Too cool pantry

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In my new house I have a pantry off the side of the garage. It just dawned on me that there is no heat out there and a hole at the bottom of the door. I have my canned goods stored out there. They will most likely freeze. What will this do to the food? Should I bring the stuff inside for the winter?

TIA

Grins, Diane

-- Diane from MO (walte@getgoin.net), October 25, 2001

Answers

if it freezes for long enough,, it will pop the canned goods,, does it get sun to warm it up during the day to keep it warm at night?

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 25, 2001.

There is sun on the building but I don't know how warm it will get in there. It's pretty cool in the summer as it's all concrete.

-- Diane from MO (walte@getgoin.net), October 25, 2001.

stick a thermometer in there, one with a high low indicator, watch it for about a month or so,, it wil tell you, in MO,, winters arent that cold,, and with the brick, it should retain some warmth

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 25, 2001.

Cool all summer, huh? Made of concrete, is it? Sounds as if you almost have a root cellar, there...maybe if you insulate that holy door with a layer of insulation board cut to fit (the entire opening) you may beble to keep it from freezing in all but the coldest of weather. Then you might run a bare bulb light out there for cold nights?? Just a thought.

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 25, 2001.

Beble? Make that be able...hard to type and hold the baby at the same time. Stan, where do you live?? Last time I was in MO in the winter it was -19 with a wind chill of -50!!! Now if that ain't cold, what is?

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 25, 2001.


19 for one day doesnt count as winter,, I was in the SHOW ME STATE for 2 years,, snoweed 3 inches once,, and the place shut down,, I laughed my butt off, dont even notice 3 inches here

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 25, 2001.

...and here is...(sorry to prattle along on your thread Diane, but I'm wondering what part of Minnesota Stan lives in:o))

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 25, 2001.

I would definitely try to fix up the door somehow so the cold wind doesn't freeze those cans; since it doesn't have to be toasty, just above freezing, a bare light bulb might be enough to do the trick if you can prevent that draft. (I would think) Just on the weather thing, Stan, sorry, but here in OK I wish it would snow more! If I'm going to spend most of Jan. and Feb. freezing my buns off, at least some snow would be fun to play in as opposed to the stupid ice storms we have had the last couple of winters! I would take a foot of snow over 1/4" of ice any day! At least you can get some traction!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), October 25, 2001.

Okay, so I'll board up the door the best I can with rags and cardboard that I have left over from the move. OH! I have tons of moving pads the movers left me. And stick a lamp out there with no shade on it. And maybe that will help.

Thanks for your ideas everyone.

Grins, Diane

-- Diane from MO (walte@getgoin.net), October 26, 2001.


If you go down to a feed store you can get a heat lamp bulb for @ $7 that will do better than a regular light bulb.

-- (hooperterri@prodigy.net), October 26, 2001.


I have seen at the local thrift stores--Goodwill or whatever you have there--the aluminum light shades with a clamp that you use in chicken coops for heat. Seem to be alot of them available here right now--for about $1.99. I have one of those in my unheated shed where the food is stored--works great! Lynn

-- Lynn Royal (homesteadmama@att.net), October 26, 2001.

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