Moisture and Bad Canned Foods

Just a little advice.....since this has just happened to me.

I purchased several lbs. of lentils (organic), about three months ago.  They were supposed to last for a while, but six months at the least.  They were stored in a glass jar combined with many bay leaves to keep bugs away.  I made lentil soup two weeks ago.  I boiled the lentils for what seems a long, long time and they were still hard.  The taste was not that good either.  I love lentil soup and I eat it often, so it is not like I do not know how to cook lentils.  Maybe I got a bad batch (probably old lentils), but you are so right;  I much rather find out now than later.  I tossed the lentils and just replaced them.  I will run the test again before storing this batch.

Had the same problem with crackers and cereal.  Even after just a few weeks they seem to go stale.  These are items I will just do without.

I store cereals, crackers,pancake mix, flour, etc. in the freezer. Sugars and pastas i store in an extra refrigerator we have. I've had no problems yet(knock wood) with moisture or staleness. Beans are stored in canning jars after freezing in the bags.

There must be a way to store crackers, I can't live without crackers! Please share ideas. I also stored cereal and I'm throwing it out now after a year. Any ideas on storing cereal and keeping it from going bad?

HAPPYCAMPER

Just to be sure any protein is dead. LOL

    RaptureReady -- I'm a big help What I meant to say was to put a couple of pieces of fresh bread in with your sugar. Try it!

    Sicmom - where do you get food grade buckets and oxy absorbers (what actually are they?) New to all of this, obviously!    Thanks, Pam

    This has been such a worry of mine -- thanks SO MUCH for the info, Sicmom. I'll check them out today Take care, Pam

Even though your salt is hard as a rock, it is still good, and should last for ever.  Just beat it with a hammer to break it up into chunks and then put it in baggies and beat it some more.  I'm not so sure about the sugar, but I think that the same treatment should work.

Dried beans will get rock hard after a few years, I have lots of old pinto beans in buckets, if I ever have to eat them, I'll run them through my hand grinder and use them for refried type beans.

I freeze all flour (and pancake mix) elbo macaroni and Minute rice in the freezer for a week or so before putting in  storage,  so far I haven't had a bug problem. 

Joy to the world!

    Thanks for the advice, Sam
I wonder if I should ask the supermarket manager or just go directly to the bakery counter. What to say? Preparing for a pandemic? I've just GOT TO BE MAKING QUITE A NAME FOR MYSELF IN THIS TOWN, LOL!!!    Will have to get up the courage to approach a local restaurant, too. No contacts, per se but they sure do know us well at the local chinese food restaurant -- We're addicts, that way

    EXCELLENT POINT, Sam! Hadn't thought of how they might consider legal pitfalls. I'll go with the feed or general supply approach. The rainwater idea is AWESOME!!
I hate to fib but, like you, would like to avoid lengthy (or short "don't wanna talk to yeah anymore, nutcase looks) unless it's with someone who is truly open to listening or cares. Just sort of worn out that way right now.
     Hopefully, I'll get up the nerve this weekend and let yeah know how I did!!
      Thanks and Smiles, Pam

    Pegasus - We don't have a Sams but do have a Costco membership. Not only would they probably have more buckets at a time, but the odds of bumping into people I know and getting back into discussions which lead nowhere are greatly reduced. I like it! Thanks! I bought a port a potty for emergency use, but now that I think of it, it would be pretty awkward and difficult to walk around with if need be. Just goes to show, I'm not thinking things through!! This is a great solution!! I'll be sure to do this as well. I think I'll also include perineal spray which is a great hygenic cleansing spray as no rinse is required. I've had so many wipes dry out on me, I've pretty much gone this route - shelf life SO MUCH LONGER.   Are you packing one for each member of the family or opting for one bucket for communal use...? Ugh, again... I so love this forum. Very scary to think where we'd be without it. Many thanks, Pegasus.   

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slcmom wrote: I keep the stuff I will use in 1-2 years (wheat, rice, oatmeal, sugar, pasta) in 5-6 gal., air-tight buckets with oxy absorbers.  A few things I have in #10 cans with oxy absorbers (milk, beans, apple slices, dried bananas).    My parents have been storing food for 30 years using this method and have only ever lost milk to spoilage.  They do rotate through their food regularly.  However, some of their wheat they've had for 30 years and it's still good.   You can make crackers and cereal with wheat  BTW.

It shouldn't affect it at all, but go ahead and try it to be sure.

I don't understand how you think it "froze"... oil doesn't really freeze. It could thicken, or separate ingredients, but not "freeze" like water.