Grain storage
Flour and Grains are easy and convenient to store. Follow these recommendations to keep your grains fresh and ready to use all year long.
A full share will fit in any standard single kitchen cupboard. You can also use a combination of cupboard and countertop storage for easy accessibility. If you need to look beyond your kitchen for storage, use a closet or pantry space on the main floor, where the temperature is the most stable, as temperature fluctuations can lead to condensation and mold. The exception is cornmeal, which has a particularly high moisture content and should be kept in the fridge or freezer at all times.
storage containers
We highly recommend glass jars. Glass is moth proof, rodent proof, and more sanitary than plastic, as scratches in plastic can harbor mold and bugs. Mason jars are the most cost and space efficient for long term storage. For short-term, daily use, anchor hocking jars also make lovely countertop storage (as pictured above), but they are more susceptible to pantry moths because they don’t seal. Anchor Hocking jars can be found at Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, Walmart etc. We wish we could recommend a locally operated store which carries them, but I am not aware of any at this time.
Flour storage
Most flours can be stored at room temperature for at least several months. Beyond this time period it’s best to move flours into refrigeration or freezer. cornmeal is particularly perishable and should be kept in the fridge or freezer at all times.
Cleaning
It’s not necessary to wash your grains, but if you want to make sure they’re squeaky clean, you can wash them in a few changes of water. Place grains in a container large enough to cover them with several inches of water, then stir. Pour off anything that floats to the surface. Repeat until water runs clear.If you plan on grinding your grains after washing, make sure they are first dried thoroughly. Look over your beans just in case any stray stones got into the batch. This rarely happens, but you don’t want to break a tooth.
Pantry Moths
as long as you store grains in sealed glass with silica packs, you are highly unlikely to attract pantry moths. If you already have moths, it’s time to take everything out of your pantry and put everything in sealed glass containers . All long term storage (longer than a week) should be in glass or heavy sealed plastic. Also get a few moth traps; this will really speed the removal process.
Desiccants
Desiccant packs are a cheap and simple way to add extra protection to your grains throughout the year. They are reusable and cheap. Add one to each jar and worry not!