Storing Bulk Grains Outside

[specialkayme]

When storing bulk, uncrushed grains, I've read over and over that they should be stored in a "cool, dark, dry place away from rodents." Currently I store my grains in the house, in my pantry in Vittle Vaults. Unfortunately I've run out of space, and the wife has restricted my bulk grain "real estate holdings" within the pantry. Understandably so.

I could store them in our non-temp regulated shed, still in Vittle Vaults. They would still be stored in a dry, dark place away from rodents, but I wouldn't consider it "cool" storage. Winters will fluctuate between 20 and 50 degrees. Summers will fluctuate between 60 and 105 degrees.

Will the fluctuating temps, some on the hot side, negatively impact the quality and storage of the grains?

 

[Abbas]

When storing bulk, uncrushed grains, I've read over and over that they should be stored in a "cool, dark, dry place away from rodents." Currently I store my grains in the house, in my pantry in Vittle Vaults. Unfortunately I've run out of space, and the wife has restricted my bulk grain "real estate holdings" within the pantry. Understandably so.

I could store them in our non-temp regulated shed, still in Vittle Vaults. They would still be stored in a dry, dark place away from rodents, but I wouldn't consider it "cool" storage. Winters will fluctuate between 20 and 50 degrees. Summers will fluctuate between 60 and 105 degrees.

Will the fluctuating temps, some on the hot side, negatively impact the quality and storage of the grains?

I would assume that moisture would be the real killer here. Combined with heat in the summer I think this may not be the best idea, especially once you open a bag. I wouldn't even attempt that down here in FL.

 

[specialkayme]

I would assume that moisture would be the real killer here.

Moisture is actually the one thing I'm not concerned about. I'm a beekeeper that harvests around 1,000 lbs of honey a year. I keep it stored in the shed I'm considering storing my grains in as I slowly deplete my honey stores over the course of the year. The honey is stored in food safe buckets with lids, but they often aren't air tight. Honey is a hydrophilic solution, and will actually absorb moisture from the environment you put it in. Over the course of the year, the honey in the shed doesn't increase in moisture content. So I would imagine I would have very little issue with moisture in a grain container that's sealed, and only opened for 20 minutes twice a month.

 

[passedpawn]

I store all of my grain outside. I'm in FL.

Lowes has 5g white food-grade buckets. Buy a Gamma Lid (sealed, screw-off) for each bucket and you can store it anywhere. The buckets and lids are in the painting section. Home Depot does NOT carry them.

Temperature won't hurt the grain (neither cold nor hot). In fact, the large grain distributors down here keep supersacks (2000#) in open un-aircondtioned warehouses, hot as hell in the summer. I've seen them. I've frozen grain many times, has no effect.

However, if the grain comes with weevil eggs, they will eventually hatch. Freezing the grain takes care of that.

 

[specialkayme]

Thanks @passedpawn How long have you kept grains stored like that, and I'm assuming you've seen no negative impact on quality?

I'll likely toss all my grains in a chest freezer for 48 hours once I buy them, and keep them sealed from there on out.

 

[passedpawn]

Thanks @passedpawn How long have you kept grains stored like that, and I'm assuming you've seen no negative impact on quality?

I'll likely toss all my grains in a chest freezer for 48 hours once I buy them, and keep them sealed from there on out.

About 5 years. Before that, I stored indoors, but I had a weevil outbreak that made it to the kitchen pantry, and somebody was very not pleased about throwing everything away (weevils can get into flour pkgs, ziplock baggies, cereal boxes, pasta boxes, etc.).

I brew frequently. It's no issue. If I can do it here in hades, anybody can.

 

[specialkayme]

Fantastic. Thanks @passedpawn

 

[Horseflesh]

I had a Vittles Vault of birdseed on my patio, and over a year or so, rodents chewed on it and ruined the lid. Critters can be destructive!