How to Use a Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart
When it comes to how to store food in your extended pantry spaces for the long haul, Mylar bags are my go-to. A lot of people’s choice actually. But maybe you’re not familiar with them so I want to share some ins and outs of Mylar bags & especially how to use a mylar bag food storage chart so you can fill your long term food storage space properly!
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Understanding Mylar Bags
Mylar bags are foil pouches or storage vessels/bags made from a polyester film that’s called Mylar, hence the name. They’re designed to provide a protective barrier against the top 4 factors that harm long term storage.
Moisture, oxygen, light, and things like pests.
All these factors will rot away your food causing you to lose precious time & money. And girl. That ain’t what it is.
So to protect the quality of stored food items, we prefer using Wallaby Goods 5mil bags for everything. (affiliate link. Use code CLAIRE5 for $5 off your order!). They give things a reasonably long shelf life that’s helpful if you’re trying to build up some inventory for rainy days or emergencies.
Benefits of Using Mylar Bags for Long-Term Food Storage
Most people love using mylar bags for storage because of their high tensile strength (durability), flexibility, low moisture content and ability to create an airtight seal.
These barriers preserve the quality, nutritional value & freshness of stored food items over extended periods, by eons. Nothing else will get you the same storage duration in dried good form.
By creating an oxygen-free environment (using the right sized cc oxygen absorbers) you effectively prevent oxidation & the growth of mold, bacteria, and other buggies that like or need the oxygen to replicate. This decreases the risk of your food spoiling in storage. Great for things you plan to keep on hand for more than a year or two. Excellent for food storage for 15-25 years in some cases!
Mylar bags also come in a variety of thicknesses (which you’ll see denoted as “mil” (like 5 mil bag). Usually from 2mil to 7.5mil.
This bag thickness might be weird to understand but essentially, you can have super thin bags or thicker bags.
It’s not thick like a slice of brioche french toast though. They’re still incredibly thin to look at – about as thick as a strand of human hair.
But generally any good options for these bags will be puncture resistant & durable against tears or other forms of damage.
The thinner a bag, the less protection it provides. Bags less than 5mil generally won’t be as puncture resistant & can’t protect against UV rays & moisture as well as thicker bags. For the best storage results, choose a Mylar bag between 5 & 7.5 mil. This article goes into detail on choosing the right mylar bag thickness.
Types and Sizes of Mylar Bags Available in the Market
Mylar food storage bags also come in a variety of types and sizes to accommodate all kinds of different storage needs and preferences. The common options are flat Mylar bags, stand-up pouches, zipable bags, and vacuum-sealed bags.
Which packaging solution you use should be determined by your intended use of the food. If you just want to store dry foods (like dry beans or dry pasta) for a long time, the flat bags are fine. You can even store white rice, brown rice or coffee beans! Realistically, any bag would work but stick with me.
A great way to take some dried foods camping or on an adventure is to use mylar storage zipable bags or stand up pouches. These MRE style bags are typically smaller & more compact. Of course you could also use standard mylar bags for food storage or zipable bags though.
Next, you need to consider sizing. It’s a smorgasbord from small snack-sized pouches to quart bags or a large gallon bag. They also make larger bags (like 5gal) which go a long way to storing a lot of food without using a million little bags. And trust me, if you’re at the level where you need something like this it’s an incredible resource.
These larger bags are an ideal solution for food products that you want to store inside 5 gallon buckets or a different food-grade plastic container. Something like that. They provide flexibility & versatility. What’s more is you can make your own custom mylar bags by using heat sealers, a regular flat iron, hair straightener or whatever. You’d just seal off an end you want to be the end of a new bag & voila. You have a new bag.
And they’re reusable! Yesss. Clean out Food A really well, let the bag dry EXTREMELY well, then store Food B in it. The only bit to reusing bags is they shorten over time as you make new seals.
Choosing the Right Foods for Mylar Bag Storage
What’s good for storing hmmm?
There’s a wide variety of items you can store which is why mylar bag food storage charts are so helpful. But the best foods for long-term storage in Mylar bags include a lot of things you see in the dry goods section of the grocery store or any other big box store.
Food like rice, beans, pasta, flour, sugar, and whole grains or their berries. But you can also store dehydrated fruits & vegetables, nuts, seeds & spices hallelujah! Yes to flavor! It’s actually a good idea to store your spices in the freezer, but you should remove excess oxygen as much as possible in a mylar bag too. Stick that in the freezer.
Regardless, just avoid storing foods with a high moisture content or perishable items that require refrigeration. These won’t do as well and you risk losing them. Put those things in adequate packaging or in a location suitable to what you’re storing. Name of the game is the best bang for your buck, not pass the buck hello ahahaha
You also need to do the right thing to maintain food quality for your safety. That means properly cleaning and preparing food items before sealing them in Mylar bags. A good example is prepping black beans. If you buy them in bulk (which is the best option for saving $$ IMO), you should pick through them for any bugs or rocks. My husband’s lab calls these things “foreign particles”. Ahahahah yeah girl. Check for that first.
Another example is storing white flour or whole wheat flour which on it’s own can be a debatable topic among die-hards. Why? Well, once flour is milled (from a whole wheat berry into that powder-fine dust you’re used to) it loses like 90% of it’s minerals & vitamins. Hence why they “enrich” it.
But if you choose to buy the pre-ground flour in bulk, lots of people will say you should freeze it for 24-48 hours (I’ve even heard a week) to kill off weevils, larvae, other bugs & whatnot. Disgusting I know, but if you tend to be a concerned individual, go that route before stuffing your mylar bags. BTW, this would apply to any whole grain, not just wheat.
Other measures include securely sealing the bags. They are oxygen barrier bags only if you don’t leave openings where oxygen can get in! Then you also want to store your bags in a cool, dry, and dark location away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Related Article: Useful Info on Food Storage from PackFreshUSA
Understanding Mylar Food Storage Charts
Alright so to understand a mylar bag food storage chart you need to look for a few main factors. The charts provide valuable information on recommended storage times for various types of food, optimal storage conditions & all that. But what they generally highlight is the size of oxygen absorber you should use based on the size of mylar bag you’re packing.
Using a chart will give you guidance on selecting the appropriate size bags to achieving a good seal too because you can (but shouldn’t) overfill these. Most speak heavily to the storage container size & oxygen absorber, but other details are important too!
Here’s how to interpret a Mylar food storage bag chart:
- Identify Food Types: The chart will usually list different types of food. Find yours.
- Recommended Storage Times: Find the recommended storage times for each type of food you’re storing. Various factors go into this, but this timeframe has been studied & picked apart by research facilities to indicate how long that food can be safely stored in Mylar bags before its quality starts to deteriorate. Wallaby actually has a FREE Ebook outlining lots of great tips.
- Optimal Storage Conditions: Look for any info on the ideal storage conditions for each type of food. Things like a lower temperature, humidity levels or light sensitivity.
- Safety Considerations: If the chart covers any precautions like avoiding storing a certain food type with another pay attention! These charts also usually recommend what size oxygen absorbers to use too. They suck out oxygen, but if you start with less air in the bag, you could end up with a more stiff package. This is known as partial vacuum. Kinda like vacuum sealing, but not all the way – about 20% or so. This is where you might see the shape of the food you stored. Really cool.
- Additional Tips: Some charts might give you tips on sealing techniques, labeling instructions, or advice on rotating stored foods. Those are helpful.
Creating Your Own Mylar Food Storage Chart
Wanna be a lil more DIY-y while leveling up your food storage efforts? Consider creating a personalized mylar bag food storage chart. Include what we covered so far plus maybe the storage area where you keep this. Also how long you want for the storage time (couple months, few years, decades).
Tips for Successful Food Storage
The most effective ways I’ve found to fill my mylar bags according to a food storage chart is to use an assembly line.
Fill as many bags as possible in a shallow container or some plastic buckets (to catch the inevitable food particles!). Then tuck one of the right size oxygen absorber into each one right before sealing. You don’t want these exposed too long so they don’t become wasted.
Clear the sealing area of any food then fold the bag over to remove as much air as possible. Then seal, seal, seal! I typically use my impulse heat sealer that came with my Harvest Right home freeze drying machine (affiliate link). But you can easily use a flat iron or clothing iron too. And either of those would be easier honestly. The impulse sealer doesn’t take as long as my vacuum sealer on a mason jar though.
Still, work quickly so the absorbers don’t take on too much oxygen from the air. The less time they’re open the better but really shoot for like 10min or less. Label your bags immediately so you don’t forget the important details! Then store!
Using secondary storage containers
I like storing our filled mylar bags in secondary containers like 5-gal buckets or storage heavy duty totes in a dark place. The combo of layers on the storage containers give me a little more reassurance against elements or pests. If you do this, just know your secondary container should also be an airtight container otherwise that defeats the purpose.
What I’ve started doing recently is packaging samples into mini mylar bags with windows. This way I see at a glance that something is off with a batch & because of proper labeling, I’ll know where the larger stock is to check.
Key Take-Aways
So! Proper food storage is key to safety, saving money, flavor, all the things. But for long term storage you’re likely going to store food away & never think of it again. So it’s really important that you do it right.
Now that you know the ropes of long-term food storage in mylar bags, I’m excited for you to get started!
Some FAQS
The shelf life of foods stored in Mylar bags can vary depending on factors such as the type of food, storage conditions, and packaging methods.
Generally, dry goods such as grains, beans, and pasta can last for several years when stored properly in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.
However, it’s essential to rotate your food stock regularly and monitor for signs of spoilage.
To prevent moisture buildup, be sure the food being stored is completely dry before packaging it in Mylar bags.
Additionally, using desiccants such as silica gel packs or oxygen absorbers can help absorb any excess moisture inside the bags. Make sure to seal the bags tightly to prevent moisture from entering.
This is an extremely good question. While Mylar bags can be reused in some cases, it’s generally recommended to use fresh bags for optimal food storage.
Once a Mylar bag has been opened, its protective barrier may be compromised. You’ll know this if you see the inner lining pulling away from the outer packaging. That sort of wear increases the risk of exposure to air and moisture.
That said, if you see that it looks fine, clean it out & let it dry thoroughly before reusing it. Oxygen absorbers should not be reused though.
Inspect stored food regularly for any signs of spoilage, such as unusual odors, discoloration, or mold growth.
If the food appears or smells off, girl leave it where it’s at. It’s best to discard it to avoid the risk of a foodborne illness.
Additionally, monitor the integrity of the Mylar bags—if there are any tears, punctures, or leaks, the food may have been exposed to air and should be discarded.
While Mylar bags are primarily designed for dry food storage, it is possible to store certain liquids or moist foods in them with proper precautions.
For liquids, such as soups or sauces, it’s best to freeze them first before transferring them to Mylar bags to prevent leakage and ensure a longer shelf life.
For moist foods, such as fruits or vegetables, consider dehydrating them before packaging them in Mylar bags to remove excess moisture
While Mylar bags provide a barrier against external odors, strong-smelling foods like spices or garlic may still transfer their aroma to other stored items if not properly sealed.
To prevent this, consider double-bagging really potent-smelling foods or using odor-proof containers with Mylar bags to isolate them from other items.
Certain perishable foods with high moisture content, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and meats, are not suitable for long-term storage in Mylar bags.
You might see some info on a mylar food storage chart too about what not to store. These foods are more prone to spoilage and can compromise the integrity of the bags.
It’s best to stick to dry goods like grains, beans, pasta, and dehydrated foods for Mylar bag storage.
To prevent pests and rodents from damaging Mylar bags and contaminating stored food, store them in airtight containers or sealable bins in a secure location.
Consider using pest deterrents such as bay leaves, cedar blocks, or peppermint oil around storage areas to repel insects and rodents.
Regularly inspect stored food for signs of pest activity and take necessary measures to address any infestations promptly.
