Best way to keep something from freezing?

The title pretty much says it all. I'm looking to store some items such as clothes, blankets and other things in a self storage container. What i'm worried about is the food, water, and *gasp* beer and alcoholic bottles that I will also be storing. I don't want to come in one day and seeing everything unusable because of freezing, or worse, exploded. What are some ideas that you guys have to prevent this from happening? Store the liquids in a cooler to keep out the cold?..

 

Some storage facilities will not let you store foods and the like for that reason and little furry critters.

 

Actual alcohol doesn't freeze, so you're fine there.

Food should be in an airtight container...and assuming it's not stuff like sour cream or whatever, dry food will not freeze at all. Canned goods may freeze, you'll want to pack them in something cloth and then box them. Water you should freeze before you put it in there (open the top, pour out about an inch, let it freeze solid, then put the cap back on).

Beer? You're gonna lose. Doesn't matter if it's in a cooler or not, it will explode. The cooler at least will contain the mess somewhat when it explodes, but you're gonna lose it. You'd be better off not trying to store beer or sodas or anything else liquid and carbonated.

 

Even canned goods shouldn't be frozen as there is liquid inside that could create pressure thereby possibly creating very small holes that could let bacteria in. I say have a beer and canned goods party.

 

All food-stuff cans in North America now have pleated or accordionated sides. Most of these cans will survive freezing to ice and re-thawing. Clear soups are "iffy" though, as they contain a higher water volume. However, I attest, canned vegetables, tomato paste, beans and heavy soups will all survive. I've left cans at the unheated cottage over the winter and never had a mess. However, I've seen cans from Europe( notably France) that are smooth cylinders, and this type of can will explode upon freezing. Food products in sealed glass jars will probaly not survive, whereas jars that have been opened and some of the product removed, will.
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The new steel pepsi cans over here can take freezing pretty good they bulge out at both ends but dont break and after defrosting tastes like pepsi and isnt flat,out of about five I'v left in there lost only one which only split little

 

OK, but why take the chance of getting botulism for a few dollars. If in doubt throw it out though I hate throwing out good food by mistake. The problem is one can't tell without a laboratory. It's just not worth it.