Introduction To BoPET (Mylar) Bags and Oxygen Absorbers

I've been pretty busy over the last week or so. Between packing up almost everything in my home so I could deep clean, sorting everything and getting rid of things that I didn't really need anymore, and taking a day trip to meet someone new, I've been too busy to post even the smallest bit of content for you all. I apologize. For quite some time I've been searching far and wide for the best information I can find regarding every aspect of storing food, so I figured that since I feel like I know quite a bit about this now, it would be a good thing to start back up with. There's a variety of options to choose from when it comes to storing foods long term, but in this post I'm going to focus on the use of Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. I'm going to share some of the better information and videos I've found, but I don't own any of these videos or articles. They were all created and posted by someone else. Clicking each name will take you to their site, profile, or channel, and title names will take you to the original location I found them at. Regardless of what source good information comes from, I'm happy to share it when I know it's correct and will come in handy.

Dry beans, rice, dried corn, whole wheat, oats, rye, barley, pastas, white sugar, salt, flour, whole spices, and powdered milk are just some of the foods that I feel need to be stocked in the biggest quantities. These foods, along with so many others, can be stored in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers which lengthens their shelf life. Before we get into this, 'Mylar' is actually a trade name, just like "Hostaphan' and 'Melinex.' A bag made of BoPET (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) is what I'm specifically talking about. The science behind this material is very simple, especially when combined with the oxygen absorbers. It keeps out the main elements that make food go bad: oxygen, light, and water. Storing these packages in buckets or containers with tight fitting lids will give an extra barrier from the elements and protect it from additional problems like insects and rodents. A solar blanket made of this material can also be cut down and sealed to the preferred sizes to suit your needs. 

Using oxygen absorbers with this Mylar packaging really aids in extending the shelf life of the foods being stored, but knowing which size to use is important to ensure the oxygen is removed right. The video 'Selecting the Proper Oxygen Absorber Size When Storing Food Long Term' is a mathematical breakdown of the selection process, it was posted on YouTube by TacticalGunGuy. Don't just click and watch the video, make sure you click his name to check out his YouTube channel, be sure and subscribe if you like it. He's got some good videos. Mostly regarding tactical topics (of course), but those will come in handy... especially since that isn't currently something I'm very familiar with and will probably post very little about unless that changes. Although these oxygen absorbers are great for a long list of foods, you need to steer clear of them when you're packing things like brown or white sugar and drink mixes. These need some oxygen to keep them clumping as hard as a brick These oxygen absorbers can be bought online and in some retail stores, but according to the video 'Homemade O2 Absorbers' posted by Irish_17, it's fairly easy make your own. That may be something I'll have to try some day soon.

Once you know the guidelines for what kind of bags to get and what sizes of oxygen absorbers you need, you'll of course need to know how to do the actual repackaging. There are commercial irons, but they could cost hundreds of dollars when bought new. It may be something you'd like to invest in, but clothes irons and hair straighteners are a much cheaper device and are just as effective. You can watch the video 'Working With Mylar Bags 101' by 7TrumpetsPrepper for the general idea of how to fill and seal smaller quantities. Even though I prefer to store things in smaller packages because it seems easier to transport, you may find it more convenient to use larger bags. In that case, I suggest watching Bison Risk Management seal up some large bags in the video 'Tutorial: Long-term Food Storage In Mylar Bags Ans Food Grade Buckets.' Again, don't just watch these videos, check out their channels and be sure to subscribe if you like them. Every bit of correct information, regardless of who it comes from, could be the difference between survival and death if S really does HTF.

Here are some additional articles you can read over, it's just some interesting explanations, tidbits, tips, and info:

Survival Basics: What The Heck Are Oxygen Absorbers?

31 Gallon Garbage Cans For Food Storage

Using Mylar Bags In Food Storage




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Don't stop your research about Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers with this post, take some time and look up more information on them. It'll be well worth your time. Over the next few posts I'll be covering additional options for preparation and repackaging to lengthen the shelf life of different foods, so be sure and check back in. In the mean time, you should check out more information on Mylar bags, and maybe even do a little pricing so you could get your own. You can find some really good deals, just make sure you look at feedback to make sure it's the real deal and not just painted plastic. Don't forget that I'm interested in checking out other blogs and sites that I may not have stumbled across yet, so please share yours or your favorites if you have them. Please take a second to subscribe, share this with others who may find this useful, and don't forget to comment.