, you'd go through it pretty fast if those components are part of your daily diet ( reason folks should learn to cook with their storage foods)

[crossbow]

everyone has to do what they feel is best for them, but it's really a waste of time,money and other things to store non whole grain products, unless they're in a freezer, they'll be rancid in 6 months. the other thing with whole grain other than being able to store them for decades is that wheat,oats, and almost everything but corn can be sprouted and the sprouts ate for a nutritious meal. I would do some serious searching and reading about everything that i've stored and not waste a dime on anything that may be rancid when I opened it., also start the kids on foods that they may have to eat just to survive.the smaller kids is sort of easy by letting them do the sprouting or working(playing) in the garden. I had a kid that hated peas til she picked some and ate them raw in the garden. older kids will want fruit loops til their belly button is touching their back bone, they're in for a rude awakening.


we open a 5 gal pail of wheat and only grind 5 pounds at one time, whole weat will go rancid fast unless you store in in the freezer. we do not reseal the open bucket, I keep telling myself that I'm to busy, but I'm really to lazy, but have had no problems with it. if we were in a high humidity area, we'd reseal them.

[Kat]

Granola was the only thing we stored that I know of and it was great. It was packed in #10 double enamel cans with oxygen absorbers. It didn't seem all that different to fresh. Maybe a slight bit drier.
After we grind our flour, we put it in the fridge so the nutrients don't spoil as fast and it stays fresher. We usually roll the mylar down in the bucket after getting the wheat, rice, etc. out and as long as we use it within 6 months it doesn't have any problems. I have never had any problems like bugs or rancidity in our quick oats. They are packed in mylar liners inside buckets. Once opened, it takes several months to go through a bucket. They are easy to make for breakfast as well.