Does anyone store food in 3# coffee cans and do you think it's safe, being aluminum and all. I have 5 gallon buckets that I get from the bakery at the grocery store that held icing so they are food grade and have the good gamma seals. I use them to store flour, sugar, cornmeal and dry milk. Their only drawback is that they are difficult for me to open.

I have stored beans and rice in popcorn tins and I do store rice, cornmeal, and pasta in coffee cans, as it is difficult to locate gallon glass jars that are cheap. But I wonder if they are safe? It is hot and dry here, so no rusting problems, insect problems, etc. What do you think about the use of cans for storage? I won't use garbage bags as I have heard they have pesticides in them when manufactured. Yuck!

-- connie in nm (karrellewis@aol.com), June 05, 2001

Answers

Hi Connie, I can't see a problem with the coffee cans as long as they don't rust. Here in Ky it is too humid to do that. I have several decorative tins I use for cookies but after a while they rust also. The plastic buckets from commercial icing is very good to use. If you check with a commercial food distributor you can buy a metal lever type tool to open the buckets with ease. It sort of just prys it open like a large bottle opener would. I definately never store any food in anything that isn't designated "food grade". I have a friend who stored flour in a food grade platic bucket lined with a scented trash bag..."ugh" She only did "that" once. I find the glass gallon jars at restaurants and schools for free. More and more products like pickels and mayo are packaged in gallon plastic instead. So get them while you can. The "plastic" gallon jug is usable also.

-- Ria in Ky (MinMin45@aol.com), June 05, 2001.

Hi, Connie.

I buy white rice in 20 lb. bags and use large coffee cans to store the rice instead of leaving it in the bag. I've had no problem with rust and the rice stores very well. I also use the cans for storing dried carrots, corn, and fruits, but usually put them in gallon storage bags before putting them in the cans.

-- Dianne in Mass (dianne.bone@usa.net), June 05, 2001.

If you want to store food. Go to any Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints and ask them to help you. They should be able to direct you to the local Mormon Bishop's Storehouse. They will teach you to store everything that you will need. They do it in such a way that it lasts for twenty five years without going bad. They are very reasonable with their prices also.

-- Ted Milson (emilson@yesic.com), June 05, 2001.

Hi Connie,

I don't know what you consider cheap but check with pizza places for the gallon jars because they purchase so many containing olives, peppers, etc. The pizza place we buy from is family owned and they sell their jars for .50 each.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), June 05, 2001.

I don't see any problem with coffee cans, which incidentally do not have aluminum in them as far as I know. They do shine, but are not aluminum (all that glitters is not gold either).

Now if you are old enough to remember when a three pound (3#) coffee can actually had 3# of coffee in it, well you and I are really old. More like 34.5 ounces today which ain't 3#, no way.

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), June 05, 2001.

local resteraunts should have 1 gallon glass and plastic jars for little or nothing .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), June 11, 2001.