after opening 5 gallon buckets...

CJ · #1 02/26/08, 03:12 PM

About how long (I'm speaking of wheat berries, beans, oatmeal, rice, etc) is the food good for? Do you reseal the Mylar each time?

#2 02/26/08, 03:26 PM

The lids of any decent food storage bucket will tightly reseal if you don't damage them the first time (you do have a lid wrench, right?). If you're not going to be getting into the bucket very often then simply pound the lid back on. A lot of us use Gamma Seal lids for anything that has been opened and is in current use. Take the old lid off, hammer the Gamma Seal on with a rubber mallet or a board laid over the top that you hammer on. The center screws out so you can get at the contents then screws back on.

As for how long stuff will keep providing it's not terribly hot and/or humid in your kitchen most stuff that is kept in buckets will keep at least a year, maybe several, after they've been opened. The most important thing is not to let them soak up humidity and not to allow weevil infestations to get started.

.....Alan.

CJ · #3 02/26/08, 04:22 PM

Thanks Alan, I already decided I'd get gamma seals, thank for that info, that's exactly what I wanted to know.

tomstractormag · #4 02/26/08, 05:08 PM

Whats a gamma seal?
Tom

**ladycat** · #5 02/26/08, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomstractormag

Whats a gamma seal?
Tom

I was about to ask that, too.

CJ · #6 02/26/08, 06:10 PM

Gamma Seal Lids

Cyngbaeld · #7 02/26/08, 06:29 PM

Those gamma seals are really great to have. They turn your bucket into a large canister. I would love to have a few more of them. When the bucket with the seal is empty, I refill that bucket from a bag or another container and don't try to move the seal from one to another.

Save the mylar bag. Wash them out and dry well. They can be refilled and sealed with an iron.

**ladycat** · #8 02/26/08, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ

Gamma Seal Lids

Those look GREAT! I can't pay that much, though.

unregistered29228 · #9 02/26/08, 07:43 PM

Here are a few cheaper sites, although I haven't tried any of them:

$6.39:
http://www.aaoobfoods.com/foodpacksupplies.htm

$6.89:
https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/e...a_seal_lid.htm

$6.24:
http://freckleface.com/shopsite_sc/s...ammaseals.html

#10 02/26/08, 07:53 PM

Keep in mind you don't need Gamma Seals for every bucket, just the ones that you have opened and are using the contents of. All the rest use ordinary bucket lids. Once you open a bucket put a Gamma Seal on it until you've emptied it then take it off and put it on the next bucket you open. I bought a half-dozen and only have four in use at the moment. All the rest of my buckets have regular lids.

.....Alan.

Amylb999 · #11 02/27/08, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladycat

Those look GREAT! I can't pay that much, though.

I second that. I have wanted to get some gamma seals for a long time but I just can't bring myself to spend more than I did on the buckets w/ lids. I am glad I have a lid wrench though,,without it those buckets would be thrown out the window,,lol.

Cyngbaeld · #12 02/27/08, 08:46 AM

Just once, not getting the regular lid closed because you "plan to get back into the bucket real soon" and forgetting about it, can lose the contents of the bucket to insects and/or mice. The seals are an investment. I have some that I've been using for about 8 yrs and they are in as good condition as when I bought them.

teresab · #13 02/27/08, 09:56 AM

Gamma seals are great! Once you get one you would never go back to doing without one.

Mutti · #14 02/27/08, 10:48 AM

And the Gamma seals come in good colors...we have brown on the wheat and yellow on the corn,for instance! And they indicate the current buckets we are using. And the best part is you can actually open them! Some things are just plain worth the price...everytime I make an order I'll order one; have gotten them on sale before,too so watch...this was at beprepared.com. DEE