How to Store Food in Your Garage

Invest in appropriate garage cabinets

While you can keep some canned goods out on a shelf, you’ll want to protect any boxed goods and condiments behind closed doors. The reason for this is that dust and insects can make the foods not only unappetizing, but also potentially unsafe. Also, tight-fitting cabinet doors will help protect your food from temperature extremes, though not completely.

Place a dehumidifier in the garage

If you live in a humid climate, the lack of air conditioning in the garage can contribute to mold and dampness, particularly in boxed goods. Reduce this issue by running a dehumidifier in your garage, either all year or during the damp season. If it’s particularly humid where you live, only store canned and sealed jarred items in the garage, and keep all of the boxed goods and those in plastic containers in the house.

Keep everything off of the ground and away from chemicals

One of the main problems with storing food in the garage is that you also store potentially dangerous chemicals out there, from gasoline to motor oil to lawn pesticides. Reduce the risk of contamination by storing food and chemicals at opposite ends of the garage.

Consider storing everything in a refrigerator

If you have an extra refrigerator, turn the temperature up and place your non-perishables inside. This will take the place of a humidifier and will also keep everything relatively cool.

Don’t forget about freezing temperatures in the winter

If the mercury dips below freezing in your area, you won’t want to store items that might be damaged by the extreme temperatures. At the same time, never rely on cool garage temperatures to keep cold food cold. You might be surprised at how much the temperature of your garage differs from that outside, so even if it’s below freezing outside, don’t assume that you can keep your milk or other perishable foods in the garage instead of in the refrigerator for more than a couple of hours.