Storing instant potatoes

[Bootz]

I know I cannot store fresh potatoes in the fridge. Can I store instant potatoes in the fridge, though?

My apartment building is very warm and storing grains and starches in the cabinets leads to bugs and premature spoiling even in the winter. Will they be okay in the fridge?

[NCLee]

Yes, you should be able to store them in the refrigerator with one caution...

Transfer them to a moisture proof container. If you have room, 2 liter soda bottles will work well. Don't use milk jugs!!!

The temperature and the bugs are two different problems. Tackle the bug problem first. Go through your cabinets and discard anything and everything that's infested. Vacuum the cabinets to remove any remaining spilled residue. This will get it out of the joints/cracks where the cabinets are put together. Even small amounts hidden in those joints can be home to critters that infest dried food. Be sure to remove and replace any type of shelf paper.

Wash the cabinets.

Now, when you replace the contents of the cabinets, transfer all dry foods, such as instant potatoes, cereal, cornmeal, flour, etc. to plastic or glass containers with good seals. If you already have things on hand that don't appear to be infested, put them into your storage containers and then freeze for several days. That'll kill anything that's lurking. Remove from the freezer and don't open the container until the contents comes back to room temperature. This will prevent condensation inside the container.

For anything that isn't going into long term storage, this is a good use for misc. glass containers such as gallon pickle jars. (Cleaned and well aired so there's no pickle odor left.) Canning jars are another option, especially the half gallon size. Even the half pints work for small items. Soda & tea bottles and some juice containers also work for pantry storage.

If it comes in a bag or cardboard box, transfer to a more suitable container. It'll take a while, but you can defeat pantry pests. And, to keep them at bay, keep a careful eye on new purchases. Contine to tranfer to better containers.

During the winter, if your temperature isn't up in the 80's, you'll be OK from that standpoint. Most use by dates on packages are based on storage temp's being around 70 degrees, from what I understand.

Hope this helps.
Lee

[leera]

I store all my dry goods in glass gallon jars,you can sometimes get them for free from delis and restaraunts.My DH brings them home from work.

Just make sure the jars are completely clean and dry before you put anything in them.I wash them and then use some baking soda and water,swish it around,and let it set for about 24 hours to get rid of any odors(like hot peppers).Like NCLee said,the temps have nothing to do with the bugs...

If you bring flour and rice into the house,freeze it in the freezer for a couple of days before you put it in containers.

I also put moisture absorbers on the top of the jars before I put the lid on,it might just be me,but haven't had a problem with bugs since I started using them.(If you live near a pharmcay,ask the pharmacist to save some of the larger moisture packets for you that come in the bottles with some drugs)

We had a bug problem for a while at our old place,when the roommate moved out so did the bugs...I think she brought them with her to be honest.....but it was an old mobile home,that got VERY VERY hot in the summer....not missing that place at all this winter either.

[Anon001]

Like NCLee said,the temps have nothing to do with the bugs...

Actually, temperature has everything to do with bugs, hence the reason for freezing the grains before storing.

Grains that go into co-ops, elevators, feed mills, etc. always have the temperature brought down as close to freezing as possible without actually freezing the grains. The reason isn't because it will kill bugs, but it makes the bugs dormant so they can't become a bigger problem. Yeah, the grains are treated, but nothing is certain and grain can "lose condition" (i.e. bugs).

The same goes for anything that is stored long term. If for some reason you do get bugs in anything, the cooler it is, the more dormant the bugs. The warmer the temps, the more active the bugs get and the faster they multiply. That is why storing any home "milled" products and/or grains is best if stored in a cool cellar or basement. It is the second line of defense.

Paul

[Oblio13]

I put little oxygen absorber packets in with my bottles of storage foods. You can order them online, they're not expensive. Bugs won't be a problem until they invent one that doesn't breathe.

[Bootz]

Thank you all so much for the tips. I think buildings that stay above 80 year around do suffer from more bugs as there is never a dormant period. This building is cooler in the summer, than it is in the winter :-0

I think I do need to get a hold of some jars. I threw away almost all my stockpiled grains last summer (put a bit in the fridge) and had to start over.

I am very reliant on charity food pantries for my food and they are unpredictable about what they give out. It really pays to have a few months supply of each grain stored, never mind worrying about SHTF scenarios.

I'm glad the instant potatoes will be okay in the fridge. Those are usually a rarer treat to be given out. Maybe it will be a trend for now though :-0 Stuff comes in spurts. That would be nice :-) Then instead of rationing them, I'll be asking for recipes.