Posted on February 09 2021
Mylar bags are amazing for long term food storage and are a great complement to vacuum sealing. But why? Mylar bag films offer an extremely low Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) due to its thick foil laminate layer. Providing three layers of protection from moisture, light, and odor. Mylar is extremely flexible and thin, while also being very strong and durable. It is puncture-resistant* and easy to use. The opacity of the bag will also preserve the nutrients of your food.
Food preservation, when done properly, has the ability to keep items fresh for months or years longer than traditional food storage methods. Using mylar bags in conjunction with oxygen absorbers can add more time, and in some cases up to 30 years!
desiccant/
silica gel packs that absorb moisture not oxygen)
Below are some examples of commonly stored foods and how long they'll remain good to eat when stored in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.
Nuts, crisps or chips, chocolate or candy, dried eggs, crackers, nut butters, brown rice (Brown rice is high in oil content and has a short shelf life. Foods high in moisture or oil content such as raisins, nuts, granola, chocolate chips, cookies, and crackers are not ideal candidates for long term storage in a mylar bag. These foods will suffice for keeping in long-term storage, but you will need to rotate them out more often as they will expire sooner than grains.)
Dehydrated meat (beef jerky), yeast, dry biscuits
Baby milk/formula, cornmeal (maize flour), herbs (ground), powdered milk (full-fat), sprouting seeds
Alfalfa, gluten, granola, herbs (whole), millet, mung beans, quinoa, peppercorns (whole), peanut butter powder, powdered milk (semi-skimmed), powdered egg, rye, unbleached flour, wheat flakes
Black turtle beans, black-eyed peas, buckwheat, butter/margarine powder, chickpeas, cocoa powder, durham wheat, flax, white flour, whole wheat flour
Coffee (instant), freeze-fried fruit and vegetables, legumes (kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, split peas), powdered milk (skimmed), grains (rolled oats, hulled oats, white rice, dry pasta), tea (bags or loose), potato flakes, dried onions
Baking soda/powder, honey, salt, sugar, salt, cornstarch
These years are based on keeping your food in a cool (40-60 degree F) storage area.
Where do the Oxygen Absorbers come in? Removing oxygen from the mylar bags prevents spoilage and kills any inset eggs that could hatch. So what size oxygen absorbers are recommended for each size mylar bag?
The good news is you cannot use too many oxygen absorbers, the bad news, you can use too little.
It may seem obvious, but don't forget to label and date your mylar bags before you fill them. After the bag is sealed, it can be difficult to determine exactly what's inside. Prevent having “mystery bags” in your food storage by labeling them right away.
It is important to seal the pouches quickly so that the oxygen absorbers can work properly. It takes about 2-4 hours for an oxygen absorber to do its job. However, you should try to get your bags sealed as quickly as possible. We don't recommend leaving out oxygen absorbers more than 30 minutes; ideally 10-20 minutes. Otherwise, you risk the oxygen absorbers absorbing too much outside air and not being able to absorb all the oxygen in your mylar bag. (Tip: Before you open your oxygen absorbers, mark each mylar bag with how many oxygen absorbers the bag needs. This will make sealing much faster.)
Proper heat equals a good seal which is essential to protecting your long-term food. If you don’t get the seal right, then you’re food will not last for decades.
Mylar bags were designed to be sealed with a clamshell heat sealer or an impact heat sealer. If you don't have one of those then a flat iron or hair straightener should work. Tack the mylar bag with the flat iron in the top center. Next, tack it a couple more times. Then simply slide the flat iron across the top until its completely sealed. Gently squeeze the bag to see if there is any air escaping. If so, use the flat iron again until it is completely sealed. Most household clamp-style vacuum sealers will not seal standard mylar bags; most commercial vacuum sealers can seal them. However, it is important to note that most mylar bags are not embossed/textured therefore a vacuum sealer will not pull the air out. (There are workarounds that can be found online to vacuum seal your mylar bags.)
Wait at least one day. Then check on the seals of your mylar bags. If you can squeeze any air through them, reseal. When oxygen absorbers have done their job, the bag may look vacuum-sealed. However, the bag can be properly sealed but not be "sucked down".
There is great security in having a pantry full of basic staples. A well-stocked pantry is a great way to insure that your family won't go hungry. Mylar bags are the ideal solution for your storage needs, providing a safe and secure environment for your perishable and valuable goods.
Iodized salt may become yellow over time but the color change is safe and will not effect the quality.
*** This chart represents approximate cc sizes and should not be considered the final authority