Food Grade Buckets

[okbees]

I am sure all of you experienced beeks know this, but it was new to me.  I was at the local grocery store the other day and saw their bakery area and was watching them "ice" some cakes.  The cake icing came from white food grade buckets and I asked them what they did with the empty ones, and was advised they just throw them away.  The bakery manager started keeping them for me and in one week I got over 20 4.5 Gal buckets with lids and rubber washers, and 8 2.5 Gal buckets with lids and rubber washers.  I am sure that I will be using the smaller ones as bucket feeders and the larger ones for honey storage.  So, if you are in need of food grade buckets then you might look at the free ones from the bakery at your grocery store.  Any other ideas for these and I would appreciate your input.

[AllenF]

Good job in your find.   Just one warning, I have heard that with some icing, the flavor or smell may transfer to your honey.  But it is still all good. 

[Bee Happy]

Awesome tip, thanks. I had some used 5 gal. cooking oil containers washed out with dawn, and rinsed... and washed... and rinsed... and rinsed, left in the sun, and rinsed...

[Bee-Bop]

Most of the food stores and bakery's in our area have wised up and charge a $1.00 per bucket.
Not Free but still cheap.

The ones with raspberry filling are hard to get odor free.
Oh, all that extra icing taste good.

Bee-Bop

[Sparky]

Most of the food stores and bakery's in our area have wised up and charge a $1.00 per bucket.
Not Free but still cheap.

The ones with raspberry filling are hard to get odor free.
Oh, all that extra icing taste good.

Bee-Bop

Do you let your girls sample it too or do they have to fend for themselves ? LOL!!!

[Vance G]

The burgerdoodles get their pickles in green five gallon buckets too.  Any food service place is a potential bucket source.

[VolunteerK9]

The burgerdoodles get their pickles in green five gallon buckets too.  Any food service place is a potential bucket source.

Yup, Ive got some of those before...still got the pickle smell in them

[AllenF]

Pickle flavored honey.   There is something my wife would love.  (She bought dill pickle chip dip for the coming snow storm).

[Bee Happy]

Pickle flavored honey.   There is something my wife would love.  (She bought dill pickle chip dip for the coming snow storm).

...Are we expecting a little Allen?

[AllenF]

Nope, the girl just love pickles.............. and pickle juice.....and pickle flavored whatever.... and more pickles. 

[Bee-Bop]

Do you let your girls sample it too or do they have to fend for themselves ? LOL!!! Wink

Heck no, I smuggle the buckets in during the night, also by that time the grand kids have gone home !

Mean ain't I !

Bee-Bop

[Bee-Bop]

Here is a link to plastic grades;
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/plastics.html

A triangle mark with a 2 inside it located on the bottom of the bucket, is generally considered food grade

Bee-Bop

[winginit]

I too got icing buckets last year, to collect maple syrup. Hours of cleaning and soaking, and still that icing smell. My syrup turned, could have been because it was too late in the season...or maybe the fake icing. All soy and corn and unpronounceable ingredients.

I was trying to be green and frugal, but in the end, it wasn't worth the time. Much less the ribbing. On the plus side, the ribber took it all back when he needed to drain the oil in his tractor. Those buckets do come in handy.

[Bee Happy]

Nope, the girl just love pickles.............. and pickle juice.....and pickle flavored whatever.... and more pickles.  

I admit I went through a pickle phase, but the ulterior motive was the gallon glass pickle jars from Sam's club (censored by poster to avoid advertizing.) 

[ronwhite3030]

Are the white 5 gallon buckets you can purchase frome homedepot safe to use for honey? They have the number 2 stamped in the bottom of them.

[tefer2]

The ones at Tractor Supply are food grade.

[ronwhite3030]

thanks tefer Ill check em out, didnt think about being able to get them there

[tefer2]

  I had the local TSC manager call the main office, that contacted the manuf. of the buckets, to get the info on being food grade. A lot of farmers buy stuff at TSC for livestock needs.

[AllenF]

Very cool.   Never saw them there before.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/buckets-pails/tractor-supply-company-logo-114l-5-gallon-white-pail-2224579

[ronwhite3030]

I think thats the cheapest I have ever seen a new 5 gallon bucket at that price its not worth cleaning out one from a bakery and having bad tasting honey.

[tefer2]

  Just make sure the local TSC has the food grade like mine has. Triangle with #2 inside, HDPE, white bucket.

[AllenF]

Are the buckets 2.99 there like the website?   And how much are the lids?

[tefer2]

  Buckets at the store are $2.99. Lids are $1.99 but don't have a rubber gasket in them.
They still seem air tight and water will not run out when turned upside down.

[dpotter9]

I have used Baking soda to get the smell out of buckets, after washing them and rinsing well.

I usually use about 4 - 8 ounces of baking soda, fill the bucket with water and let sit in the sun for awhile.  Rinse and most of the smell should be gone.  If you still have a smell, then try putting some lemon juice in the water and letting it set.  Lemon juice will mask almost all bad smells ( like pickle juice ).

[tefer2]

I have news for ya! Nothing will remove that pickle smell from a plastic bucket. I've try ed everything to get it out. Used a whole box of baking soda and then washed the truck with it for two years. Same smell comes back. You just have to use it for nonfood storage.

[ronwhite3030]

you mighnt as well buy a new bucket if you are going to use a whole box

[kbenz]

Good job in your find.   Just one warning, I have heard that with some icing, the flavor or smell may transfer to your honey.  But it is still all good. 

I was told not to feed after putting supers on?

[kathyp]

for things like icing, try washing with vinegar.  it seems to cut the oil that sticks to the buckets.  it also works for smells like tomato/spaghetti sauce if you want to use the jars and the lids hold the smell.

[wd]

I soak what I use in cold water & vinegar for 24 hrs or until the smell is gone. works great!

[Acebird]

Nope, the girl just love pickles.............. and pickle juice.....and pickle flavored whatever.... and more pickles

She should try dilly beans if she hasn't all ready.  Great way to store green beans.

As far as plastic goes I wouldn't store my honey in anything plastic.  If it takes on and gives up smells why do you think that is?  Glass, ceramic, or stainless steel would be my only choices.

[wd]

I don't know about others, for me it's difficult to get away from plastic, my refrigerator is plastic, the freezers plastic, the vehicle is plastic, in the grocery store a lot of items are in plastic, everywhere I turn some form of plastic is there, glaring.

I have some stainless steel items, I can say it has a shelf life too, also save glass containers that are reusable for personal use. I thinks it's more about doing the best one can do with means to do it until it an upgrade is possible.

[Bee-Bop]

I don't know about others, for me it's difficult to get away from plastic, my refrigerator is plastic, the freezers plastic, the vehicle is plastic, in the grocery store a lot of items are in plastic, everywhere I turn some form of plastic is there, glaring.

I have some stainless steel items, I can say it has a shelf life too, also save glass containers that are reusable for personal use. I thinks it's more about doing the best one can do with means to do it until it an upgrade is possible.

YOU forgot to mention all the human body parts made of plastic today, IV ports, pacemakers, artificial this and plastic that.

Bee-Bop

[bullship]

We get white food grade buckets at bakery outlet stores all clean with cleaned lids and gaskets. Have to be very careful and sniff them before any honey goes near them. check for rancid,fruity or pickle oders. Got some FREE pickle buckets several years ago(triangle 2 on bottom)nice clean buckets .STILL SMELL LIKE PICKLES SEVERAL YEARS AND MANY USES LATER!!
Bullship

[woodchopper]

I think thats the cheapest I have ever seen a new 5 gallon bucket at that price its not worth cleaning out one from a bakery and having bad tasting honey.

Guess I know what I'll be buying next time I go to TS !!!