Proper Method to Store Sheaves

You can store and grind your own wheat.

Grinding your own wheat at home can be a satisfying experience; home-ground wheat is often superior in flavor and whole grain wheat is more nutritious than other wheat. It can also save you money, especially if you buy and store your own wheat. If you store your own wheat, it can save you in times of emergency. Proper storage is key to maintaining the quality of your wheat. You can store sheaves of wheat and other grains at home to assure you have plenty of wheat for grinding in the years to come, up to 25 years, if stored properly.

Instructions

1. Place 10 to 15 pounds of sheaved wheat in a clear, plastic bag approved for food storage. Remove as much air as possible and close the bag with a twist tie. Place this bag into a second bag of similar size and shape, remove the air and tie. Store the sheaves in a cool, dry, dark place. Keep the temperature below 70 degrees Fahrenheit; optimal wheat storage temperature is between 40 and 60 degrees.

2. Place the double-bagged sheaves in a clean container. This container can be metal or plastic but it should have a tightly-sealing lid. Cover the container with the lid, assuring that the lid is sealed tightly, to exclude rodents and insects and to prevent moisture buildup. If metal containers are placed on cement, moisture can accumulate in the bottom of the container. To prevent moisture buildup, place the container on pieces of wood to elevate the container above the cement.

3. Inspect each bag of wheat every month for the first three months of storage. Weevil-contaminated wheat may be re-cleaned and used immediately or treated by freezing for two to three days and then thawing for 24 hours, repeating until the insect activity ceases. If the contamination has advanced to the point that saving the wheat is unlikely, or you don't want to decontaminate the wheat, it should be discarded.

4. Rotate your wheat supply; when one container is used, replace it with a container of new wheat. Keep track of the storage date of your wheat containers to avoid storing some wheat indefinitely and replacing other wheat containers often.

References

• Utah State University: Home Storage of Wheat
• Utah State University: Making "Eat" a Part of Wheat
• Bread Experience: Home Milling Your Own Flour
• Info West: Sstoring Wheat Correctly