Last Updated on April 16, 2023 by Lisa Vargas
Food storage is one of the most fundamental aspects of emergency preparedness. If you have access to food in the worst case scenario it means that you have less to worry about and less to depend on others for. Calories and hydration are the first things you will worry about after any kind of damage or injury in a disaster.
If we are talking about a world changing cataclysmic event, food is not just sustenance, but food will boost morale. Another important thing to understand is that food will also be a measure power in a fallen world. If everyone is hungry and you have food, well, that means you can hire help, gain influence, or just feed more people by sharing some of that food!
Using Diatomaceous earth for food storage is a great way to further protect the contents of your mylar bags. We are going to discuss what diatomaceous earth is, how to use it in food storage and where you can find it so that you can add this ingredient to your preps.
What Is Diatomaceous Earth?
The diatom is a form of microalgae that exists in the oceans and on land. These microscopic, little guys might not seem like much, but they are essential to the ecosystem of the entire planet! They produce literally 20%-50% of the oxygen on the planet each year! That is no laughing matter.
When these little guys die their shells quickly become part of the sediment at the bottoms of the oceans and in the ground in which they die. Diatomaceous earth is siliceous sedimentary rock that is made up of these shells and is powdered for a number of uses. From metal polishes to toothpaste, diatomaceous earth is an ingredient in all of it.
Diatomaceous earth is basically a silica powder that absorbs moisture very well. When you use it on long term food storage it will make the environment incompatible for pest, bacterial and fungal growth.
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth in Food Storage
The key to successful long term storage is about controlling a few things.
- Moisture
- Pests
- Oxygen Temperature Fluctuations
You take several steps to assure that your long term food storage is kept safe from these factors. Diatomaceous earth will absorb moisture that will prevent pests from being able to survive. You never want to open that bucket of rice and find it infested with moths or other bugs. You are storing this food for your loved ones.
Adding diatomaceous earth to food storage is all about the right ratio. You will use 1 tsp of diatomaceous earth for every pound of dried food storage. As you can see it takes very little diatomaceous earth to absorb the moisture and preserve your food storage.
Adding Diatomaceous Earth To Food Storage
You will need 100% food grade diatomaceous earth if you are going to use it in your food. You will need a kitchen sieve to break up clumps and a scooper.
Here is a simple measurement table to help you
2 Teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon
4 Tablespoons = ¼ Cup
Using this you should be able to easily calculate how much you need for the amount of food you are storing.
- Open your 5 gallon mylar bag inside of the 5 gallon bucket, like you would if you were getting ready to store long term food storage.
- Place a few tablespoons into the bag fold over the top and shake the bag so it gets a fine coating all over.
- Then add another fine layer on the bottom of the mylar bag.
- Pour in about 3-4 inches of whatever food item you are storing and add another thin layer of diatomaceous earth on top of that.
- Continue to layer until you have no more room for food. Be sure you can still seal the bag thoroughly.
- Fold over the top of the bag and give it a few shakes or tip it back and forth.
- Add another thin layer of DE to the top of the food and leave that one to sit. Do not shake anymore. This is like a cap.
- Seal the mylar bag. Date it and close up the five gallon bucket.
How Much Diatomaceous Earth to Use in a 5 Gallon Bucket of Food Storage
When you start packing up long term food storage you are going to be after quality ingredients and economy of space. Space quickly becomes the dominant factor in food storage even beyond income. Food is cheap and easy to get.
The reason most people depend on 5-gallon buckets for food storage is that they stack and hold a lot of food. When you are in this kind of position you can stack a lot up in corners or in basements. So, how much diatomaceous earth do you need to bucket up food in 5-gallon buckets.
The above table is based on 1 tsp of diatomaceous earth for 1lb of food. Now, that is a great measurement for how much you want to buy. If you are going to be using diatomaceous earth in the process of bucketing food, it can be easier to use a tablespoon process.
Each layer you can measure with a tablespoon. That is the easiest way to build this into your food storage bucketing process.
Tips on Using Diatomaceous Earth for Food Storage
How you store DE is just as important as any other food ingredient!
Safety
Diatomaceous earth is a respiratory irritant and an eye irritant. Because of this you need to be prepared to work with it using the right safety precautions.
- Safety Goggles or Glasses
- Rubber Gloves
- Face Masks (we all got em’ now)
Another particularly important safety measure is to use your DE in a well ventilated area. This will give you much better airflow and keep the respirator hazard at bay. If you do inhale the diatomaceous earth or feel respiratory irritation beginning than you should take a break. If it doesn’t go away than you should contact a doctor.
Storage
Storing food safely is particularly important and will help you along your preparedness journey. However, you must also store the things that help preserve your food, too! Storing something like diatomaceous earth is going to require many of the same things your food storage will!
You need a cool place with a pretty consistent temperature. All of this will increase the shelf life of your product. The other big one with diatomaceous earth storage is to avoid moisture. If you are storing things in a damp area that is a big problem. You are including DE in your food storage because of its ability to absorb moisture. If it is too busy sucking up moisture in the air than that is a problem. So, make sure you have a dry place.
Benefits of Using Diatomaceous Earth
As you can see diatomaceous earth is a great means of preserving and protecting your long term food storage. This is a massive benefit when it comes to preparedness because when you have food you are not going to have to answer to anyone else in all of this.
Affordable
There are some other impressive benefits when it comes to using diatomaceous earth and we need to be honest about them. One of the biggest is the fact that you an buy a ton of diatomaceous earth for between 10-20 dollars a bag. This is a much more affordable option compared to buying oxygen absorbers.
Safe and Naturally Occurring
Most of the preservatives that are used in food are chemical based. That means that there are some negative aspects of those preservatives that could have negative effects on the human body. Diatoms are naturally occurring creatures that achieve the goal of preservation naturally.
Ease Of Use
As you can see by the process above using this as a food preservative is extremely easy and just a matter of laying and mixing the diatomaceous earth into food storage. If you use the measurement table above, you are going to have an easy go of using diatomaceous earth as part of your food storage plan.
Where To Find Diatomaceous Earth
There is a good chance that you have never heard of or really given diatomaceous earth a thought until reading this article. It is a common substance in our lives but not one we head to the store for on a regular basis.
The reality is that diatomaceous earth is very common, and you will find it in the pest control and even gardening section of many retailers. However, you are not just looking to buy any kind of diatomaceous earth. Rather you want to focus on FOOD GRADE.
If you are concerned about finding food grade diatomaceous earth than you can simply order it online. The wonderful thing about this stuff is that it is dirt cheap. Well, in some ways it is dirt or at least part of what makes up the dirt.
Food grade diatomaceous earth can be purchased in a 5-gallon tub on Amazon for just over $40! That is impressive when you think about it. Just think about how long it would take you to go through a 5-gallon tub!
The Biggest Mistakes you can Make When Using Diatomaceous Earth for Food Storage
The single biggest mistake that you can make is using far too much of this stuff on your food. This can get dangerous because this silica based substance is designed to absorb moisture so if you ingest too much of it you are going to essentially dry out your insides and wreak havoc on your digestion systems.
As long as you follow the ratio and the measurements, we have in the articles above you will safely store food using this cheap and effective method.
Other Prepping Uses for Diatomaceous Earth
While diatomaceous earth is great for food storage you will also want to store this stuff for a number of prepping uses. So, if you invest in a 5 gallon bucket of DE you will have a powerful prepping substance that can be used for things other than food storage, too!
Hygiene
In terms of hygiene you can make everything from toothpaste to deodorant with diatomaceous earth. Personal hygiene will be a particularly important aspect of life in a long term disaster or emergency.
Pest Control
From bed bugs to fleas you can use diatomaceous earth to keep pests at bay. These bugs will dry out if they are covered with the powder and it can be applied directly which makes it highly effective.
You can also use it in your garden. Soft bodied bugs that want to eat your plants, larvae, will not be able to traverse the ground that is covered in DE. The powder is sharp on a microscopic level and will tear into their little bodies. Spread a little ring around your plants at their base.
Sanitation
Cleaning and maintaining a clean living space are also going to be very important. You can also use the moisture sapping power of diatomaceous earth to keep things clean and deodorized. Trash cans and refrigerators stay clean and fresh if you add a little DE to them.
Final Thoughts
As you can see diatomaceous earth is a powerful ingredient when it comes to bucketing up your own long term food storage. The moisture absorbing capabilities make it hard for food to spoil and create a hazardous environment for bugs and larvae in your food.
A little bit goes a long way when it comes to preserving long term food storage with diatomaceous earth. If you stock up on it now you will have it when you need it most. As you can see, food storage is not the only use for it.
While it is available at many retailers you just want to be sure that you purchase FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth. Now, start bucketing up your own food security!