Splenda, Sweet & Low, Equal...how to store?

[Kathysvideos13]

My husband and I are big tea drinkers and have to have our sugar replacements: Splenda, Equal, Sweet and Low.

If we bought the biggest stash they sell at Wal-Mart this weekend, what's the best way to store this? We want to buy a year supply's worth.
(These are the little individual packets).

Maybe breaking down the supply into 1-2 months supplies so we don't reopen a year's supply?

What do you suggest for us?

Thank you,

Kathy

[speedofl33t]

I'd say switch to saccharine. It is the most stable sweetener. Keep dry and you're fine.

[Daggel]

I'd store it in the trash, that stuff is awful for you. Have you ever tried Stevia? You can grow it yourself, mince the leaves, and put it in a tea ball. Much healthier.

[MikeK]

This thread should bring out the trolls in droves, telling you not to use it! haha

I don't know enough about Splenda chemically to know how well it stores or whether it breaks down. My first instinct is to say store it in mylar with O2 absorbers since I don't know whether it oxidizes or not. But O2 absorbers put off moisture as they work. You can counteract that with dessicants, but if the dessicant is near the absorber, it will stop the absorber from working. As per Sorbent Systems, in a large bucket, you can put the dessicant on the bottom and the absorber on the top and it works ok, but in smaller bags I'm not sure what the solution would be.

You might email the company and ask about long term storage. If it's stable like sugar or salt, all it needs is dry storage.

I think you're right about storing a month or two worth per package.

[Kathysvideos13]

Originally Posted by MikeK

This thread should being out the trolls in droves, telling you not to use it! haha

I don't know enough about Splenda chemically to know how well it stores or whether it breaks down. My first instinct is to say store it in mylar with O2 absorbers since I don't know whether it oxidizes or not. But O2 absorbers put off moisture as they work. You can counteract that with dessicants, but if the dessicant is near the absorber, it will stop the absorber from working. As per Sorbent Systems, in a large bucket, you can put the dessicant on the bottom and the absorber on the top and it works ok, but in smaller bags I'm not sure what the solution would be.

You might email the company and ask about long term storage. If it's stable like sugar or salt, all it needs is dry storage.

I think you're right about storing a month or two worth per package.

Mike, Thank you for trying to answer my question.

To the others: Sure, I know it's probably bad for me, but wasn't asking that question. After all, I want to keep me as happy as possible down to the end. I want to die with a smile on my face!

Anyway, I was thinking about counting out roughly a month's supply between the two of us, then sealing it?, then continuing on until at least a year's worth.
On a side note, I've always picked up extras here and there over time. I found some Equal packs stamped from Harrah's casino that I haven't been back to at least 3 years ago, and I used them yesterday. Tasted fine, and no different than the other packs. And it was in a secondary purse that I wanted to switch back to from the closet. Also 2 tootsie rolls in there.

Kathy

[Gypsymoonfarm]

I used a sharpie to make a skull and cross bones on my MIL's cancer sugar dispenser. If you are going to use the calorie free stuff, Truvia might work for you. I've found it in the health food stores and it's supposed to be all natural. Personally, I opt for a tiny amount of real sugar or none at all.

[AtticusFinch]

Originally Posted by MikeK

This thread should being out the trolls in droves, telling you not to use it! haha.

No kidding!

Anyway, I have used Sweet 'n Low packets that I know were a few years old and they were fine. I would say seal them up in a container, maybe add a silica package or two, and they would last years. Maybe decades. I really have never heard anything about them ever breaking down.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by AtticusFinch

No kidding!

Anyway, I have used Sweet 'n Low packets that I know were a few years old and they were fine. I would say seal them up in a container, maybe add a silica package or two, and they would last years. Maybe decades. I really have never heard anything about them ever breaking down.

They may be plenty stable enough to do just that. I think that's what I would try anyway. But it might be nice to have the factory's take on it, just to make sure.

[MadPrepper]

We buy Sweet & Low in 1500 pack boxes from Sams. Only one of us uses them. Ends up being about 2 year supply.

Nothing special to store. Just put the box in the pantry. Can't tell the last from the first.

[LibraryCacher]

Originally Posted by MikeK

This thread should bring out the trolls in droves, telling you not to use it! haha

I have to admit my first thought was... "Sweet! Someone wants to store chemical warfare agents."
The problems are how do you get your enemies to consume enough Equal to give them migraines and isn't MSG cheaper?

[Kathysvideos13]

Originally Posted by AtticusFinch

No kidding!

Anyway, I have used Sweet 'n Low packets that I know were a few years old and they were fine. I would say seal them up in a container, maybe add a silica package or two, and they would last years. Maybe decades. I really have never heard anything about them ever breaking down.

I'm still a newbie, don't slap me.

What is a "silica package"?

Kathy

[LibraryCacher]

Originally Posted by Kathysvideos13

I'm still a newbie, don't slap me.

What is a "silica package"?

Kathy

A desiccant.

[Illini Warrior]

you treat the sugar substitutes like regular sugar or salt ...... keep it dry ..... add desiccant packs to the food grade bucket .....

you should buy items like this in bigger bulk ..... the individual packs have too much packaging involved ..... the paper, adhesive, ink all have chemicals involved ...... not a problem when used in a normal time frame & shelf stored ..... different story when LTS and contained air tite for long term ........

[AtticusFinch]

Originally Posted by Kathysvideos13

I'm still a newbie, don't slap me.

What is a "silica package"?

Kathy

Don't sweat it, Kathy.

Silica is a dessicant. You see them from time to time in packaging. It is usually a small package that says "don't eat" on the side. It sucks the moisture out of a container.

[Shorebird]

Stick to the saccharine: Sweet and Low

It's very shelf stable and has the fewer dangers than the other two. (Imagine, saccharine is now considered OK, after all that craziness years ago.)

A friend of mine only uses Sweet & Low (I tried to get her to switch to Stevia but she's so used to the S&L, nothing else tastes as good to her).

Anyway over 3 years ago, she found someone selling it in cartons of 12 boxes with 250 packets (3,000 packets) on eBay at a crazy price and got 4 cartons. She's using them today with no problem. Says she's got enough for the next 5 years. They are the usual store box, with the cellophane wrapping. She's done nothing special except keep them in a closet and they are fine.

So, if they come in the original box, you might want to put a few boxes in a plastic bag and seal with tape. If the packets are loose, use the mylar bags with silica dessicant packs to keep them dry. Moisture is the thing that will cause problems.

[BASS]

I also buy 1500 count box of Sweet'n Low at BJ's. I stay in the basement which is a dry environment. I use one or two a day and am not concerned. There are more chemicals in our foods than there were years ago.

If you don't have a dry space to store it you may want to put packets in mason jars or zip type bags to prevent moisture affecting the sweetner.

[nomadjanet]

Equal will break down from heat very quickly. I have left them in our fishing house and the granuals turn an off beigh color and lose the sweetness. Sweet n low will also but not as fast. I buy my splenda lose in mylar bags at the grocery store. When I open one I put it in a glass jar and use it from there. I have never tried to long term splenda so cant give terms on that.

[floss187]

Equal is great to keep around the house. Ant killer.

Of course, there's known health effects to these items, but to each their own.

I use honey or nothing at all in my tea these days. Green tea and a tab of honey is delicious.

[Postert]

I use Sweet Mate cheaper than sweet n low, and noticed there is an expiration date on the box.

[GoblintheCat]

Why would you use this stuff post-TEOTWAWKI? Just use sugar. Post-TEOTWAWKI getting too many calories is likely to be the least of your concerns.

YMMV,
Chad