Bulk food storage: wheat berries, rice, beans and powdered milk (2026)

Twenty-five pounds of hard red wheat berries, already sealed in Mylar with oxygen absorbers inside a bucket, so there's nothing to repack. Utah State University Extension says the hard red wheats are high in gluten and make the best bread flour. Whole berries are what lasts: BYU estimates 30-plus years in low-oxygen packaging, but you need a grain mill to use them.

Best for The base of a long-term supply, ready packed

• Packed in Mylar with absorbers, in a bucket
• Hard red: good for bread
• Whole berries keep far longer than flour

• Needs a grain mill
• 25 lb is heavy to move

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you won't grind it: store rice, oats and pasta instead.

Parboiled long-grain white rice in a #10 can, about 4.9 pounds and 44 servings, with a 30-year shelf life by the maker. That lines up with the research: Utah State University Extension cites a BYU study that found both polished and parboiled rice kept their nutrients and flavor up to 30 years. Store it cool.

Best for Rice already canned for the long haul

• #10 can: no repacking
• Parboiled rice keeps for decades (BYU)
• 44 servings a can

• Costs more per pound than bulk rice you pack yourself

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you'll pack your own: a 25 lb bucket of rice plus Mylar bags costs less per pound.

Quick-cook pinto beans in a #10 can: 22 servings that simmer in a short time instead of soaking overnight, which matters when fuel and water are rationed. The maker gives 25 years. Utah State University Extension says dried beans in #10 cans with the oxygen removed keep 10 years or more, and that beans stored up to 30 years still scored well with a taste panel for emergency use.

Best for Beans that cook fast, using less fuel and water

• Quick-cook: less fuel and water
• #10 can
• 22 servings

• Costs more than plain dried beans

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you have time and fuel to cook regular dried beans: a 25 lb bucket is cheaper.

Twenty-five pounds of pinto beans sealed in Mylar with oxygen absorbers inside a bucket, about 40% of the 62 pounds of legumes BYU's plan gives one adult for a year. Old beans take longer to soften; BYU notes that an eighth of a teaspoon of baking soda per cup softens them.

Best for A year's worth of beans in one bucket

• Mylar and absorbers already done
• 25 lb in one bucket

• Regular beans: long soak and cook

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if fuel or water will be tight: quick-cook beans cook much faster.

A 25-pound bucket of long-grain white rice from a family farm, in a bucket that keeps out pests and moisture. It's the bulk rice you cook from every week and rotate. For decades-long storage, repack some into Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers: Utah State University Extension says rice at a constant 70°F with absorbers keeps well for up to 10 years, and up to 30 years in cooler storage.

Best for Everyday rice in bulk, to use and rotate

• 25 lb in a bucket
• Good value per pound
• Easy to rotate into daily cooking

• Not oxygen-sealed: repack for decades

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want it ready for 30 years with no repacking: the #10 cans.

Instant nonfat dry milk in a #10 can, for drinking, baking and cooking. BYU's plan has an adult storing about 60 pounds of it a year. Keep it cool: Utah State University Extension says the shelf life of packaged nonfat dry milk ranges from 3 months to 3-5 years, and storage temperature is the main factor.

Best for Milk for cooking, baking and breakfast

• #10 can
• Instant: mixes with water

• Shelf life depends heavily on temperature
• About 2.1 lb a can: you need many

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you'll store it somewhere warm: the shelf life drops fast.

A bucket of beans and rice in pouches, 100 servings, cooked by boiling water and stirring in a pouch. It's a quick way to add a protein-and-grain base to a pantry without buying and packing staples yourself, though per pound it costs more than bulk.

Best for A ready-made starter of beans and rice

• Ready-packed: nothing to repack
• Pouches: open a little at a time

• Costs more per pound than bulk

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you'll pack your own beans and rice: bulk buckets cost less.