Bulk Storage Food items in Plastic Buckets

Bulk Storage Food Items in Plastic Buckets

1. For plastic buckets to be used as dry food storage containers, they should be made of food grade plastic and have a lid.

2. Carbon dioxide effectively prevents weevil infestation in home storage center items stored in plastic buckets. Treatment methods that depend on the absence of oxygen to kill weevils, such as oxygen absorbers and nitrogen gas flushing are not always effective in plastic buckets because of the potential for oxygen leakage.




3. INSTRUCTIONS FOR DRY ICE TREATMENT IN BUCKETS

a. Use approximately 1 ounce of dry ice for each gallon of container size.
b. Wipe frost crystals from the dry ice using a clean towel.
c. Place the dry ice in the center of the container bottom.
d. Pour the food in the container until it is within ½” to 1” of the top.
e. Place the lid on top of the container and snap it down only about halfway around the container.
f. Allow the carbon dioxide gas to escape from the partially sealed lid as the dry ice evaporates.
g. Allow the dry ice to evaporate completely before sealing the container. To see if the ice is all gone, feel the bottom of the container. If it is still very cold, the ice has not all evaporated.
h. Watch the container for a few minutes after sealing the lid. If the container bulges, slightly lift the edge of the lid to relieve pressure.
i. It is normal for the lid of the bucket to pull down slightly as a result of the partial vacuum caused when the carbon dioxide is absorbed into the product.

Thanks, RUGettingPrepared