What about the 5 gallon pails that are vacuum packed with various kinds of wheat? If the vacuum holds are those good almost indefinitely? What if the vacuum packed pails are stored in the summer at 80 to 90 degrees F. How much am I losing there? Thanks.
Not sure about that, but I **think** you want to store it at cooler temps.
This is a pretty good site for such questions:
http://www.whenshtf.com/index.php
This is not a quick and simple subject. Here are some links of sites that have info or products... (I do not work for or have any interests in any of them)
Blogs and Info
http://www.survivalblog.com/
http://americanpreppersnetwork.blogspot.com/
http://www.survivalist.info/
http://www.nationalterroralert.com/foodstorage/
http://offgridsurvival.com/survival-blogs/
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/
http://www.dehydrate2store.com/
Food and Supplies
http://www.waltonfeed.com/
http://www.mountainhouse.com/index.cfm
http://www.aa-foods.com/index.cfm
http://www.readymaderesources.com/cart/index.php
http://survivalacres.com/information/packaging_details.html
http://www.commonsenseprep.com/Products.html
That should get you started...
WHile the site is dated (Y2K) the data apperas to be good
http://www.y2knorth.com/PREP/SHLFLIFE.HTM
And spend some time at Walton Food dot com AKA Rainy Day Foods- the site has a lot of good data on long term storage. I used to carry this product in the late 70s, so these folks have been around nearly forever, dealing in bulk food goods.
It is good to ask about shelf life.
Also, the pouches of frezze dried food you see for sale (say, at Sams or Wally World) have a shelf life of no more than 5 years - so always check the pack date.
I have a source for getting food grade 5 gallon pails, but is there some way I can vacuum pack the bulk food I store in them without having to vacuum pack the food in bags first before storing it in the bucket?