Bulk storage
by David Neely

You can store nearly anything in bulk for quite a while by
using an air-tight container (metal or heavy plastic with a
well-sealing lid).

However, as the lady with the buggy oatmeal discovered,
what you buy often already has insect eggs in it. (Ever
looked at the USDA regs regarding the allowable insect
parts in your breakfast cereal?)

There is a fairly simple solution. Fill the container
nearly to the top with the item, then put a chunk of dry
ice on top. As it melts, the carbon dioxide will sink and
drive out the air. When it's all melted, put the top on the
container. 

Bugs, like other living creatures, need oxygen. Also, most
things turning rancid also is from oxidation. With CO2 from
the dry ice, the oxygen is not available for these
purposes.

When you use some of the item, use care in gently taking
off the lid and scooping out the contents. Best would be to
take out enough to fill your usual bulk food container that
you can keep in the freezer, then stick another chunk of
dry ice and repeat the process for the remaining bulk.

Using this technique, you should be able to keep most
commodity items for several years without substantial loss
of quality.

That said, it would be *much* better to get a decent grain
mill and whole wheat and grind your own flour. Bread is
always best when you use flour ground very close to the
use--within a half hour or so.

One of the items on my shopping list is a "Country Living"
grain mill for this very reason.
http://www.countrylivinggrainmills.com/.

David