Best way to store bulk grain?

[stpetebrewer]

Whats the best way to store bulk grain? I have been thinking about buying a 50# bag of 2 row and and stocking up on some speciality grains, but I didn't know if they need to be in a sealed bag/container or not.

 

[TyTanium]

Cool and dry, and protected from rodents. I use a spare cooler in my cold garage, others get dog food bins at Walmart, large rubbermaid bins, or HomeDepot homer buckers w/lids, etc. Lots of options. Go for it.

 

[nebben]

I use one of those $6.00 18 gallon Rubbermaid storage bins with matching lid. My 50# sack of 2-row goes into that, and I put individually bagged leftover base grains in that as well, just to keep it organized.

I have a Rubbermaid drawer/cabinet thing that holds all the rest of my uncracked grains, including rice hulls, dextrose bags, wheat, and candi sugar.

I keep it all in my unheated laundry room, which is between 50F in winter to 62F in summer. Cool, dry and away from critters is the name of the game.

 

[DubBrew]

I have plastic grain storage bins with a rubber gasket and clamp seal that I got from a club member for cheap, but that is probably over kill. The home depot buckets would work great.

 

[Hammy71]

This:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/50lbs-grain-storage-container-14-a-293549/

 

[milldoggy]

Gamma Seals and Home Depot or Lowes buckets works really good to. I had a bunch of old plastic fermentors pails, so I used them instead of 5 gallon buckets. 55# does not fit in two 5 gallon buckets, but 50 does.

 

[DeafSmith]

I keep mine in airtight Vittle Vaults:

Vittle Vault Stackable Airtight Container - Food Storage & Scoops - Bowls, Feeders & Storage - PetSmart

I put the grain in, then fill it up with CO2, then quickly close the lid. Hopefully the CO2 kills any weevils and any that hatch from eggs - been working fine so far (1 year +).

For smaller quantities, like specialty grains, I vacuum pack them in a food saver bag, then freeze them for a few days to kill weevils. Vacuum packing before freezing prevents moisture condensing on the cold grain when I take it out of the freezer.

I keep all the grain inside the house to keep it from getting too hot in the summer.

Maybe this is overkill, but I haven't had any weevils yet.

EDIT: I think I have the 60 lb Vittle Vaults, not the 40 lb as in the link above. Here's another link that shows both:

http://www.petco.com/product/9799/Gamma-Vittles-Vault-Stackables.aspx

 

[stpetebrewer]

Thanks for the ideas! I have a couple 6 gallon buckets with lids that Im going to use. I may use some trash bags to line the bucket just for reassurance to keep moisture out.

 

[QuaffableQuips]

I keep mine in the garage in these:
Behrens 31 Gal. Galvanized Trash Can With Cover - 1270

I just leave the grain in its original bag and drop it into the cans. Like everyone's said, the most important thing is to keep the grain cool, dry, and out of the reach of critters.

 

[daksin]

Do you have a mill to crush the grains? That would be the first step, IMO.

 

[stpetebrewer]

Do you have a mill to crush the grains? That would be the first step, IMO.

Yeah I have a Barley Crusher that I bought back when I started to get into all grain. Just have been thinking about buying in bulk so I'm not running to the LBS every couple weeks.

 

[copyright1997]

Do you have a mill to crush the grains? That would be the first step, IMO.

No, the grains should be stored uncrushed.

I have between 200-300# of grains (both base like 2row, mo, Vienna, Munich, wheat, corn, rice) as well as a bunch or different specialty grains.

For the base grains, I use food grade containers with gamma deal lids. Store them in a cool place (e.g. Basement). For grains that I don't use as often, I vacuum seal the grains, and then store in a plastic bin (to keep out critters). I seal these in amounts I am likely to use or be manageable. For instance, for crystal 15/40/60, 1-2# increments. For base grains I don't think I will use for a longer period of time, I deal those in larger blocks, e.g. 3-4# increments...or just stick to a 5-6 gal food grade bucket.

So far, this system has worked well. Whenever I open a bucket or sealed package, even those bought last August, the grains smell fresh.

 

[E-Mursed]

I just started buying in bulk, but this is the system I have adopted.

I pour the uncrushed grains from the sack into super-size Hefty Ziploc XXL Big Bags. They hold the entire 50 - 55lbs.

Then I put the Ziploc bag into 18 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck totes.

 

[Irishwrench]

How many lbs. can a homer bucket secure?

I like DeafSmith's idea with the vacuum sealer. I was considering the big vacuum seal bags that harbor freight sells for pillow and blankets. Can fill the bag and use a vacuum cleaner to remove air. I know I have critters in my shed, but hoping the grain won't draw them into basement. Some bins will be in order.

 

[milldoggy]

Homer bucket, around 25. If you get 7 gallon ferm pails, 2 easily holds 55 lbs. I found a bunch of used ones on cl.

 

[nebben]

For whatever its worth, I can fit 50# of chicken feed in 1 3/4 HD homer buckets. I don't store my grain this way at the moment.

 

[copyright1997]

How many lbs. can a homer bucket secure?

I like DeafSmith's idea with the vacuum sealer. I was considering the big vacuum seal bags that harbor freight sells for pillow and blankets. Can fill the bag and use a vacuum cleaner to remove air. I know I have critters in my shed, but hoping the grain won't draw them into basement. Some bins will be in order.

Don't use a home bucket unless you first place the grains in something that is food-grade, homer buckets are not (at least the orange one's aren't). You can find food-grade used buckets for nothing/cheap at bakeries, food co-op's, etc. Also, the $2.97 paint buckets at Walmart are (or were, please make sure you verify), here's a sample link to one of the survivor forums discussing: Food Grade Plastic Buckets at Walmart. I have some 6 gallon buckets + gamma seal lids I got from Costco: Costco - 6-gallon Pail with GAMMA SEAL® Air-tight Lids - 10-pack. These are expensive but the gamma seal lids are AWESOME. I use one of these for each of the base grains I have (2row, vienna, munich, MO, ...) that I want easy access to and use often. EDIT: Again, while expensive you need to note that it includes a gamma seal lid for each bucket. These are $7/each at Home Depot (they now carry them, just in black). So, of the $14 each (shipped) for the buckets+lid, you figure $7 of that is the gamma seal lid and $7 is the 6-gallon food-grade/safe bucket.

I've gotten most of the buckets I use to store grains directly AND to store spring water I use to brew from my local food co-op for $1/each. (These buckets were originally used to hold things like maple syrup, agave, etc.)

Even though I mentioned using a sealer, there is another option that is "even better" in terms of LONG term storage. You can get 5 gallon mylar bags, here's an example link: Amazon.com: (10) Mylar Bags 20"x30" 5 Gallon Size 4mil for Long Term Emergency Food Storage Supply: Industrial & Scientific. I actually bought from this vendor and contacted them once by phone...was pretty decent to deal with. Anyway, you can seal the mylar and have oxygen removed by using oxygen absorbers. Here's an example link for those: Amazon.com: 50 - 300cc Oxygen Absorbers for Dried Dehydrated Food and Emergency Long Term Food Storage: Everything Else. So, you put the grains in the bag, put some oxygen absorbers in the bag, then seal with an iron. The oxygen absorbers do the same thing as the vacuum sealer. This is the method people use to seal/save grains and freeze dried foods so that they are good for YEARS. People have tested food stored with this method 15+ years later....not that I intend to keep grains that long!

 

[hoppymonkey]

I use food grade 5 gallon buckets that I get for free from the Wal-mart Deli. They were used for cake frosting so they must be cleaned well first, but hey they are free after all.

 

[daksin]

No, the grains should be stored uncrushed

I just meant that buying grain in bulk and storing it isn't much good if you don't have a mill.

 

[weirdboy]

Homer bucket, around 25. If you get 7 gallon ferm pails, 2 easily holds 55 lbs. I found a bunch of used ones on cl.

I have no problem fitting 55 lbs in two regular 5 gallon buckets.

 

[jonmohno]

I just roll it up tight and put it in my large storage container in the basement which is pretty dry.Since i do small batches and just bought my first 50# base grain bag a while ago,im brewing consistanly every week to use it up while its fresh and before temps start climbing in the 60's.Otherwise i would invest in a food grade bucket with those gamma lids.Im not shure about the airspace and head room in those as they get used,though.Thats when i would think about vaccusealing into large bags,if temps and humidity increased.I would then bag up the amount i mash with in each bag and put in a tote or bucket.

 

[Zorin]

I use these lids: Gamma Seals - Emergency Essentials

With fermentation buckets and both liners and moisture absorbers

Liners:Metallized Liner for Buckets

Absorbers: 10 Pack of 2000 CC (Large)

I vacuum the bags I'm not going use right away and just iron the rest closed. I have done this for years now with out any issues.

Enjoy,
Z

 

[jonmohno]

+1 great info, but couldnt you just vaccue seal and put your vaccue sealed bag(s) in the bucket without needing the oxygen absorbers,or no?

 

[TyTanium]

I assume most of you have been on some sort of brewery tour - have you seen how most breweries store their grain? In the original bags on shelves in a cool, dry room. Nothing fancy. Granted their turnover is higher than ours, but still. If they don't worry about it then neither to I.

 

[ClarnoBrewer]

I just scored some awesome blue barrels for my grain. There's a store near me that sells used food-grade containers. They range from 5g buckets to 60g plastic blue barrels with gasketed lids. I'm not sure what was in the barrels, but there's no strong smell, so some oxyclean cleaned them up nicely. I'm not sure of the sizes, but I have 4 that hold about 75 lbs each, that I use for base malts, then I bought a couple 60g ones that I use for animal feed. They hold at least 150 lbs. I think I paid about $30 each for them and they're awesome.

 

[jonmohno]

I assume most of you have been on some sort of brewery tour - have you seen how most breweries store their grain? In the original bags on shelves in a cool, dry room. Nothing fancy. Granted their turnover is higher than ours, but still. If they don't worry about it then neither to I.

I think were talking more or less of opened bags, but i agree,seal it up goo d and put it somewhere cool and dry as long as rodents cant dig into it. Sometimes you dont have the cool and dry conditions, thats why vaccu sealing or buckets and o2 absorbers come in handy.Not everybody has climate control. Thats why some people vaccume seal it up and refrigerate it.
Brewerys also usually have quicker turn over and use their grain up within a reasonable time, alot of hombrewers have grain typically longer than a brewery probably does.

 

[TyTanium]

I just scored some awesome blue barrels for my grain. There's a store near me that sells used food-grade containers. They range from 5g buckets to 60g plastic blue barrels with gasketed lids. I'm not sure what was in the barrels, but there's no strong smell, so some oxyclean cleaned them up nicely. I'm not sure of the sizes, but I have 4 that hold about 75 lbs each, that I use for base malts, then I bought a couple 60g ones that I use for animal feed. They hold at least 150 lbs. I think I paid about $30 each for them and they're awesome.

Great find. I use those 55g blue barrels for rain barrels - never thought of using them for grain, great idea.

 

[TyTanium]

I think were talking more or less of opened bags, but i agree,seal it up goo d and put it somewhere cool and dry as long as rodents cant dig into it.

True, good distinction.

 

[ClarnoBrewer]

They would be good for rain barrels. We also have pigs and chickens, so I keep their food in the barrels. They have the band that compresses and seals the top on (I'm sure there's a name for it). I like these because we do have rodents, so they stay out and the grain stays fresh. And I like that there are several sizes.

 

[jholen]

This:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/50lbs-grain-storage-container-14-a-293549/

+1

$14 at my local walmart. Great price!

I can even get $40 refills of base malt!