Best container you have found for specialty grains?

[skibb]

I'm just curious but what containers do you all use to hold your specialty grains? I'm looking for something pretty cheap but airtight - I have 50 gallon drums that work great for my bulk grains but I need something smaller for these ones. I'm only looking to have 2-3 LB of these grains on hand at a time.

 

[Strngcheez]

I use Cambro food storage containers with lids. You can find them at any restaurant supply store or maybe Sam's Club. They work great.

 

[Dos_Locos_Brewery]

The obvious question is, if you're storing such small quantities of specialty grains, why not just get them from the brewshop the day before?

If you live far from a brewshop, I think those small size rubbermaid/tupperware containers work well. You can keep the grains in vacu-seal bags inside those, and they should be safe.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I use Zip-Locks and tuck them all into a Vittles Vault with a Gamma seal lid.

 

[dfohio]

I use 1 qt mason jars for all of my specialty grains.
Here is why...

Cost less than a buck a piece if you buy them new.
Easily hold a pound each.
Don't pickup odor and are easy to clean.
Last forever as long as you don't drop them.
Very easy to organize types of grain
Can be used for canning if you ever stop using them for grain.
They can be Vacuum sealed and reopened infinite times.

I vacuum seal all the jars. The grain stays fresh and its nice to pop a lid off, grab 2 ounces of something then seal that jar right back up. No smell ever leaks out, no air or moisture ever gets in.

I guess the only downside is having 30+ pounds of specialties and having to front the money for all the jars. I collected most of mine over a period of time.

 

[Synovia]

They also make half gallon mason jars, for about $1.50 a piece, which should hold about 2 lbs.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SMYZ1U/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[dfohio]

They also make half gallon mason jars, for about $1.50 a piece, which should hold about 2 lbs.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SMYZ1U/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Yep, in fact ace hardware has them for $10.50 and they will deliver to your local store for free.

I do prefer the quart jars over the half gallon jars though. Easier to manage I guess...

 

[Lmuggs]

I vacuum seal all the jars. The grain stays fresh and its nice to pop a lid off, grab 2 ounces of something then seal that jar right back up. No smell ever leaks out, no air or moisture ever gets in.

What process are you using to reseal them?

 

[weirdboy]

What process are you using to reseal them?

Probably a foodsaver. Lots of people on HBT have them, myself included.


However for grain storage I don't use glass jars. Instead I use airtight tupperware-ish square containers with lids that have a rubber gasket lining them and snap down over the container. I use the same type of container to store my bulk flour.

 

[kuphish]

I use 1 qt mason jars for all of my specialty grains.
Here is why...

Cost less than a buck a piece if you buy them new.
Easily hold a pound each.
Don't pickup odor and are easy to clean.
Last forever as long as you don't drop them.
Very easy to organize types of grain
Can be used for canning if you ever stop using them for grain.
They can be Vacuum sealed and reopened infinite times.

I vacuum seal all the jars. The grain stays fresh and its nice to pop a lid off, grab 2 ounces of something then seal that jar right back up. No smell ever leaks out, no air or moisture ever gets in.

I guess the only downside is having 30+ pounds of specialties and having to front the money for all the jars. I collected most of mine over a period of time.

This is my preferred method as well, for all the reasons stated.

 

[Synovia]

Yep, in fact ace hardware has them for $10.50 and they will deliver to your local store for free.

I do prefer the quart jars over the half gallon jars though. Easier to manage I guess...

I don't have any 1/2 gallon ones, all quart jars for me. 12 jars for $8.50 at the local Menards.

 

[dfohio]

What process are you using to reseal them?

I actually use a brake bleeder with a mason jar sealer attachment from food saver to seal the jars.

You should be able to search the forum to find some information on it. Some others who have caught on to the idea and have talked about it.
Or go to the site where I got the idea from http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Alvin-Vacuum-Sealer/

 

[Synovia]

I bought a cheap $7 battery operated hand sealer from Menards. Its been working fine for 6 months at this point, and it runs fine on rechargeable batteries.

 

[johnnyc]

Until I build up my supply of mason jars I'm using containers from the kitchen. When our OJ ran out I put the bottle through the dishwasher and it holds about 1 1/2 lbs. A mayo jar holds about an lb. Eventually mason jars but these are free.

 

[humann_brewing]

I use 1 qt mason jars for all of my specialty grains.
Here is why...

Cost less than a buck a piece if you buy them new.
Easily hold a pound each.
Don't pickup odor and are easy to clean.
Last forever as long as you don't drop them.
Very easy to organize types of grain
Can be used for canning if you ever stop using them for grain.
They can be Vacuum sealed and reopened infinite times.

I vacuum seal all the jars. The grain stays fresh and its nice to pop a lid off, grab 2 ounces of something then seal that jar right back up. No smell ever leaks out, no air or moisture ever gets in.

I guess the only downside is having 30+ pounds of specialties and having to front the money for all the jars. I collected most of mine over a period of time.

Very well done! I think I may have to do this

 

[masscarriers]

I apologize to revive an old thread instead of starting a new one,

What about cleaned empty coffee cans? It seems they could hold easily a few pounds of grain, are airtight and as long as you're drinking a good amount of coffee, they're basically free.