Right now it’s a 1/2 dozen 6 gallon plastic cans.
I have a 55 gallon blue plastic barrel. Would that be suitable for an emergency storage situation? Ideally it should be metal, correct?
The military uses plastic. I use military surplus Scepter cans, but they’re hard to get in the US and expensive in Canata. The blue barrels are designed for water storage, so I’d stay with that. But, you can also get older steel Jerry cans at Majors Surplus, Sportsman’s Guide, and other places.
If you are preparing for a long term emergency situation, like powering a generator, maybe you should look into using wood gas. Do you have a good supply of wood?
Plastic barrels are too porous for longer term gasoline storage. Steel is better. Remember, short chain hydrocarbons have a pretty short shelf life before they go “sour” even in steel. Sour means that the molecules will separate.
I would recommend, premium 91 octane ethanol free. The ethanol will absorb water, is much more corrosive over time, and generally less stable.
Gasoline is a short term fuel and doesn’t store well in any container. Diesel is better, but practically every “fuel” derived from petroleum fractional distilling is inherently prone to breakdown.
Fundamentally, liquid motor fuels are going to be difficult to store in the long term. Propane and LNG as gasses are much better. They don’t go sour. Problem with them is the storage container/transfer.