Food storage is essential for preparedness.
And there are many food storage options. You are probably wondering whether it is a good idea to store food in the garage.
The choice presents its own set of dilemmas.
And it all starts with knowing what food can be stored there.
So, What Foods Are Safe to Store in The Garage?
Depending on how they are packed and ideal temperature conditions, you can store a wide variety of foods in the garage. Soups, beans, chicken, canned fruits, and red meats, just to name a few, can be safely stored in the garage area. Several procedures should be followed when storing food in the garage.
This article seeks to explain them and help you understand exactly the kind of food that should be stored in the garage and how to do it. And there’s more. Find out…
Five Things to Note When Storing Food in The Garage
Let’s face it. Food goes bad when stored under poor or inappropriate conditions.
This rule does not only apply to storing food in the garage but also in any location you decide to store your food in.
Keep the following checked when storing food in the garage:
1. Sunlight
Sunlight can threaten food in the garage and cause it to go bad. You need to be wary of sunlight a lot when storing your food in the garage.
Make sure that food is not facing direct sunlight. Less they will heat up and lose important vitamins and nutrients.
2. Temperature
Keep the garage temperatures checked to avoid any serious upsurges that could make your food go bad.
Foods like beverages and stock food need to be stored in a place where fluctuations in temperatures are typical.
In the same way, high temperatures destroy preserved food, extremely low temperatures in the garage compromise the integrity of such foods.
There are many ways of regulating temperatures in the garage. Invest in such methods and keep your food under safe conditions.
3. Regulate The Garage’s Humidity
Many people overlook the impact humidity can have on foods.
Well, the truth of the matter is that humidity can damage your food just as much as extremes of temperature and sunlight can.
First, humidity causes rusting of cans that are used for food storage. Second, it causes dampness of the food altogether. Humidity also favors the development and spread of rot, mildew, and mold.
4. Oxidation
Another condition that many people often take for granted when storing food in the garage is oxidation.
Some serious impacts of oxidation on stored food include:
- Decay and rotting
- Rancidity in oils
- Discoloration of veggies
As you can see, it is pretty important to rid the garage of air often.
More so, when you are planning to seal foods in the garage.
Another uncommon technique that has proven to be very effective in riding the garage of air is adding oxygen absorbers.
5. Watch Out for Pest Infestation
Pests are annoying. They chew open your food storage containers and contaminate them.
Since they can smell the presence of food from far, they can easily make your garage an ideal spot to execute these raids.
Rodents are especially the commonest pests. Insects and cockroaches can also mess up your food.
The device means to eradicate them.
Before storing food in the garage, embark on pest prevention measures such as sealing the garage. There is a plethora of other ways of keeping pests at bay.
Apply all possible means to secure your food against infestation.
Eight Types of Food That Can Be Stored in The Garage
1. Beverages
Be it tea leaves in bags, coffee, or cocoa. You can safely store beverages in the garage.
Just make sure that you have executed all the preparation steps we highlighted in the preceding section.
Beverages should be stored in a place with regulated temperatures since extremely low temperatures can make them lose quality.
Sunlight has the same impact and beverages should be secured from direct exposure.
2. Canned Food
One thing about canned food is that it can be stored anywhere.
Only on one condition- under regulated temperatures.
Canned food can be chicken, red meats, fruits, and soup. And unless the seal is compromised, canned food is completely safe.
All you have to do is protect it from extrinsic extremes of temperatures, sunlight, and humidity.
3. Fresh Vegetables
Your garage is an ideal place to store fish and vegetables.
The cool temperatures there are ideal to maintain the freshness of vegetables and keep them safe from high temperatures.
Of course, you need to make sure that the garage is spotlessly clean and secured from pests.
4. Boxed Food
You can box foods like pasta, baking mixes, cereals, and your favorite cookies and then store them in the garage.
A garage would provide extra protection and keep them fresh.
Such foods can easily be attacked by pests and you must do all it takes to keep them out of reach of those relentless creatures.
Also make sure that the garage is dry since mold can encroach on your boxes and within no time, they will affect your food as well.
5. Bagged Foods
Flour, sugar, lentils, and rice can be bagged and stored in the garage. The idea is much like that of boxed food.
You want to keep them out of reach of pests like rodents who find a lot of pleasure in chewing them. rest assured you can keep these bagged foods in the garage for a whole year while they remain in a safe condition.
The bags you use should be sealed very well to prevent air and moisture from getting into the food.
6. Alcoholic-Beverages
Alcoholic beverages include wine, beer, and liquor.
And when it comes to storing them, heat is the arch enemy. Such drinks can even cook up under surging temperatures. Prevent this by safely storing them in the garage.
7. Non-Vegetarian Food
Other food stuff like non-vegetarian food can be stored in the garage where they can stay for long without going bad.
These foods include dried and smoked meats. Such foods require long-term storage which makes the garage an ideal spot.
8. Storing Food in Plastic Containers
Other food that may not fit the above storage categories can be stored in plastics.
They include butter and even fruit juices.
They can stay in the shed for a long time without going bad.
Consider this an alternative option for such kinds of food including mustard and sauces.
Other Garage Food Storage Tips
1. Keep The Garage Clean
Keep it spotlessly clean. Prevent any unwanted growths and dust that might contaminate your food.
2. Insulate Your Garage
The purpose of this is to keep temperatures checked. You can install AC to help in regulating temperatures
3. Do Not Keep Flammables in The Garage
Once you decide you are going to store food in your garage, keep flammables away. Paints, electronic items, and firewood should equally be kept away.
4. Add Labels
Labels should include the expiry dates of each food. You must make sure that you stay away from decay.
5. Track Your Inventory
Sounds odd? But that is it. It is important to keep an updated inventory. How else will you know that you are about to run out of essentials if you do not have an inventory?
Final Words
Safe storage for your food is important to keep it fresh and ensure that your food security is always secured.
When choosing to make your garage storage for food, the rules may change a bit as you have seen in this article.
Otherwise, he usual food storage tips still apply. We hope this has been helpful!
Sources
https://extension.psu.edu/is-it-safe-to-store-food-on-the-porch-or-in-the-garage-during-the-winter
