Food That Lasts Decades

Suppose you had a bag of rice you sealed twenty years ago. It smells fresh. It cooks perfectly. It tastes like new.

 

That is not magic. That is Mylar.

 

A special thing about mylar bags. They keep air out. Helps retain moisture. They exclude the light from entering. The Three Ds that destroy food.

 

Add oxygen absorbers, and you also eliminate the air within. Spoilage does not occur in the absence of air. No bugs. No mold.

 

Your food can keep for 20-30 years with the right thickness and absorbers.

 

Let’s discuss the proper way to do it.

 

What Is a Mylar Bag

Mylar is a brand name for a type of plastic film. It is very strong. Does not allow air to pass through.

 

Plastic bags are not airtight. Air slowly seeps through the minute holes. Mylar has no holes.

 

Here are some reasons Mylar is special.

 

• It blocks oxygen. Oxygen causes food to spoil.
• It blocks moisture. Mold is a problem with wet foods. Dry food stays dry.
• It blocks light. Light causes the breakdown of nutrients and a fading of colors.
• It resists punctures. The corners of pasta or rice won’t stick through.

 

No other material is better for long-term food storage than Mylar.

 

Why Thickness Matters

There are various thicknesses of mylar bags available. Thickness is measured in millimeters. A mil is equal to 1,000th of an inch.

 

The following are the typical thicknesses.

 

• 3 to 4 mil. Ideal for short-term storage. A few months to a year. Not for decades
• 5 mil. The standard for long-term storage. Easily 5-10 years. May be used for up to 20 years when properly sealed.
• 7 mil. Extra thick. Ideal for storage for up to 20-30 years. Also good for rough handling.
• 10 mil or more. Very heavy-duty. For industrial applications or bags that are moved frequently.
• 5 mil is a good thickness for most home storage applications. Use 7 mil for food to be stored for decades.

 

The thicker the bags, the higher the price. However, they are longer-lasting and more durable.

 

Oxygen Absorbers Work Through the Process of:

Mylar is used in the bag to prevent new oxygen from entering. However, oxygen is already in the bag at the moment of the bag’s closing.

 

The oxygen absorbers will absorb that oxygen.

 

They work like this.

 

The absorber is a small packet containing iron powder. Iron will rust in the presence of oxygen. That rusting removes oxygen from the air that is trapped within the bag.

 

• In just a few hours, the oxygen level decreases to almost zero.
• In the absence of oxygen, there’s no life. No bacteria. No mold. No bugs. No larvae.
• Food remains unchanged since it was sealed.

 

Note: Oxygen absorbers only work with Mylar. More oxygen penetrates regular plastic bags. The absorbers will continue to work long after trying to get rid of it.

 

What foods can be stored?

Almost any dry food will fit in Mylar bags.

 

These are some good options.

 

• Grains. Rice, wheat, oats, corn, barley, and quinoa.
• Beans and legumes. Black beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas.
• Pasta. Noodles: spaghetti, macaroni, egg noodles, ramen.
• Flour, baking mixes. Cornmeal, white flour, pancake mix, cake mix.
• Powdered Milk and Eggs. Ideal for baking and cooking.
• Sugar and salt. These don’t expire, of course, but Mylar helps keep them dry.
• Coffee and tea. Maintains flavor for years.
• Dried fruits and vegetables. Apples, bananas, carrots, potato.
• Avoid storing high-moisture foods. Oxygen absorbers are not sufficient to keep meat, cheese, and fresh produce from spoiling.

 

Sealing Mylar bags properly.

Seal is the most crucial step. If the seal is bad, it’s all spoiled.

 

This is the correct way to seal Mylar bags.

 

Step one. Stuff the bag with dry food. Allow additional space at the top.

 

Step two. Place the correct amount of oxygen absorbers. Look at the chart below.

 

Step three. Exhale as much air as possible.

 

Step four. Seal the top with a heat sealer. A hair straightening iron is also effective.

 

Step five. Make sure the seal is straight and solid. No gaps. No wrinkles.

 

Step six. Write on the bag what the food is and the date.

 

Seals that are good are flat and even. It should not be possible to separate with hands.

 

Avoid using a zipper seal or regular tape. These are not good long-term storage options.

 

What’s the right number of oxygen absorbers to use?

The number of absorbers will vary depending on the bag’s size and contents.

 

Here is an easy-to-follow guide.

 

Small bag (1 quart or less). One 100cc absorber.

 

Medium bag (1 gallon). One 300cc absorber.

 

Large bag (5 gallons). A 2000cc absorber or three 500cc absorbers.

 

When food is dense, such as flour. Use twice as many. More oxygen is trapped in dense foods.

 

For foods that have air pockets, such as pasta. Size up, use one size larger.

 

If not, use more. Too many absorbers are not a problem. There is not enough oxygen left.

 

Oxygen absorbers lose their effectiveness after a few hours of opening the package. Store in a closed jar and use them promptly.

 

Where to Store Your Sealed Bags

Food is well protected in custom Mylar ziplock bags. However, their storage place is important.

 

These are excellent places to store.

 

Cool basement. Stable temperature. Dark. Usually dry.

 

Closet floor. Inside your home. The temperature stays comfortable.

 

Under the bed. Ease of storage on the bottom with flat bags.

 

Food-grade buckets. To protect, put Mylar bags in 5-gallon containers.

 

The following are not good places to store something.

 

Garage. Too hot in summer. Too cold in winter. Food doesn’t like temperature changes.

 

Attic. The same issue as the garage. Spoilage is rapid under extreme heat.

 

Shed or barn. Moisture, bugs, and rodents enter.

 

Close to a water heater or furnace. Don’t store in the heat.

 

Cool, dark & dry. That’s the recipe.

 

If your seal was unsuccessful, how will you know?

Wait until the next day to test a sealed bag.

 

A good seal is when the bag seems tight. The oxygen absorbers have worked. The bag can be slightly drawn or pulled inwards.

 

Here are some indications of a poor seal.

 

The bag is full or bulging. Air got in.

 

When pressed, it emits a hissing sound. The seal is leaking.

 

The absorbers for oxygen are hard. That is normal. However, if the bag is not tightly closed, the absorbers may have absorbed air from outside the bag.

 

If you are unsure, open the bag and reseal it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

Here are some common errors to avoid.

Even the most advanced candlestickers can make mistakes.

 

This is what to be on the alert for.

 

Extended use of zipper-sealed Mylar bags. The zipper is not completely watertight. Always heat seal above the zipper.

 

Forgetting oxygen absorbers. Without them, food will not last nearly as long.

 

Employing inadequate absorbers. More is required for dense foods. Refer above for instructions.

 

Not labeling bags. Years later, you will not remember what’s on the inside.

 

Storing in hot places. Shelf life is lost quickly at high temperatures.

 

Opening bags prematurely before consuming. Use food within a few months after opening.

 

Using damaged bags. If there are small holes, it spoils the whole point. Check each bag prior to filling.

 

How long does food really last?

These are reasonable timelines, provided proper storage is used.

 

White rice. 20 to 30 years.

 

Beans. 20 to 25 years.

 

Pasta. 20 to 25 years.

 

Rolled oats. 15 to 20 years.

 

Flour. 10 to 15 years.

 

Powdered milk. 10 to 12 years.

 

Dried vegetables. 15 to 20 years.

 

These are not educated guesses but actual numbers. This is something that people have tried. Oxygen absorbers will keep food fresh for decades in Mylar.

 

The food will not be as nutritious after 20 years. May change some textural qualities. It will still be okay to eat, however.

 

Only Once You May Need Custom Options

The majority of people are using regular Mylar bags. They work fine.

 

However, at times you need something special. A specific size. A personalized print featuring your logo. Stock bags do not provide a special thickness.

 

If so, then you will need custom Mylar ziplock bags. Made exactly for your needs.

 

Regular 5- or 7-mil bags are ideal for home storage.