Storage Recomendations

Storing Your Share

The surest method for storing whole grains is in a sealed, food grade container in a freezer.  Grain should be allowed to reach room temperature before milling or baking if possible. If you cannot store your grain in the freezer, the main factors to consider when choosing how to store your grains are:  oxygen, temperature, moisture, and pests. 

Flour and other processed grain is also best kept in the freezer for long term storage. Otherwise it is best to leave your grain whole and mill and refrigerate it close to when you need it, as flour goes rancid quickly at room temperature.

-Oxygen
 In order to preserve grains from oxidation, which degrades the nutritional value and taste, it is important to use airtight containers such as glass jars, food grade buckets or sealed plastic bags.  For long term storage (more than 3 months) it is best to remove the majority of the oxygen from the container itself.  This can be accomplished by vacuum sealing, dry ice, or the use of an oxygen absorber.

-Temperature
 Grain should be stored off the ground in a dry, dark location below 65 degrees F. The temperature should not fluctuate greatly in the storage location.

-Moisture
 Your grains have been dried to approximately 12% moisture, and need to be sealed in order to keep them from absorbing water.  Silica packets can be used to absorb excess moisture in the storage container. Silica is available in packets at camera shops and in bulk at craft stores. A double layered coffee filter filled with silica and tied tightly is about the right amount for a five gallon bucket. Make sure there is a barrier between your silica and the grain, such as keeping the grain in a paper bag.

-Pests
 Keeping your grain in airtight containers within a sealed container such as a food grade bucket with a lid, or a sealable metal can, will keep rodents and insects from your grain.  If you do get an infestation of grain moths, and don’t have enough room to freeze everything, freezing the grain in batches for a few days each before putting back in dry storage will stop their life cycle.