For
the person who is just preserving a few buckets, this is the most expensive
way to go as there is so much equipment involved. However, the gas itself is
cheap, and if you are planning on preserving hundreds of buckets of food, this
method will become the cheapest. This method will also prove to be less of
a hassle than dry ice as you will be able to seal the buckets immediately after
inserting the nitrogen and won't have to wait for the dry ice to melt.
Equipment
needed:
Nitrogen
Bottle
Pressure
reducing valve and gauges
Hose
Wand
(a hollow, rigid tube connected to the end of the hose which is pushed to the
bottom of the bucket for the actual nitrogen purging.)
Hand
held valve at the top of the wand (optional: You could use the valve on top
of the bottle but this would be a real pain).
You
should be able to get the majority of the equipment you need at a welding supply
store.
After
you get your nitrogen apparatus set up, adjust your output pressure to between
60 and 70 PSI. Fill your bucket with the product, set the lid on top, off-centered
just a bit so there is access for the wand, then stick the wand to the bottom
of the bucket and open the valve. Stick a lit match, cigarette lighter or candle
over the top of the bucket where the gas will escape, then open the valve,
starting the purging operation. Its' a pretty good indication that most of
the oxygen has been removed when the flame goes out. If you time this, you
should only have to use this flame technique for four or five buckets until
you get a pretty good feeling for how long you will need to leave the nitrogen
on for each bucket. After you have inserted the nitrogen, immediately remove
the wand, slide the lid over onto the bucket and seal the lid. If you want
the best job you can get, you can always seal one oxygen absorber inside the
bucket to capture any residual oxygen left in the container. In my opinion,
a mylar bag isn't needed as there will only be such a small amount of oxygen
absorbed that the vacuum created by this will be minimal.
After
you get your nitrogen apparatus set up, adjust your output pressure to between
60 and 70 PSI. Fill your bucket with the product, set the lid on top, off-centered
just a bit so there is access for the wand, then stick the wand to the bottom
of the bucket and open the valve. Stick a lit match, cigarette lighter or candle
over the top of the bucket where the gas will escape, then open the valve,
starting the purging operation. Its' a pretty good indication that most of
the oxygen has been removed when the flame goes out. If you time this, you
should only have to use this flame technique for four or five buckets until
you get a pretty good feeling for how long you will need to leave the nitrogen
on for each bucket. After you have inserted the nitrogen, immediately remove
the wand, slide the lid over onto the bucket and seal the lid. If you want
the best job you can get, you can always seal one oxygen absorber inside the
bucket to capture any residual oxygen left in the container. In my opinion,
a mylar bag isn't needed as there will only be such a small amount of oxygen
absorbed that the vacuum created by this will be minimal. 