There are more than 38,000 McDonald’s restaurants spread over 100 countries, but not a single one in Iceland.
That’s because, after the financial crash of 2008, the last McDonalds in Iceland closed its doors.
The day before the McDonalds was set to close, a person named Hjortur S. purchased a Big Mac meal at the restaurant.
According to media reports, this Big Mac has been on display in Iceland for over 12 years… but not for a good reason…
You see, instead of eating the burger that day, Hjortur threw it away without thinking about it.
About three years later he found the burger sitting in the trash bin that he had tossed it in (apparently, he doesn’t take his trash out with any regularity).
He said the burger and fries looked like they had been bought fifteen minutes earlier and got cold on the way home.
The burger had not molded or rotted in the three years since he got it. After seeing this, Hjortur decided to keep the burger as a piece of history.
It was stored in a glass case, not in any special way to prevent molding, etc.
Even then, it sat on display at the National Museum of Iceland for a year. Then, the burger went on a tour around Iceland for a few years.
Obviously, the burger has stayed in a somewhat pleasant-looking condition because of the preservatives added into the food.
People who are prepared are always looking to make their food stocks last as long as possible (and hopefully, it doesn’t involve an old McDonald’s burger).
The biggest challenge with food storage is that oxygen, light, and humidity can wreak havoc on food.
Which means, one of the key pieces to making food storage stay fresh is storing it in the right condition and containers.
So, whether you are just getting started with food storage, or already have a stockpile, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing containers for your food storage.
5-gallon buckets:
5-gallon buckets have been a staple for food storage for decades. They are made from heavy plastic, with gasket lids, which make these buckets air and watertight.
Additionally, 5-gallon buckets do a good job of keeping rodents out. Plus, they are durable and can be stacked up three high.
The drawback to 5-gallon buckets is that they are heavy and can be hard to move when filled. Which means they won’t be easy to grab and go during an emergency.
Also, since they are made of plastic there is the risk that over time oxygen could ruin the food inside the bucket.
But, depending on where the food is stored it could last many years without an issue.
When storing grains in 5-gallon buckets, put them in mylar bags first.
If you are storing the survival food pouches, which are already protected in their bags, you can throw them right in.
#10 cans:
These metal cans are sometimes referred to as “coffee cans.” They have metal lids and sometimes include plastic lids after the can is opened.
A #10 can is not huge. So, it can store a good amount of food, but nowhere near a bucket’s worth.
The biggest benefit of the #10 can is that it will provide a lot of protection against oxygen, light, and pets.
The drawback to these cans is that to get a perfect seal you need to machine-seal the cans.
There’s an upfront investment, because the machine can cost a few hundred dollars, and the cans are a separate cost.
But the good news is that the cans are reusable and offer great protection for the food.
Mylar bags:
These bags are aluminum-coated, and when correctly sealed, can be air and watertight.
They come in different thicknesses, but I would use 5 mil to 7 mil for long-term food storage.
Mylar bags are one of the best options because if properly sealed and stored, the food can last decades.
Glass containers:
The biggest advantage of glass containers is that glass is impermeable and doesn’t leak odors or chemicals into the food.
Also, glass doesn’t leak oxygen, and is not penetrable by rodents or bugs.
Glass jars can be used to keep food edible for years depending on the canning method.
The drawback to glass containers is that they don’t provide any protection from sunlight, so you have to be careful where you choose to store them.
Also, they are clearly breakable, so you need to be careful when handling glass containers.
There are plenty of options when it comes to storing food. Before you make your decision, consider where you will store your food.
Ideally, it will be a temperature-controlled, dry place, that’s still accessible to you.
