In case of emergencies, it's recommended to have at the very least a 72-hour supply of dry goods, water, and healthy sustainable consumable products. You may feel more confident having several months or even a longer term supply of food in your storage so you can have what you need in the event of a fire, flood, or even job loss. If you plan on using a storage unit to house canned and boxed goods or unopened containers of water, then follow these tips for proper food storage.
Do
Rent a storage unit that has temperature control settings so you can keep heat-sensitive food items, such as dried vegetables or boxed noodles, safe from spoiling or over-drying. You can pay a small additional monthly fee for a temperature-controlled unit that will allow you to protect your canned and bottled goods from bloating as well.
Don't
Certain items do not belong in a storage unit at all, such as opened food containers, canned goods that have not been properly sealed, or liquids that are prone to spoiling, such as milk or expired juice. Don't store food that has been resealed in a new container unless the container contains a secondary seal (such as a canned jar of preserves) or a oxygen absorbing pack for dry goods to help prevent age-related spoiling.
Do
Keep all food and beverage items stored high on a pallet or shelf built into the storage unit. This keeps your items dry and allows air to circulate around them as well as helps keep critters like bugs and mice at bay. If your storage unit does not come with shelving, then you can buy used bookshelves to keep cans and boxes up high.
Don't
You want to always know what is in your storage unit when it comes to food preservation. Don't forget to rotate what is in storage and count your inventory to see what you need to add onto your emergency supply so you always have what you need. Also, don't forget to label all canned goods and water containers so you know when to throw them out and don't waste storage space on items that are too old to ultimately use.
You can use a storage unit as a successful place to keep your food supply safe by making sure you take all the right precautions for healthy storing. By knowing what to do as well as what to avoid, you can always have the supply you need for whatever emergency may come your way.
Share18 November 2016
There are all kinds of reasons to use storage units, but renting one for your next move is absolutely vital for your sanity and your organization. I didn't used to use a storage unit, but about six months ago, I realized that there were some serious problems with the clutter in my home. I started going through and finding things that I didn't need to use right away, and it was amazing to me to see just how much clutter I was hanging onto. Check out this blog for more information about using your storage unit to the best of your ability and knowing how to utilize storage during a relocation.
