How to Organize Long Term Food Storage Containers

Label staple items with their expiration dates.

Having long-term food storage is a way to assure that food will be available for your family during times of need, or just keep staple goods at hand and organize bulk shopping purchases, though storing all that food can be cumbersome and difficult. Organizing your long-term food storage containers can help you access what you need, when you need it, keep track of rotation schedules, and provide the optimal shelf life of your foods. Whether you live in a 5,000 square foot house or a studio apartment, there is a way to organize your long-term food storage containers to optimize space and accessibility.

Things You'll Need

• Labels
• Permanent marker
• Notebook or ledger
• Sturdy shelving

Instructions

1. Apply a label to each container that prominently displays the expiration date, written in permanent marker. Your containers may vary from coffee-can sized containers, smaller cans, plastic/foil pouches or boxes. Food items not in a manufacturer's container or not in the original container are especially important to label.

2. Take stock of all the items you have as you apply the labels. Write down in a notebook or ledger what each item is, the expiration date, and how many you have. It may also be helpful to note the size and/or container style it is.

3. Divide your long-term food storage items based on food group or category. Some examples that might work for you are baking needs -- flour, sugar, salt and yeast -- fruits, vegetables, meats, beans and rice.

4. Once you have separated your food storage into different groups, store them accordingly. If you have shelf space, utilize that by grouping, and ordering them by expiration date within their group. Set up your storage area in a dry, preferably dark, room where the temperature does not fluctuate widely.

5. If you are short on space, the final step to keeping your long term food storage organized is to create spaces to store them. Some good options are under beds, behind couches (between the wall and couch), in closets, in spare drawers, pantry, or in the garage. There are numerous ways to fit long term food storage into your life and home. Avoid storing food directly on the floor, advises University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, as metal containers may rust more easily and other containers are more easily accessed by insects.

6. Add where the item is stored to your notebook or ledger so there are no surprises when you need to locate certain items.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind, optimal food storage temperatures range from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above 70 degrees for an extended period of time will diminish the shelf life of your long-term food storage.

• Rotate your items, using those that will expire the soonest first.

• Discard any item past its expiration date or that appears to have spoiled, no matter its expiration date.

References

• University of Georgia Extension; Preparing an Emergency Food Supply - Long-Term Storage; Judy Harrison, et al.; 1998