Food Grade Buckets

okbees · January 04, 2011, 02:21:12 PM

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 · January 04, 2011, 03:00:02 PM

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. 8-)

Bee Happy · January 04, 2011, 05:46:05 PM

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 · January 07, 2011, 02:45:18 PM

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 · January 07, 2011, 07:40:12 PM

Quote from: Bee-Bop on January 07, 2011, 02:45:18 PM
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 · January 09, 2011, 02:39:21 PM

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

VolunteerK9 · January 09, 2011, 02:58:47 PM

Quote from: Vance G on January 09, 2011, 02:39:21 PM
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 · January 09, 2011, 03:13:27 PM

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

Bee Happy · January 09, 2011, 04:37:44 PM

Quote from: AllenF on January 09, 2011, 03:13:27 PM
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 · January 09, 2011, 04:56:02 PM

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

Bee-Bop · January 09, 2011, 07:03:18 PM

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 · January 09, 2011, 07:22:31 PM

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 · January 09, 2011, 08:54:50 PM

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 · January 10, 2011, 12:31:33 AM

Quote from: AllenF on January 09, 2011, 04:56:02 PM
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 S~~am's club~~ (censored by poster to avoid advertizing.) :-P

ronwhite3030 · January 18, 2011, 04:27:11 PM

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 · January 18, 2011, 07:17:19 PM

The ones at Tractor Supply are food grade.

ronwhite3030 · January 19, 2011, 03:15:29 AM

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

tefer2 · January 19, 2011, 08:54:39 AM

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 · January 19, 2011, 07:49:32 PM

Very cool. Never saw them there before.

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

ronwhite3030 · January 20, 2011, 01:28:03 AM

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.