Storing wood chunks

Burnt coal

I have bought two boxes of wood chunks (apple & hickory)from Chigger Creek and the boxes are so large it will take me a year or two to use it all. What is the shelf life of wood chunks and how is the best way to store it in my garage. Air tight plastic container? Cardboard box? I live in central Florida so it doesn't get real cold but it does rain often in the summer months. Not sure about the humidity in my garage but I've never had a problem. Thanks!

Willie Lump Lump

I read the Whizes articles about spalting http://www.nakedwhiz.com/productreviews/hickorychunks/hickorychunks.htm
And now have a concern about proper storage.
The sealed container idea seems good. I live in Minnesota and my wood and charcoal will be dry till April but I will be storing in a sealed container soon.
I thinking I will want to keep mold spores to a minimum and slow down moisture changes as much as I can.
I noticed Maine Grilling Wood products now label that the heat their products to 165 degrees before packaging. I think they are trying to keep from transporting tree deceases, but I wonder if this kind of treatment would kill anything that would cause problems in storage and if it does what’s the most practical way to do it at home.
TTFN WLL

Gator Bait

 
I'm in Fort Myers and store my lump and chunks in a clean, plastic trash barrel with a tight lid. I don't have a garage so it is exposed to the elements and keeps my charcoal and chunks fine, even in the summer humidity.

Gator

 

Carolina Q

Shelf life? Couple hundred years? More? Longer than yours at any rate. It's just wood. Let the air get to it and keep it dry, you'll be fine. If it has already started to spalt, you won't stop it. If it already has critters munching their way through it, you won't stop them either. If it's nice and solid, it'll be fine. I have a stack of air dried lumber in my garage (definitely NOT climate controlled) that's been there for more years than I care to count. Open to whatever humidity or varmints want to have at it. But it's dry. Looks the same as the day I put it there.

Do not seal it up in an air tight food saver bag. The moisture in the wood will condense inside the bag and you will have a bag of black moldy chunks to add extra flavor to your cooks. Let the air get to it.

BayouMark

I cut most of my wood from down trees after a storm or land clearing. Sometimes I'll find wood piled up in a creekbed etc. I just cut it up, put it in a box outside under roof and enjoy what nature has given me.

ranger ray

i keep mine in an old shed... in burlap bags.... let's the air circulate.... i have about a full pickup truck load of assorted fruit woods.... enough to last me till i croak.... milk crates(non stolen) are a popular choice of some guys too...