Bulk grain storage

[SnidelyWhiplash]

any reco on how long you can keep crushed grain in bulk for if it's in a big sealed container? maybe put it in a vacuum sealed bag?

i can order a 50lb bag from LHBS and crush it there but not sure if I can crush half then go back later with the rest.

 

[BrewandWineSupply]

Its funny, when we get grain in, Breiss and Grain Millers come in giant paper bags and leak grain every now and then. Crisp and Weyermann's come in a rip stop nylon bag with a plastic liner. Most grains have a shelf life of 1 to 2 1/2 years. The whole grains last longer, the crushed are the shorter lived.
If you are keeping grain around longer than one year, that means you are not brewing enough!!!

 

[emjay]

any reco on how long you can keep crushed grain in bulk for if it's in a big sealed container? maybe put it in a vacuum sealed bag?

i can order a 50lb bag from LHBS and crush it there but not sure if I can crush half then go back later with the rest.

Don't know. Uncrushed is good for a very long time, though. If you want to buy in bulk I'd really recommend you invest in a mill. Especially if you can take part in group buys for grain, something like a BC or Rebel mill will pay for itself pretty quickly.

 

[adamant]

Hopper bins, lined with XXL Ziplocks:

http://www.homedepot.com/Storage-Or...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

This is what I am going with for my first bulk grain experience. I had one for dog food and just noticed today that it isn't airtight at all, so I ordered some of those ziploc bags along with some more bins.

I found the ziplocs fairly cheap at drugstore.com. ~$6.80 / box, $2 off if you buy 4 boxes, $5 off $30 order, and 10% cash back from mrrebates.com

I would have gone with the stackable vittle vaults, but at $42 on amazon, they are a bit too expensive.

 

[emjay]

This is what I am going with for my first bulk grain experience. I had one for dog food and just noticed today that it isn't airtight at all, so I ordered some of those ziploc bags along with some more bins.

I found the ziplocs fairly cheap at drugstore.com. ~$6.80 / box, $2 off if you buy 4 boxes, $5 off $30 order, and 10% cash back from mrrebates.com

I would have gone with the stackable vittle vaults, but at $42 on amazon, they are a bit too expensive.

As already mentioned, you can get standalone vittles vault lids, called gamma seal lids, which fit on standard 5, 5.5, and 6 gallon buckets, as well as any other bucket that has a diameter of 12" at the rim.

They can be bought, even with shipping, for $8 to $12 each - cheaper, if you're lucky (I got mine for $6 each).

You get all the benefits of vittles vaults (eg airtight and stackable with standard buckets) without the HIGH cost. And because they're just lids (and stackable), they don't weigh much and take up very little space, meaning shipping is next to nothing if you buy them online. You can instead get the buckets you need from Home Depot, or even for free if you or anybody you know has buckets left over from anything. I got mine from a winemaking friend; they used to contain grape must.

If you really wanted the vittles vaults but thought they were too expensive (I agree), I HIGHLY recommend these "gamma seal lids". The lid is really the only special part of those things anyways, so using it with a bucket is *just as good* - the only meaningful difference is the price.

 

[millstone]

I use the 4 1/4 (16 liters) and 5 gallon containers from my local grocery store. i go to the bakery section and ask for any of the empty frosting buckets. I also make sure that the lid has the rubber "O" ring for a tighter seal. They are white, they are number 2 HDPE plastic and they have a comfortable large plastic handle. AND they are free.

tom

 

[Wreck99]

I use the 4 1/4 (16 liters) and 5 gallon containers from my local grocery store. i go to the bakery section and ask for any of the empty frosting buckets. I also make sure that the lid has the rubber "O" ring for a tighter seal. They are white, they are number 2 HDPE plastic and they have a comfortable large plastic handle. AND they are free.

tom

Nice! I'll have to try that.

 

[OG2620]

They can be bought, even with shipping, for $8 to $12 each - cheaper, if you're lucky (I got mine for $6 each).

I have found the Gamma Lids in the Paint Department at Home Depot for about $6. I put them on More Beer buckets for a total cost of about $12 each.

 

[JasonToews]

you know i just keep my bags of grain in a dark area in my basement. Haven't had any problems at all with flavor or efficiency lost. I generally use more then 4 sacks of grain in under a year though, sooo depending on how much you are ordering

 

[chemman14]

Does anyone know how much grain fits in a 5 gallon bucket? I have heard I will need 2 per 50 lb sack

 

[brettwasbtd]

Does anyone know how much grain fits in a 5 gallon bucket? I have heard I will need 2 per 50 lb sack

Roughly 5lbs of grain will fit into 1 gallon (volume) container so 5 gallon buckets hold about 25lbs and therefore you need 2 yes.

 

[chemman14]

Roughly 5lbs of grain will fit into 1 gallon (volume) container so 5 gallon buckets hold about 25lbs and therefore you need 2 yes.

Awesome! Thanks for that!

 

[millstone]

i buy 55 lb sacks and need one 5 gallon, and two 4 1/4 gallon frosting buckets.

tom

 

[chemman14]

i buy 55 lb sacks and need one 5 gallon, and two 4 1/4 gallon frosting buckets.

tom

so 2 5 gallon buckets wont work? hmm maybe I can find some 7 gallon buckets somewhere. I would like to get 3 different sacks in 6 containers

 

[cram]

I need three for a 55 lb sack but each bucket isn't filled to the brim. I don't think you can cram 50 lbs in two 5 gallon buckets...

 

[chemman14]

I need three for a 55 lb sack but each bucket isn't filled to the brim. I don't think you can cram 50 lbs in two 5 gallon buckets...

fitting name haha! Thanks for the tip I will look for some 7 gallon buckets now

 

[emjay]

I need three for a 55 lb sack but each bucket isn't filled to the brim. I don't think you can cram 50 lbs in two 5 gallon buckets...

You can, but just barely. 55lb sacks have some overflow though.

Not surprisingly, 5.5 gallon buckets will just fit a 55lb sack between two of them. And they're much easier to find than 7gal buckets.

 

[chemman14]

I need three for a 55 lb sack but each bucket isn't filled to the brim. I don't think you can cram 50 lbs in two 5 gallon buckets...

Do you think two 6 gallon buckets will contain a 50 lb sack? I planned on getting six 6 gallon buckets and gamma lids to store three 50 lb sacks (2 row, marris otter, pilsner).

 

[BigSally]

I use 30 gallon open top steel drums I get from work.I store mine in the basement and my wife is paranoid about mice so, I need airtight nonchewable containers.
Also I can get a 50# sack and my mill and accessories inside.

 

[brettwasbtd]

So I was cleaning today and found an old piece of paper with some math from when I was researching and figuring out how much space I would need for grain. I had determined (can't remember how) that a pound of grain took up ~46.2 inches cubed. I also calculated a gallon as we know it to be ~231 cubic inches. Which is how I came up with about 5 lbs per US Gallon. for a 50 lb sack you would need a little over 2300 cubic inches to hold 50 lbs of grain Variables to this include moisture content, grain size and type etc. But its a rough estimate that works fairly well. I also have seen people leave them in the bags in a steel trash can and be fine. Those drums BigSally posted are great, but a little too much for my use

 

[emjay]

Do you think two 6 gallon buckets will contain a 50 lb sack? I planned on getting six 6 gallon buckets and gamma lids to store three 50 lb sacks (2 row, marris otter, pilsner).

Yes. Two 5gal buckets can just barely hold 50lb sacks, but not 55lb ones. Two 5.5gal buckets can just barely hold 55lb sacks, and so 6gal will have no problem.

 

[chemman14]

So I was cleaning today and found an old piece of paper with some math from when I was researching and figuring out how much space I would need for grain. I had determined (can't remember how) that a pound of grain took up ~46.2 inches cubed. I also calculated a gallon as we know it to be ~231 cubic inches. Which is how I came up with about 5 lbs per US Gallon. for a 50 lb sack you would need a little over 2300 cubic inches to hold 50 lbs of grain Variables to this include moisture content, grain size and type etc. But its a rough estimate that works fairly well. I also have seen people leave them in the bags in a steel trash can and be fine. Those drums BigSally posted are great, but a little too much for my use

Yeah I love the buckets because they are stackable. I found them for 114 shipped for 6 buckets and 6 gamma lids

 

[Polboy]

i use buckets i got for free from local bakery, 6gal in size nice lid and food grade, 2 buckets hold 55lbs of grain with no problem

 

[emjay]

Yeah I love the buckets because they are stackable. I found them for 114 shipped for 6 buckets and 6 gamma lids

The gamma lids are very solid too, and are built to perfectly accommodate the bottom of a standard bucket, making them damn good for stacking... very strong and very stable.

That price actually seems kind of steep to me, though.

 

[chemman14]

The gamma lids are very solid too, and are built to perfectly accommodate the bottom of a standard bucket, making them damn good for stacking... very strong and very stable.

That price actually seems kind of steep to me, though.

That's what I thought. I haven't purchased it for that reason. I found 6 of the gamma lids on amazon for $55 shipped. Should those be cheaper? The 114 number was from one company buying both the buckets and the lids. Seems to be that shipping is the main expense.

 

[emjay]

That's what I thought. I haven't purchased it for that reason. I found 6 of the gamma lids on amazon for $55 shipped. Should those be cheaper? The 114 number was from one company buying both the buckets and the lids. Seems to be that shipping is the main expense.

I would try to find the buckets locally. If you're lucky, you can even find them for free. That should significantly reduce the price.

Keep in mind these buckets don't need to be immaculate like fermenting buckets do - as long as they aren't dirty or you can clean them, they're good. Should probably still stick with HDPE or PET though (LDPE is very oxygen-permeable). If all else fails, get them at Home Depot - the lids will work on any standard bucket with a 12" diameter rim (like the Homer ones).

 

[brettwasbtd]

That's what I thought. I haven't purchased it for that reason. I found 6 of the gamma lids on amazon for $55 shipped. Should those be cheaper? The 114 number was from one company buying both the buckets and the lids. Seems to be that shipping is the main expense.

I bought a gamma lid at Home Depot for like $6 or $7 bucks? Def think you over paid for 6 there....

 

[bkl63]

The Orange Home Depot buckets work well and are air tight. Takes two buckets per bag 55lb bag and you done and worry free. I got 6 buckets and lids for around $25.00.

 

[chemman14]

The Orange Home Depot buckets work well and are air tight. Takes two buckets per bag 55lb bag and you done and worry free. I got 6 buckets and lids for around $25.00.

So you confirm that 2 5 gal buckets will fit 55 lbs? So many conflicting reports haha

 

[tre9er]

I can just barely get 25lbs. into a 5g. bucket. If you're worried about slight overflow get some ziplock freezer bags and fill one (10# capacity in the large bags) with your overflow. Put it in fridge or somewhere sealed from mice.