Sunflower Seed Question (1 Viewer)

[emc]

Do black oil sunflower seeds go bad? I want to buy a huge bag, I'm guessing it will last a few months. Is that fine or is it better to by smaller bags that will be used up faster?

 

[Bird_Bill]

Buy 50 lbs. (23 kg) bags when the price is right,
store in a air tight plastic tub, kept dry, does fine

 

[emc]

I don't have a plastic container larger enough so I would need to buy one. Would the new plastic smell contaminate the seeds?

 

[Soj]

I just store mine in the bag. As long as its not kept in a hot garage or damp basement it should be good to go. You could put it in a plastic garbage bag if you are concerned about possible pantry moth infestation.

 

[grobble]

Multi-layer brown paper sack keeps mine good all year.

 

[Aloof1]

Best place to keep any food is in a Galvanized Steel trash can with cover, only because rodents can't get through it. Any bird seed in the shell will last a very long time, seed out of a shell needs to be with something like paper to absorb any moisture..but you should not get that if you have it in a closed container anyway. Nyjer will go bad because it drys out, it is supposed to be oily when fresh..i can't tell you the last time i seen it like that though.

Plastic containers won't hurt the food, unless you are heating the food up and placing it in super hot. Safflower should be microwaved to keep it from sprouting, it is best to cool it off in a steel bowl before putting it in plastic. I would suggest you buy a Galvanized Steel container to prevent a mouse problem, they last forever. look up Behrens trash cans. a plus to this is it is large enough to hold a 50lb bag plus other food.

 

[Bird_Bill]

I don't have a plastic container larger enough so I would need to buy one. Would the new plastic smell contaminate the seeds?

Not aware of toxins given off various plasticized containers. Galvanized metals either, despite a primary lead base covered with zinc, and not used for human consumables. As long as the seed is kept dry, it stores without problems. I happened to have a tub that was clean, and put it to work as seed container in the kitchen pantry. My problem was a curious Siberian husky that once took 5 pounds of thistle seed for a walk throughout the house.