There are six enemies of food storage; oxygen, temperature, moisture, light, time, and pests. Each of them or any combination could cause food spoilage. There is a solution for long-term food storage – mylar bags – which can help keep your food safe from the five of the six nemeses of storing food items. These bags are ideal for off-grid survival, backpacking, or camping in the woods.
Mylar was a type of plastic product developed by DuPont Chemical Co. in the 1950s. Made from a polyester film, mylar bags are extremely light, flexible, and thin. The strength and durability of mylar bags are perfect for high atmospheric helium balloons, solar filters, emergency space blankets, and insulators. Mylar bags allow you to keep things such as rice and pasta for long-term storage if you are planning to build a stockpile for emergency preparedness. These bags could help you keep your dry goods fresh and safe from rodents and spoilage for years.
Mylar locks moisture both in and out – and you need an oxygen absorber or a desiccant packet when using your mylar bags for storing dry goods such as flour, rice, coffee, tea, spices, sugar, or bread. It is imperative to research which foods need an oxygen absorber or a desiccant packet. Desiccant packets are good for sugar and salt since they are natural preservatives. Pasta and flour need oxygen absorbers to extend their shelf life. There are several benefits offered by mylar bags. Some of them are outlined below:
•• Mylar bags are airtight, moisture proof, and resistant to puncture (except by the pesky rodents – so you will nee to place them inside rodent-proof containers if this is a potential problem, which it generally is).
•• They are specifically designed for food and contain no chemicals or toxins which could be released into your food.
•• The bags do not allow any light to get into the foods stored in them.
•• Sealing mylar bags is easy using a heating element such as iron.
•• Mylar bags ensure that you have a long shelf life of survival food.
•• They are simple to use – just cut them to size and seal up with an iron.
There are several sizes of mylar bags. Spices, baking powders, and dehydrated meats and fruits are the smaller food items that can be stored in one-gallon mylar bags. The five-gallon size is perfect for larger bulk grains such as rice, beans, wheat, etc.
Thickness is essential to the quality of mylar bags. The typical range of options is between 3.5 and 7 mils. The thicker the mylar bag, the better it is to keep out moisture, oxygen, and light. Moisture can lead to microbial growth while oxygen is an important factor in the quality deterioration of foods.
There are mylar bags that have a zipper on the top and a gusset on the bottom. The most common used is the plain open top bag that is sealed with heat. The zip top bags come handy when using a food item for a short-term seal. Do not use the zip top as an option for long-term storage.
Notes on desiccants and oxygen absorbers:
•• Absorbers that are used up are brittle inside and feel more like they are filled with coarse sand.
•• Fresh absorbers feel like they are filled with soft powder.
•• Oxygen absorbers only remove oxygen from the air; not all air.
•• Do not expect absorbers to “vacuum pack” your mylar bags.
•• Do not use a desiccant along with oxygen absorbers. The former can keep the latter from working properly.
OK, here is a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=gZkiU1fUtsE
