There is a lot of controversy on whether or not the HD buckets are made from food grade plastic. I have never read definitive information that they are not (please post it up if you have). Thus far everything has been claiming proof by a lack of food grade certification. here is my understanding of this debate:
1. The buckets are marked (HDPE 2) with the same plastic rating that food grade buckets are.
2. Not all buckets with the HDPE 2 marking are "foodgrade."
3. However the buckets are not certified "food grade".
4. Any color bucket can be food grade, except for black.
Conclusion: So while the aren't certified food grade, they very well could be food grade buckets, just not certified because the buyers don't care to pay extra for a certification based on their end use.
I personally think you would be fine with them, and would avoid using them for transfer of hot liquids (though I have done that myself from time to time
)
So you decide on how you want to use them. A HD bucket holds just under half a bag of grain depending on what it is. Half a bag of heavier (per piece) grains like wheat and rye will easily fit in a HD bucket
Those gamma lids are pretty cool. But I already invested in the doggy bins
. I ahve considered getting some airtight containers for the specialty grains, but twisting up the bags and tossing them in the doggy bins works really well, and it is free!
The great thing about the grain buy is that you generally will save at least 3 times the cost of grain sold in a LHBS or online. So if you were to use 1/3 of the grain you buy and the rest went bad due to your own poor storage, you would still be paying regular price.