The 2024 Complete Guide to Storing Food In Mylar Bags

We love storing food in Mylar bags. The past few years have taught the world the value of preparation for unforeseen emergencies. Whether you consider yourself a prepper or not, it’s hard to deny the benefits of having extra food stored away to keep your family safe and healthy if the mainstream food supply fails. 

Veteran preppers and newbies alike should know about Mylar bags: what they are, how to use them, which foods they’re best for, which foods they’re not so great for, and their different sizes and styles. 

While Mylar bags are not the only option for long-term food storage, they are a staple product in the prepping realm. And they have their advantages. (Disadvantages too.)

Keep reading to learn more about Mylar bags than most homesteaders worldwide have ever known. Fifteen minutes from now, you’ll become a Mylar bag expert!

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. 

Let’s start at the beginning.

Shall we?

What Is a Mylar Bag? And Why Are Mylar Bags Good for Food Storage?

A Mylar bag is a pouch manufactured with multiple alternating layers of food-grade plastic and aluminum sheeting. The aluminum protects whatever is inside the bag from light, moisture, and insects, while the plastic protects the contents from reacting with the aluminum.

Mylar Bag Oxygen Absorbers 

Oxygen (O2) promotes microbial growth and proliferation, meaning oxygen inside your Mylar bags can decrease shelf life and cause the food to become rancid.  

That arguably defeats the entire purpose – so, not good! 

O2 absorbers provide a barrier against oxygen and help to maximize shelf life. 

Oxygen absorbers are small packets you place inside Mylar bags and foods prepped for long-term storage. They scavenge and absorb any O2 present, transforming microorganism-loving aerobic (oxygen-rich) environments into germ-killing anaerobic (no-oxygen) atmospheres. 

Bacteria, fungi, and viruses that require oxygen cannot live in an anaerobic world. That means that the foods you store will have strong protection from microbial decay for A LOT longer! 

Benefits of Storing Dry Foods In Mylar Bags 

Many benefits exist when using Mylar bags to store emergency foods. Sure. They extend shelf life by protecting the food from air, bugs, light, and moisture. But did you know that they also: 

1. Inhibit oxidation in vitamins E, C, & A
2. Prevent the growth of funky microorganisms, including mold
3. Remove the need for additives like benzoates, sulfur dioxide, & sorbates
4. Help to preserve the fresh-roasted taste of coffee, herbal teas, nuts, & seeds
5. Help prevent oxidation of oleoresins & other beneficial nutrients in spices & herbs
6. Improve the storage quality of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), like those in fish oil

And there’s more! Storing food in Mylar bags also prevents the condensation and oxidation of health-enhancing pigments in berry – and tomato-based sauces. Finally, Mylar bags are excellent for storing emergency pharmaceutical supplies, vital paperwork, and weapons and ammunition.

Drawbacks of Storing Food In Mylar Bags 

There are only a few issues with using Mylar bags for storing dry foods. The first is that they are not animal-proof. Mice, rats, cats, dogs, and most other animals can chew through them surprisingly fast. They are, for the most part, insect-proof, which is a good thing. 

The other drawback of Mylar bags (for some homesteaders) is that they are asymmetric and therefore do not stack very well. Some folks (like me) like to use a large 5-gallon Mylar bag, or multiple smaller bags, inside a 5-gallon plastic bucket. And then seal it tight with its snap-on plastic lid. 

If you have food stored airtight inside of a Mylar bag, with O2 absorbers, inside of a plastic bucket, with a tight-fitting lid snapped into place atop, you have a very effective system for protecting that food from light, air, moisture, insects, and animals.  

Plus, the plastic buckets, square or round, stack up so nicely! 

Best Foods to Store In Mylar Bags 

A generally accepted rule for food storage is that any food to be stored long-term should have 10% moisture or less. 

Typically, bulk foods and dried goods like baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, dry beans, oats, pasta, sugar, white flour, and white rice are some of the best choices for Mylar bag storage. 

Dehydrated vegetables, fruits, herbs, and meats also store very well in these convenient pouches. They also work well for freeze-dried fruit and other freeze-dried foods. 

Side Note! Be aware that whole grains can be stored in Mylar bags for longer than flour ground out of those grains. For instance, while wheat kernels can safely store for up to 30 years or more, the storage limit for wheat flour typically tops out at about five years. 

Similarly, dried beans store longer than bean flour. Also, rolled oats or steel-cut oats safely store longer than oat flour.

Finally, Mylar bags make excellent long-term storage containers for living seeds. However, it’s vital to avoid oxygen absorbers when storing viable seeds. 

I like putting my seeds inside a paper envelope. And then I tuck them inside the Mylar bag. Seeds stored in this manner get protected from light, moisture, and insects for many years. 

Food	Mylar Shelf-Life
Nuts	Up to 1 Year
Brown Rice	Up to 1 Year
Beef Jerky	1 – 2 Years
Dried Herbs From The Garden	Up to 5 Years
Rye	Up to 10 Years
Granola	Up to 10 Years
Alfalfa	Up to 10 Years
Powdered Eggs	Up to 10 Years
Buckwheat	Up to 20 Years
White Flour	Up to 20 Years
Powdered Milk	Up to 30 Years
Pasta and Noodles	Up to 30 Years
White Rice	Up to 30 Years
Salt	Indefinitely
Honey	Indefinitely
Sugar	Indefinitely

Least Suitable Foods for Mylar Bag Storage 

The foods least suitable for storage in Mylar bags or any other food preservation system are those with high fat, oil, or moisture contents. 

Some examples of these food products include brown rice, chocolate, cookies, crackers, granola, nuts, pastries, raisins, and unbleached flour. 

Again, dry foods are the best for long-term storage – making them excellent for stocking your emergency rations supply.

Which Mylar Bag Is Best for You? 

Mylar bags are available in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. I recommend a 5-7 millimeter bag thickness for long-term dry food storage.  

I would avoid any Mylar bags that are less than 5 millimeters thick. Food storage is a serious investment, and it makes sense to splurge for a quality product instead of something you can’t fully trust for long-term performance. 

Sizes of Mylar Bags 

You can buy Mylar bags in a variety of sizes. Some are very small and made for storing single packages of seeds. Others are larger and made for storing mid-sized amounts of flour, sugar, and other staples.  

5-gallon Mylar bags are brilliant for storing more substantial amounts of survival foods and are excellent for multi-family or community-based food storage operations. 

Helpful Tip! You can easily take a heftier Mylar bag and use an iron to create multiple seams, forming custom-sized smaller bags in whatever dimensions you like. Then, you use scissors to cut through the middles of the seams you made, leaving you with the smaller bags as intended. Each of these smaller bags can seal just like the parent bag!

Read More!

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• Freeze Dryer vs. Dehydrator – Which Is Best for Food Preservation?

Our Favorite Mylar Bag Food Storage Options

We know choosing the best Mylar bags for food storage is a tad tricky. But don’t worry! 

We amassed a small list of our favorite Mylar food storage gear to help kickstart your food preserves.

They are as follows.

How to Store Food In a Mylar Bag 

While the overall process is surprisingly simple, there are some details to ensure when storing certain food types in Mylar bags. It’s vital to label your bags. Then add the food snugly and use an oxygen absorber when necessary. Then seal them properly for the best long-term results.  

Let’s look at each step! 

Make Sure to Label and Date the Bags 

Although it seems obvious, many people forget to label and date their Mylar bags before putting the food in them. It’s easier and more effective to lay them flat on a table and then use a permanent marker to note the date and what’s inside. You’ll appreciate your effort in the future when you’re searching for specific foods. Nobody wants to open a mystery Mylar bag to see what’s inside! 

Add the Food Into the Mylar Bag 

The most important thing to remember about filling Mylar bags with food is to leave enough room for sealing. The amount of space you’ll need will depend on which type of iron you’re using to seal the bags, whether or not you are vacuum sealing them, and your personal preferences. The worst-case scenario involves removing some food from the bag before sealing it. 

No biggie! 

Place an Oxygen Absorber On the Top 

O2 absorbers create an oxygen barrier to protect your food. It’s vital to not leave them out in the air. That will activate them and decrease their service life. 

In most cases, you’ll probably deal with more than one Mylar bag at a time. So, if you’re filling multiple bags, leave your oxygen absorbers sealed in their original container until you have all the bags filled. 

Then, open your oxygen absorbers, and place one in each bag that needs it. I keep some bag clips on hand, then fold each Mylar bag shut and clamp it before moving on to the next one. This storage process minimizes my oxygen absorber’s exposure to the atmosphere when sealing. 

If you’re working with one-gallon size Mylar bags, you’ll need a 300 – 500 cc oxygen absorber for each. 

And if you’re working with five-gallon Mylar bags, you’ll need a 2,000 – 3,000 cc oxygen absorber in each one. Oxygen absorbers typically come with bags, so you won’t need to worry too much. 

Now, let’s learn how to seal the bags tightly and efficiently to maximize the storage life of your dry, low-fat foods. Everyone loves a bucket of food with a 30-year shelf life!

How to Seal Mylar Bags 

Sealing your Mylar bags is vital because even a tiny leak can compromise the effectiveness of your oxygen absorber. That’s not what you want! It’ll make your food spoil much faster! 

There are various tools you can use to seal a Mylar bag correctly, including: 

• Flat iron 
• Clothes iron 
• Heat impulse sealer 
• Clamshell heat sealer 
• Hair straightening iron 

However you choose to seal your Mylar bags, remember that you want to limit your oxygen absorber’s exposure to the atmosphere as much as possible. The faster that you can safely complete the task, the better. As a rule of thumb, never load more Mylar bags than you can seal in about 10 minutes. 

Whichever method of sealing you choose, just be sure to take your time, do a good job, and, most importantly, don’t get burnt!

Protecting Your Mylar Bags During Storage 

Once your Mylar bags are loaded with food, protected from oxygen exposure, and carefully sealed, you must store them in a dark, chilled, dry location.  

I like placing my bags with oxygen absorbers inside 5-gallon buckets and then sealing them tight with a lid. However, a metal trash can or other sturdy tote will suffice. 

Oh, and don’t store your Mylar bags in cardboard boxes. Hunger-motivated rodents have no issues eating through the box and the bag!

Closing Thoughts About Storing Food In Mylar Bags 

Mylar bags have remained a tremendously popular long-term food storage option for decades because they work, especially when given the extra protection of an airtight container. 

They’re relatively inexpensive, even for high-quality products. They’re reusable, non-toxic, and will serve any prepper well for many years. They’re also clean and sturdy, with few drawbacks except that animals can chew through them. 

Well, here we are. At the end of this helpful guide about storing dry foods in Mylar bags. Did you ever think that you would know so much about these convenient emergency food storage pouches? 

Good then, we’ve both learned a lot about extending the life of foods. The maximum shelf life rocks! 

Thank you for reading along, and I hope the information is valuable. And that it positively impacts your prepping lifestyle for decades to come. 

Food Security Matters!

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