[CottonBall]

This is your ping to the All Things Prepping, Simple Living, Back to the Basics Thread

This is an ONGOING thread, meaning drop in when you want and chat. There is no one topic or story, but ongoing sharing with prepper friends.

If you want off/on this list, just let me know.

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I have a question for everyone regarding storing plastic.

Is it better kept at a cool temperature or a warm temperature? As in basement temps (65ish) or house temps (anywhere from 66 to 83 during the year).

I’m storing an odd thing, kinda embarrassed to say what I have done....I’ve put things in a mason jar with oxygen absorbers, but don’t know where to store it now. It’s the plastic part of the thing that I figured might degrade first, while the metal part might be ok because I’ve eliminated the rust issue.

[metmom]

I use canning jars.

The downside is that glass breaks.

The upside is that nothing gets through it.

[tiki]

Definitely in the cool place.

[greeneyes]

My instinct is to keep it away from heat. Not freezing. Basement seems right to me.

[Iron Munro]

“Care of Objects Made from Rubber and Plastic”

https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/care-rubber-plastic.html

[V K Lee]

Perhaps it’s late and missing the point completely. Believe you said you can. Where do you store your canned goodies? The basement? Elsewhere in the house? Are you satisfied when you open the jar and enjoy the contents? Is there room for more jars.

[little jeremiah]

Plastic always degrades faster in the heat; although in my experience hard plastics sometimes degrade in freezing temperatures.

[Iron Munro]

Your mention of storing things in canning jars reminded me of something.

Do you know that most Classico brand pasta sauce comes in mason jars?

The jars are found in different sizes depending on the product - 8oz, 16oz, 28oz, 32oz, and they all take a standard Ball/Mason screw on top band and lid.
We have reused these jars for water bath and pressure canning for years and never had a problem.

We buy a few jars now and then when the local grocery stores have a buy-one-get-one sale on Classico a few times a year.

But most of our jars came from friends and relatives or people we saw buying the sauce who were happy to save their empty jars for us.

For pickling or short term refrigerator storage we reuse the original one piece screw on top with no problems.

[Lurker]

Home Made MRE:

2 Single Serve packs of SPAM (460 calories)
2 packages Instant Hot Cocoa (240 calories)
1 package Instant Soup mix (80-150 calories depending)
1 Package Crunchy Granola Bar (210 calories approx depending on brand)
1 package Instant Coffee (0 calories)
2 packages sugar
Salt and pepper packages from McD’s or similar
Napkin

Place all items in a Vac Seal bag and seal on the Gentle setting. Keeps air and moisture out. Good for at least a year.

Costs about $5.00

Use your imagination for items to add. Watch the expiration dates. Consume or just replace as they reach them.

L