Free 5 Gallon Food Safe Buckets

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   I just found a supply of FREE five gallon food-safe buckets with lids (even gasketed, really tight lids), for storing preps. Our local butcher also sells sandwiches, pickles, prepared meals, etc, and they go through a lot of  5-gallon buckets of olives and pickles. They leave the buckets out behind the store for anyone who wants to take them.

So, check with local delis, butchers, diners, etc., you might find a goldmine of these containers.They are expensive to buy new.

A tip for separating "stuck-together" buckets--run two coathangers down in between the buckets, one on each side. Run HOT water in between the buckets along one hanger (the other hanger is to make a channel for air to escape, allowing the water in). The water will fill up the gap between the buckets and eventually will "float up" or force out the inner bucket. Then you can clean and use them. You have to be patient with this technique because it takes 10-15 minutes for the water to get in there, but it sure beats trying to wrestle them apart.

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Iron Mommy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: June 02 2006 Status: Offline Points: 69	Post Options Post Reply Quote Iron Mommy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Free 5 Gallon Food Safe Buckets Posted: October 18 2006 at 7:12am
	I just found a supply of FREE five gallon food-safe buckets with lids (even gasketed, really tight lids), for storing preps. Our local butcher also sells sandwiches, pickles, prepared meals, etc, and they go through a lot of 5-gallon buckets of olives and pickles. They leave the buckets out behind the store for anyone who wants to take them. So, check with local delis, butchers, diners, etc., you might find a goldmine of these containers.They are expensive to buy new. A tip for separating "stuck-together" buckets--run two coathangers down in between the buckets, one on each side. Run HOT water in between the buckets along one hanger (the other hanger is to make a channel for air to escape, allowing the water in). The water will fill up the gap between the buckets and eventually will "float up" or force out the inner bucket. Then you can clean and use them. You have to be patient with this technique because it takes 10-15 minutes for the water to get in there, but it sure beats trying to wrestle them apart.

nwprepper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: August 01 2006 Status: Offline Points: 78	Post Options Post Reply Quote nwprepper Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 18 2006 at 9:34am
	Thanks for the tip Iron Mommy! I bought some of these at my local Mom&Pop hardware store for $2 apiece - they had been raspberry containers. Thought I had really scored - but FREE is a lot better! I'll go check the local deli's

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 18 2006 at 9:59am
	Thank you...

sam in az Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Experienced Member Joined: September 28 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote sam in az Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 20 2007 at 1:41pm
	Also check with the bakery department of your supermarket. Frosting comes in those lovely white buckets which get thrown out too.

purplepanther Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: March 04 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 107	Post Options Post Reply Quote purplepanther Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 21 2007 at 12:22am
	I got my buckets when I worked at Burger King, pickles come in them so I had to clean them real good