The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Grain storage containers

MontBaybaker's picture
MontBaybaker

Grain storage containers

New to milling, just starting to acquire grain.  What brand of food-safe buckets (and vendors other than Amazon) do you home millers recommend?  Breadtopia uses Life Latch which are supposed to be senior-friendly and easy to open.  I must have easy lids due to arthritis (unless I plan ahead and my husband is home).  Thanks!

 

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

I like the Gamma Lids. They fit 5 and 6 gallon buckets. The 6 gallon is my preference because they hold 50 pounds of berries. Here is a link for viewing, but I recently found them at Lowe’s for a better price.

https://www.amazon.com/Gamma2-4123-Gamma-Seal-Lid/dp/B0089QJQTS/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_236_bs_lp_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=A18ZFEAWEBVC8ZPWGQ2H

I find these screw lids very easy to open.

Dan

Justanoldguy's picture
Justanoldguy

Most D-I-Y stores, Lowes, Home Depot etc. have food safe buckets and Gamma Seal Lids and my experience has been with those. I haven't used Life Latch so I can't compare the two. Once the Gamma lid is installed on the bucket access to the content is by unscrewing the lid. This may or may not be too difficult for you depending on your arthritis's extent. I believe the manufacturer also makes a smaller version of the lid that can be used on two gallon pails. The lids also come in a range of colors that you can use to identify the contents of the bucket. That might be handy if you don't have an interior decorator involved in designing your pantry. 

bikeprof's picture
bikeprof

I use the food grade white buckets from Lowes, along with the Gamma Seal Lids for some, and the dark blue Letica snap on lids.  I have been liking the latter quite a bit, as they are pretty easy to snap on and take off and are lots cheaper.  You might just go to Lowes and try them.

Gamma Seal leads are great, but if you tighten them much, they can be a bit of work to open.  The other thing is that the ring that you snap onto the bucket catches a decent amount of grain, so you can't just pour out all the contents of the bucket.

Justanoldguy's picture
Justanoldguy

As bikeprof pointed out Gammas can be hard to unscrew. For long term storage that doesn't involve frequent access that's a plus. The trick to using them for long term storage IS to screw them down tight. The trick to using them in the pantry (my pails just sit on the floor) is to just screw them on lightly. They're certainly easier to access than the traditional pail top that requires a special wrench to pry loose. One trick that helps with Gamma lids is using the 'cross' that's molded into the lid for a push-pull, two handed effort. That provides plenty of leverage. 

Danni3ll3's picture
Danni3ll3

I too, use 5 gallon food safe buckets from Home Depot, and put Gamma lids on them once I got fed up with the lids from Home Depot. And the key is to keep them lightly screwed on. Otherwise, it is a two handed job to open them up...still better than dealing with the original lids.

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

The Gamma Lids have rubber o-ring gaskets. They don’t need to be tightened too much. I absolutely love them.

I just went and opened then closed the Gamma Lid to make sure it opened and closed easily. I had no problem at all.

Dan

MontBaybaker's picture
MontBaybaker

Thanks to everybody!  Your input has convinced me to get 2 types.  Gamma for longer-term storage, and vacuum-seal a few lb of everything for storage in something I can easily open if hubby isn't around to pry open a lid.  I need to rebuild a thumb, but am trying to not worsen the pain and be forced into surgery & months of no baking before I'm ready.