Learn how to use Mylar bags for food storage to keep your provisions fresh for years to come. Understanding the right bag choice, effectively sealing your bags, and maximizing food longevity with oxygen absorbers are all vital steps covered in this article. Dive into the details without fuss and confidently prepare your food for extended storage today.
Key Takeaways
Mylar bags protect food from light, moisture, oxygen, and insects, extending shelf life and ensuring food safety as they’re free from harmful chemicals.
Not all foods are Mylar-friendly; best options include dry, low-fat, low-moisture foods like white rice and oats, but avoid high-moisture or high-oil content items like fresh produce and nuts.
Proper preparation and sealing of Mylar bags is essential, using a vacuum sealer, hair straightener, or clothes iron, and oxygen absorbers are key for maximizing shelf life up to 30 years.
Understanding Mylar Bags: What They Are and Why They’re Ideal for Food Storage
Mylar bags, or more scientifically known, biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) bags, are the ultimate guide to long-term food storage. They are laminated with a vaporized aluminum layer, creating a strong, flexible, and food-grade material with laminated food grade plastic lining. Think of them as your personal food vault!
These high-quality Mylar bags offer excellent protection against various elements, making them perfect for protecting mylar bags. They effectively shield against:
light
moisture
oxygen
insects
This extends the shelf life and freshness of your stored food. And the best part? They’re made of food grade plastic, approved by the FDA, free from harmful chemicals like BPA and Phthalates, making them entirely safe for food storage.
Choosing the Right Mylar Bags for Your Needs
The right Mylar bag is as important to your food storage as the food itself. Here are some vital factors to consider when choosing a Mylar bag:
Size: Make sure the bag is large enough to hold the desired amount of food.
Thickness: A thicker bag provides better protection against oxygen and moisture.
Quality: Look for bags that are made from high-quality materials and have a strong seal.
Remember, not all Mylar bags are created equal, and understanding these factors can ensure that your food stays fresh as daisies.
Why not explore these considerations?
Size Options
Mylar bags come in a variety of sizes, catering to your diverse food storage requirements. From small packets for spices to large bags that fit several gallons of bulk items like flour or rice, there is a size for every need. When choosing a bag’s size, consider the type and quantity of food you want to store.
Additionally, Mylar bags also offer continuous tubing options, allowing for custom length cutting and sealing, creating tailored storage solutions. So, whether you’re looking to store family-sized portions or smaller amounts for individual use, these bags have got you covered!
Thickness Considerations
Your Mylar bag’s thickness significantly influences its durability. For the long-term storage of heavy-duty dry goods, Mylar bags that are 4 to 6 mils thick are recommended due to their superior protective qualities.
For foods with sharp edges like pasta, thicker Mylar bags, such as those rated at 5 mil or 7 mil per side, offer better protection against punctures and potential damage. Remember, the appropriate thickness can vary depending on the food being stored. So, it’s not just about the size, but also the thickness that matters!
Quality Factors
Even though size and thickness matter, the quality of a Mylar bag is non-negotiable. Authentic Mylar bags should have safety certifications confirming their suitability for direct food contact, ensuring that your stored food remains safe for consumption.
High-quality Mylar bags also possess superior barrier properties crucial for protecting the food from external elements such as moisture, oxygen, and light, preserving its freshness for an extended period. What’s more, their puncture and tear resistance are essential for maintaining the bag’s integrity during transport and long-term storage. So, always opt for quality, because your food deserves the best protection!
The Best Foods to Store in Mylar Bags
With your Mylar bags at the ready, it’s time to discuss the optimal foods for storage. Low moisture, low fat dry goods like white rice, wheat, flour, beans, and oats are ideal for storing in Mylar bags. Even whole foods like whole grains and whole corn store better than their ground versions.
You can also store honey due to its natural preservative properties and low moisture content. Instant coffee and tea bags too are suitable for Mylar bag storage as they have low moisture and can maintain freshness for extended periods.
Freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, whole spices, and peppercorns can be effectively stored in Mylar bags as dry foods. Dehydrated fruits and vegetables can also be stored, provided they are completely dry, and the use of an oxygen absorber is essential.
With the right storage, foods like instant coffee, freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, rolled oats, and white rice can last for up to 30 years!
Foods to Avoid Storing in Mylar Bags
While Mylar bags are great for storing a variety of foods, there are some foods that they just aren’t suitable for. Foods with a moisture content of 10% or greater are not suitable for long-term storage in Mylar bags, as they can present food safety risks such as botulism poisoning. Some examples of foods that should not be stored in Mylar bags include:
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Meat and poultry
Dairy products
Cooked grains and pasta
It is important to choose the right storage method for each type of food to ensure its freshness and safety.
High oil content foods such as brown rice can spoil in a Mylar bag environment due to the oil becoming rancid over time. Similarly, foods with high moisture or oil content that should not be stored in Mylar bags include:
Brown rice
Nuts
Granola
Chocolate chips
Cookies
Crackers
These foods have a shortened shelf life and can pose potential safety hazards if stored in Mylar bags.
Preparing Food for Mylar Bag Storage
Before you begin loading your Mylar bags, ensure your food is properly prepared for storage. Start by labeling your bags with contents and date to avoid any mix-ups and manage your stored food efficiently. You can utilize labels from Mylar Bag Kits for easy identification and organization.
Leave sufficient space at the top of the filled Mylar bag for sealing. Filling the bags can be more efficient with a partner, one holding the bag while the other pours the food in. After sealing, fold the top of the Mylar bag neatly inside the bucket before closing with the lid, keeping an organized storage arrangement.
Sealing and Storing Mylar Bags Properly
Proper sealing and storage of your Mylar bags are key to preserving your food’s freshness. While vacuum sealing is the most common way to seal Mylar bags, a clothes iron or hair straightener can also be effectively used.
Why don’t we examine each of these methods?
Vacuum Sealing
Vacuum sealing is a popular method for sealing Mylar bags. Here’s how to do it:
Lay the bag flat on its side and gently squeeze out any excess air.
Place the open end of the bag into the vacuum sealer’s opening.
Engage the sealing process as directed by the machine’s manual.
After the vacuum seal is completed, wait for the oxygen absorbers to do their work for approximately 6 to 12 hours before storing the sealed bags in a cool, dry location. This ensures that your food stays fresh and delicious for the longest possible time.
Hair Straightener Method
No vacuum sealer? No problem! You can also use a hair straightener to seal your Mylar bags. Preheat the straightener to a temperature that can melt the bag material without causing burns. Test on a small section to find the right temperature and speed. Then, run the straightener slowly along the edge of the bag to ensure a continuous and tight seal.
Starting by tacking the center and then the quarter points on the top of the bag before sliding the iron across to fully seal it will ensure a proper seal. This method is suitable for small-scale sealing tasks or when a conventional heat sealer is not available.
Clothes Iron Method
Last but not least, you can also use a clothes iron to seal your Mylar bags. Set the iron to a high temperature and ensure it’s not on a steam setting. Use a piece of wood as a firm base to wrap the bag’s open end over, providing support for the iron to press against.
Start ironing the bag’s open end from the center and proceed to the edges to ensure a flat and even seal. After sealing, fold the top of the bag down and place a lid or weight on top to complete the sealing process. And voila! Your food is ready for long-term storage!
Using Oxygen Absorbers to Maximize Food Freshness
For optimal freshness of your stored food, you might want to use oxygen absorbers in your Mylar bags. They work by creating a nitrogen-rich environment inside the bag, preventing oxidation, and extending the shelf life of food up to 30 years. Place the oxygen absorbers on top of the food inside the bag after filling for maximized freshness and protection against infestations.
Keep in mind, that choosing the right size of oxygen absorbers is key to eliminating all oxygen; for example, use 300-500 cc for a one-gallon Mylar bag and 2000-3000 cc for a 5-gallon bag inside a bucket. You can check the effectiveness of oxygen absorbers by observing the packets for changes and watching the Mylar bags for a period of 24 hours to ensure they are properly sealed without oxygen.
Reusing and Repurposing Mylar Bags
Did you know that you can reuse and repurpose Mylar bags? Here’s how:
Clean and dry the bags thoroughly before reusing them for food storage.
Cut off the original seal.
Your bag will become slightly smaller with each use, but the high-quality ones can be reused 3 to 4 times, making them a sustainable option for food storage.
Moreover, you can get creative with your used Mylar bags. They can be repurposed to protect critical items such as firearms, important documents, and tools like can openers and knives, especially in emergency situations. So, don’t throw away those used Mylar bags just yet; they may come in handy on a rainy day!
Tips for Organizing and Storing Mylar Bags in Containers
Lastly, let’s discuss the effective organization and storage of your Mylar bags. For added protection against rodents and to maintain food safety, store your bags inside sturdy, food-grade containers like plastic buckets or metal barrels. And to maximize space efficiency, consider using square buckets, as they fit neatly together without leaving unused spaces.
Before your bags become rigid from the use of oxygen absorbers, organize them into containers, ensuring a snug fit. Also, avoid placing containers directly on concrete surfaces to prevent moisture damage. With these tips, you can have a well-organized and efficient long-term food storage system in no time!
Summary
So, there you have it, your ultimate guide to using Mylar bags for food storage. From understanding what they are, selecting the right ones, determining the best foods to store and avoid, preparing your food, sealing, and storing your bags, to reusing and repurposing them, you’ve mastered it all! Don’t forget, that proper food storage is an investment in your future self, so why not start today?
Frequently Asked Questions
What foods Cannot be stored in Mylar bags?
You should avoid storing foods with high oil or moisture content in Mylar bags, such as brown rice, raisins, nuts, granola, chocolate chips, cookies, and crackers. These items have a shorter shelf life and may not store well in Mylar bags.
How long does food last in a mylar bag?
Food can last up to five years in a Mylar bag, although some foods can last as long as twenty-five years. It’s important to use proper packaging for long-term storage success.
Do you have to vacuum seal mylar bags?
No, vacuum sealing mylar bags is not necessary for long-term storage. The most effective way to seal mylar bags is with a heat seal using an Impulse Sealer, or with a Chamber Vacuum Sealer, but not with an external vacuum sealer.
What foods should not use oxygen absorbers?
You should not use oxygen absorbers with dehydrated food, herbs, spices, grain, rice, flour, and salt. Additionally, avoid using them with sugar or brown sugar, as they can dry them out.
What are Mylar bags made of?
Mylar bags are made of biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) laminated with a vaporized aluminum layer, creating a strong, flexible, and food-grade material.
