How to store massive amounts of flour and rice!

[TofuNofu]

I went to Costco this weekend and emerged with 25lbs each of rice, flour and bread flour.
I do not want this to go bad or get bugs, what would you recommend as the best way to store this to keep out the buggies and unwanted elements?
Big plastic tubs? Clean trashcans? Thanks for all your suggestions.

[alanbarnes]

I use IRIS airtight storage containers for my rice and flour. They're marketed for pet food storage, but work great. The 15-quart holds 25 pounds of rice, and the 55-quart holds 50 pounds of flour. I use four of the smaller ones (one each for jasmine, nishiki, basmati, and calrose rices), and they stack nicely.

http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Airtight-Storage-Container-15-Quart/dp/B00186O0SS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1268854112&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Airtigh...

[chowser]

You can freeze the flour.

[Sally599]

Yeah, you might want to freeze it overnight at any rate to kill off any bug eggs etc that might be in there before you put it into airtight storage---an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[Quine]

Very good point!

[LauraGrace]

*smacks forehead*

Now, why didn't I think of that? Smart!

[eight_inch_pestle]

I might poke around restaurant supply stores, if you live in a big city. I worked in a snooty deli in high school (upside: how many 16-year-olds get to sneak a few bites of prosciutto and Parmigiano Reggiano every shift?) and they kept both wet (chicken salad, etc.) and dry ingredients in stackable white plastic buckets that sealed tightly.

[TofuNofu]

Excellent, yes, I am in a fairly large city, I will check that out for sure! Thanks everyone!

[breadchick]

King Arthur Flour's Baker's Catalog sells the plastic bins large enough for your flour, etc. Airtight, bug free, snap-on lids. I have them. I use a LOT of flour. Easy enough to label with a magic marker "Bread Flour ___ protein level" "AP Flour ___ protein level" and so on.

They're a bit bulky, but do the job. Good luck.

[TofuNofu]

Thanks, yeah, that is what we ended up doing, Snap on lids, airtight bins, flour type on top.
We have a mudroom, so we stuck them back there, out of the way.
Thanks again!

[corneygirl]

Edit: can probably get these at a restraunt supply store, I initially had my boss order them for me, but they're no cheaper than getting them online.

[appycamper]

if you have access to a petsmart store they carry thick-walled storage bins with screw on lids in a number of sizes. they're quite stackable. i use them for a variety of things, including the dogs' dinner.

[Quine]

*Sigh* I always wonder about impulse buyers.
How much do you usually use, I mean really? I ask this since it will determine storage options. Rice can hold better than flour. Flours can rancid if kept over long in an oxygen laden storage with heat. Can you vacuum store? If so; store in honest week (if you use alot) worth portions, Same with rice if you can. Think cool 9cold is better freeze is best) as sealed...vaccum as possible.

[TofuNofu]

Quine, we do use lots of both of these things, by husband makes bread and pizza dough weekly and we eat rice a coupld of times a week. I wish that my impluse buys were flour and rice and not bison steak and 5 different kinds of cheese!
I would be able to freeze the flour, thanks for that suggestion!

[celeryroot]

I have always used bay leaves scattered within.

[TofuNofu]

Thanks Celeryroot!
Yeah, I can remember my mom doing that, but since these can't even fit in my cupboard, do you think that would be enough?
Thanks again!