alternative store cupboard/larder type thing....

mambury

I have started to build an emergency stock of non perishable food in addition to the general store .....
Now as I am struggling for space a little I was thinking of storing the extra food stock in the loft (items such as tins, flour in lock'n'lock boxes and UHT milks) but my main worry is that the loft is well insulated ( one plus!) and gets very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer.... How will the extremes of temperature affect the food???

Anyone use their loft as a pantry??

jackieglasgow

Does it really get hot in summer if its well insulated? Ours doesn't at all. What about behind the kickboards in the kitchen for the tins?

mambury

I mean that the insulation on the loft floor/first floor ceiling is quite thick. This means that the loft itself is subject to massive temperature changes.....

OH is a builder/kitchen fitter so the idea of asking him to alter the kitchen.... well, lets just say the mechanics car is the last to be fixed!

Can you tell I am tired and my brain is giving up?? I'm not even sure that I make sense!

kim107

I would worry that the extremes in temperature may cause condensation to form in the dry foods. I would try to find some space in the house for these. I would think that tins would be ok in the loft as long as the metal remains in good condition and does not go rusty etc. To save space why not store milk powder instead of UHT cartons?

mambury

The UHT is mainly soya milk, as both the kids and I drink it, with a few UHT dairy thrown in for OH and he wouldn't even consider powder!!!

I guess under the bed for the dry stuff, loft for the tins and UHT.....

zarazara

why not fill under the kitchen cupboards, remove the baseboards and put the tins in plastic continers on wheels for easy access. theres also under beds and in the bottom of the wardrobe.

kim107

Ah, didn't consider about soya milk. I just thought - with the cold temps this winter I wonder if the cans would freeze if we had another cold snap. This might damage the seal. Hopefully we are over the worst of the winter now though!

ally18

This may sound daft but I've started to store excess food in my bedroom, im talking about when there is a good offer on etc, bogof and cheap deals just to save money on the next shop. For example I bought enough choc biscuits and crisps (for school packups)to last the month from our local market because they were cheap. I have put everything in the suitcase in my bedroom cupboard and just bring them out each week when needed. Ive also got toilet rolls and kitchen rolls in there as well. I plan to put an old shelf in my understairs cupboard when I've decluttered it and will start to store tins there and bigger items that arn't a luxury and wont be filched by the kids.

Justamum

mambury wrote: »

Anyone use their loft as a pantry??

It depends on how much food you plan to store. Some American food stockers have vast quantities and I'd be more worried about the ceiling caving in :eek:

mambury

Justamum wrote: »

It depends on how much food you plan to store. Some American food stockers have vast quantities and I'd be more worried about the ceiling caving in :eek:

Tee hee, that would give DS a shock.... breakfast in bed ! LOL!

No need to worry about that as all the floor in the loft has been re-enforced so we can walk around on it quite safely.

Well.... I have a pressing problem in that I have a rather large order arriving tomorrow from Approved Foods and no room under the beds:eek:. Wish me luck!!