I like to store my pastas in big popcorn tins. My in-laws gave us a tin of prepopped popcorn each year and I washed them and dried them thoroughly first. They work great!

If your potato chips get stale, put them on a cookie sheet and put in the oven on 200 for about 5 minutes. Like new.

We had an old freezer that was using too much electricity, we were gifted a very nice, larger freezer. I cleaned it all up (the old freezer) and it’s in the corner of our basement - holding all our dry goods! I put the stuff in the freezer for a few days, then over into the non-working one. Seems to be working good so far. I got the idea from my Mom (she’s in her mid-80’s). Smart cookie. 😊

We had a rodent problem and they did chew through the plastic to the food. We had to start putting mylar bagged foods in metal trash cans. We bought the small ones to keep the weight down. Expensive ... but not as expensive as replacing the food!

The fact that you have to explain that your counter is clean, is just crazy to me! You're a clean freak, and it'd probably be safer to eat off your floor than on most restaurant plates!

I kept a big refrigerator that broke and store all my dry goods in it. Free metal box.

Pam/Audience. With your long spag and sharp edge types of noodles. Leave them in the original package and wrap them with several layers of plastic wrap, THEN put them in to your mylar bags with oxy abs. Then you can put your mylars in a white bucket. The long and sharp edge types will sometimes poke holes in your mylar. Spend a few extra moment and pennies to secure your long term foods!😉

Thanks for the latest post. My experience has taught me that if the mice can smell something interesting in a plastic container they will try to get into it. I think it is their job to do so. Gaskets sound like a really good idea. PS Please don't be embarrassed to share the mouse invasion, I was inspired to check my pantry and found that I needed to pay attention to what was going on. Thank you very much!!

To answer the rodent question.. YES they can chew thru the plastic IF they can smell something they like. (Ours was a large, heavy duty Rubbermaid full of bags of flour so they really wanted it) Best to upgrade mylar to thicker brand or use mothballs/similar around the totes to deter the rodents nose.

We are serious pasta eaters so we have tons of it. We store in sealed mylar bags in 5 gal storage buckets, 1/2gal Mason jars sealed, vacuum sealed food saver bags and some in those #10 cans from the lds storage center. Pasta pasta everywhere. Lol

For pasta I use 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids. I separate the Costco pasta packs into shapes, one bucket per shape. I am not a big pasta eater, but it stores well and pasta is a comfort food and a meal stretcher. 😊

Rose Red, I've learned quite a bit from your video's. But if I may make a suggestion. Though you've sealed up the containers for pasta, there may be bugs and their eggs in the packaging prior to you acquiring it. I myself store all packages in the freezer for 3 days prior to placing it in sealed bins...

I read an article about using dried bay leaves to keep bugs out of flour, cereal, etc. I placed some on my pantry shelves. I realized that winter that there was no signs of mice. 2 years later and still no mice.

From what I have read mice won't chew through unless they can smell it. I think that is why peppermint oil is good. It messes up their "smeller".

Pam, I use up the little bits and pieces of pasta in vegetable/beef soup. It’s an easy way to use them up and not waste anything.

I personally prefer glass jars for food storage. I know not everyone can do their food storage into glass jars, but because I did a recycling project at my job a long time ago. The things I learned were astonishing. All plastics are air permeable long term. All plastics off gas the life of the plastics. Now I try to buy as much as I can in glass and that is hard to do. However I will repackage things I am able to into glass jars. :) My biggest frustration is storing water. I am now looking into a stainless steel water barrel to store my water.

Perfect timing - We just bought 36, 1lb bags of pasta for $.99/ ea; the last store in the area to have 16 ounce bags at this price in the area and pasta at this unit price. Thier stock of 16 oz bags was dwindling and being replaced 14 oz bags for the same price. We bought a case each of the remaining 3 types left.

Bins that do not have a gasket can be sealed very well with a 1/4" door gasket along the top edge of the container. I also covered the opening and door gasket with press and seal cling wrap then the lid. this worked very well.

Last year I bought a bunch of pasta I opened packages and put the pasta in glass jars gallon and half gallon jars then then vacuum seal

We keep our dogfood in metal trash cans to keep the mice out. Perhaps I should use them for food storage too.

I'll store mostly smaller pasta that cooks quicker , you can use thin or angel hair spaghetti as a good pasta in most dishes...

Thanks, Pam! I can always depend on you for great information!

When I empty a quart jar or pint size, I thoroughly wash and dry it. I then use that jar to vacuum seal my pasta in it. I even break my spaghetti noodles to fit the quart jars.

We live in the country! I have had a problem with mice in the past! Our home is old and there are areas where mice can get in I discovered that they can be detoured by fabric softener sheets. I put them in corners and around my food storage area. I haven’t seen any signs of them since. Cheyenne pepper is helpful also. We have irrigated pasture, so My main problem is beetle and cockroaches. So I have a lot of sticky traps in areas where our dogs can’t get to. Behind furniture under fridge…… thank you for all the helpful tips you provide 🙏🏼

We have used metal lockable tool boxes to defeat rodents in our shed periodically. Food in jars, in tool box.

We had mice chew through a large plastic bin, so we store them in metal garbage cans now

Those airtight plastic bins are very convenient and effective, but I've been trying to eliminate as much plastic from our lives as possible, so I recently repackaged all of my pasta preps into large glass jars with airtight lids. Happily, this prevents any rodent threats and keeps the pasta in an airtight environment for long-term storage, yet is convenient for easy access. It's also very attractive on the pantry shelf. 😊🥰

I bought one of the tough brand totes from Walmart that was very thick and had bags of Mylar beans in it. I used clear thin totes for ramen. The same weekend I put it away something chewed a hole in both. I learned from Southern Prepper to get old filing cabinets to put your items in that are susceptible to rodents.

Galvanized garbage cans with tight fitting lids work well for pasta storage.

Glass or metal are the only truly secure ways. Some have had problems even with the thick plastic food buckets.

Thank you. I've been stressing about storing water. I will get busy tomorrow. Thank you.

We place bay leaves on top of our food items. Tape all around the 5 gallon buckets and they are stored in a closet. Yes, we must pay attention to the heat when we place food in plastic. Best to buy wheat berries instead of storing too much flour. Spray with mint oil, or any other oil that bug dislike. A cool dark place sounds great.

We installed a mini-split air conditioner in our garage/storage space. It is very efficient and effective. The unit itself was expensive, but my electric bills aren’t bad at all. It was definitely worth it.

Just made biscuits following the RRH class method last night...my husband raved over them! ☺

I want to encourage others to take the 2 months of meals in the pantry challenge. I have been building my working pantry, rotational pantry and long term food storage for a year. But I have been doing so based solely on sales and I thought I had about a year's supply in my stores. I felt pretty good. But I decided to take the two month challenge as a way to better organize what I had. I made up a two month meal plan and went pantry shopping. Boy was I surprised. While I did have probably almost two years worth of most foods, my meals were incomplete. I found holes! For example, I had plenty of canned green beans (they go on sale often) but not even two months worth of canned carrots! Well, I am canning carrots and starting my meal plan for January. I love this plan! Thanks Rosered!

I use smaller and larger steal garbage cans for sugar, pasta, rice and beans storage. Rodents will NOT get in them as long as you secure the lid. I just put the packages in and kind of organize in 1/2, 1/3, or 1/4 sections keeping like items per section.

Hi Rose, Thank you for this video. I am having my own small troubles with vermin and this video was right on time. I am in the middle of repackaging all our dry pastas, rice and beans. Some of it I am just inventorying and and rotating. But the pasta is being sealed in mylar with both OA and desicant. We live in Virginia and it is very humid here for much of our year. Additionally, this long term storage is kept in the dark in our basement. I am grateful for the handouts and though I have not been to your store before, I will now. Thank you again. Barb.

I love you and Jim y'all are wonderful

FYI - the solution I use to prevent rodents chewing into my food storage - I bought two USED large metal cabinets ( $30 each) and I keep my food in there in garage. They are tall with five shelves and two doors that latch. No holes for mice entrance. Works like a charm. Just don’t forget to shut the doors!

Having stored food in those bins in a hot humid environment, but in the dark, and using O2 absorbers, the bugs still got in. I do pack in mylar but I tend to leave the pasta in the bag with a couple of small clips into the bag at the top so the OAs can do their thing. Gives some normalcy on opening. But in a heavier plastic bin. You are 100% correct you need to look at your own environment.

You are so kind for giving all this information and free downloads

I vacuumed sealed in my mason jars my pasta

Always so much helpful information! And I live in Louisiana (southern most) and boy is it ever humid! I cannot keep anything outside; even canned goods have been questionable. But I find places to stick em inside! Lol. I bring a lot to my office. I have a whole pantry here. (Ssshh! Don’t tell anyone! 🤭)

I live near a creek it runs right in front of my house and property so we always have rodents running around like you do. Years ago I started buying the same rubber gasket containers. I have my dogs food in a big one extra plastic silverware and paper plates and cups in another. So far I have not had a rodent get in they are great containers. I never realized how long pasta actually lasts. Thank you for the new tips. Thinking of buying more bins soon just to have extras.

She is so sweet. Yall are blessed!!

Like the bins with gasket seal. Had not seen them before.

I learned years ago not to store whole wheat pasta in the boxes they come in; you’ll have an infestation of flying critters in no time, so I started storing in my freezer. Since space was at a premium I started vacuum sealing linguini in bags and rotini in half gallon jars (the noodles are sharp and will pierce a bag). For extended storage I’ve added white pasta to the mix, I just hope my taste buds don’t revolt. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, it is greatly appreciated. ❣️

Had a sturdy heavy duty lided garbage can in our garage that mice chewed the bottom corner...your plastic tubs will be child's play for a hungry rodent... They even chewed threw two heavy duty commercial grade rubber thresh hold we put on to stop drafts and critters. We purchased one of those cans with the trapdoor on top laced with peanut butter, ladder attached for them to climb up...when they take the bait ...they fall through the trap into the water below. 100% successful results, ended our rodent problem.

I was reorganizing my food storage this weekend and was wondering how to best save pasta. Thank you!

Thanks Pam and Jim. I find I have to cook pasta a bit longer once it reaches level 3.

Pam: Metal filing cabinets may be the answer to your rodent problems. They can often be purchased at very reasonable prices from auctions of closed or remodeled business offices. Even purchased new they are not very expensive and you can stack multiple units on top of each other depending how high your ceilings in the garage are. This will make it very easy to leave many products in their original packaging and can be arranged in a manner to stack multiple short layers in an individual drawers. Be sure to check the back of the filing cabinets to ensure there are no openings that a tiny mouse can enter into and if you choose to stack the cabinets it might be a good idea to use some of those devices that attach to the back of dressers that prevent small children from tipping them over on them or Jim can use some kind of strapping to secure them to the garage walls. Hope this is helpful.

I’m persnickety and put pasta in a couple paper lunch sacks and then in thick 7.5 mil Mylar vacuum bags with oxygen absorbers. 😅 live in SW Florida so very humid. Also use MRE style Mylar pouches for ramen noodles w oxygen absorbers. These bags can handle boiling water to cook right in the bag. 🤗

You can get those gasketed bins at Big Lots. When they have their 20% off everything sales, I stock up on them.

I had some rice in the original bag in a plastic container on the shelf. After about a year, I opened it up and it smelled old.

I use glass jars and vac seal

You're such a cool lady and a wonderful teacher! Thank you 😃👍

I welcome all your thoughtful videos. Many Many Thanks 🙏🏻

Thank you for your kindness in making the downloads for us. 😊

I watch your videos all the time and I want to thank you for all the information you share. Have you ever freeze dried gnocchi? If so, please direct me to the video. If not, would you be willing to test cooking and freeze drying them. I would like to add them to other freeze dried meals. For example, beef with mushrooms as gravy over gnocchi. Look forward to your next video.

Peppermint oil.. keep mice out. I have also heard irish soap grated up keeps pests out too.

Love this

Fantastic. Thank you.

I heard putting out bay leaves around on your shelves, drawers, closets ect will deter rodents,spiders,bugs ect.

Pam Thank you for the help. I would like for you to just send them to me and it is the screen shot you shared on the Packaging Pasta for Long Term storage and the one on biscuits. I have tried a number of things to get them to a print page but I have had no luck. I hope you can use a different tool to send them rather than the docx in the future. Thanks again, Bobby

I live in a humid area and I use mylar bags with oxyen absorbers

Love this!!! Thank you so much ❤❤

Nice bins! I use Lock 'n' Lock gasketed containers for most of my pasta storage :-)

I used the metal trash cans to store the plastic bins in to protect the investment from getting eaten by field mice when I lived in Missouri.

Loving all u post even more the new direction you ve taken, keep them coming Gadget lady :)))

I like to use any kind of glass jar or mason jars to store my pasta, popcorn, dry beans etc. When growing up in the country, we had those big wood rats and so I always save jars instead of plastic.

Always great information!!

Most of my pasta ares stored in 5 gal empty bakery buckets. They have the blue gasket sea is as well. I put my egg noodles in half gal size jars

I got some 1 gallon jars at a yardsale to store spaghetti and lasagne noodles. Critters can't get in them and the gallons are to large to use for canning anyway.

Great subject and information

Just the video I needed. I have alot of lasagna noodles I need to pick up but didn't know how. Now I do! Thank you!!!!

Excellent advice, thank you!😊

I so appreciate all the ideas you give. A rotating pantry is so important. Well done. ❤love your channel.

Thank you Rose!

Doing that same task today-same bins (bought last year) and mountains of pasta.

Pam, I always learn from you! Thank you!!!

So helpful and I love the organization of it at same time. Thanks

Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for sharing

Wonderful Thank you I love pasta ❤

Thank you Mrs Rose.😊

Thank you so much

We have been using the plastic contai ers your showing for about 10 years now. We do freeze drying a lot. They are fantastic to protect all foods. I'm glad to see you're using them as well. We live in a dry climate, too, Northern Central Nevada.

I've been using the bins like the one you have with the gasket from Walmart. They are great!

I have several second hand metal filing cabinets that I use to store food in . The rodents have no chance of getting to my food , also some metal storage cupboards usually used for tools in garage but I store my food in them as well as they are all metal and the rodents cannot get in .

Great video, I was wondering the best way to seal pasta, thank you!

Thank you for all of your help. Very informative. 👏🏽

I wonder if the scent of food is obscured by the plastic smell, and maybe that’s why the rodents leave it alone. Thanks for the great info!

I love those bins.

You made my day when you spilled the pasta! I just finished putting dried beans into Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers for the first time and a bag slipped and spilled dried beans all over the kitchen floor! I felt so defeated and had to throw away what fell. I got out a big pot to set my bag in while working on it which worked well but it was still nice to see that it happens to everyone...even an expert like you!

Happy Thanks Giving Pam and Jim.🙏🏼💐

Great ideas. I’m going to order some of those plastic bins with the blue gasket. Thank you 💕💕

Thanks so much.

Thanks for your videos, Pam! I found your channel when I was looking into getting into canning and found your videos comparing some electric canners. Those videos really helped me decide which machine I wanted to get. And I really appreciated the detail you went into with the numbers and guidelines behind safe canning of things like your meat sauce when testing them.

I had to giggle when you mentioned Huston. At the time I was there, I experienced mushy potato chips. Thank you for all you both do.

Walmart wells 30 gal - I thi no - galvanized garbage bins with lids that are good for dried goods. When I bought mine they were only about 20 bucks