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How to Seal Mylar Bags in Seconds for Long Term Food Storage
Learn How to Seal Mylar Bags in Seconds! This technique gives you a perfect long-term food storage option for your Prepper Pantry.
What are Mylar Bags?
Mylar Bags are opaque storage bags that come in all different sizes, and they are made from metalized polyester. The bags look like they were made from a heavy-duty aluminum foil.
You can fill these bags with dry food (food that has 10% or less moisture) along with the appropriate amount of Oxygen Absorbers. Once filled, you can easily seal Mylar Bags in seconds with an ordinary clothes iron or a ladies’ flat iron hair straightener. (In my tutorial video, I show you how to seal a Mylar Bag with a clothes iron.) Once sealed, the oxygen absorbers will remove the oxygen in the bag, thereby keeping the food fresh.
What Foods Can You Store in Mylar Bags?
You can store a variety of foods in Mylar Bags with Oxygen Absorbers. Remember that the foods stored in this way must be dry foods that contain 10% or less moisture. You cannot store oily foods in Mylar Bags with Oxygen Absorbers. Some of the dry foods that you can keep in Mylar Bags include:
- White rice
- Whole grains (except brown rice and barley)
- Rolled oats
- All-purpose and bread flour (both of which have had all the bran and germ removed)
- Beans
For more information on what you can and can’t store using Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers, check the additional resources section. Although a religious organization, the Latter Day Saints are also considered an authoritative source on long-term food storage.
How to Label Mylar Bags
When I label my Mylar Bags before sealing them, I like to use a BIC Mark-It Permanent Marker since it doesn’t smear like other markers. In addition to labeling the bag with what I’m storing in it (like “Jasmine Rice”), I also include the approximate weight, as well as the month and year when I sealed the bag.
How to Store Mylar Bags
When storing your Mylar Bags, be aware that they are NOT rodent-proof! Plus, they can tear easily. Because of these reasons, you should give your sealed Mylar Bags a second level of protection. You can add a double layer of defense by storing your bags in heavy-duty storage buckets, such as 5-Gallon Buckets with snap-on lids or Gamma Lids.
I prefer to use 5 Gallon Buckets to safeguard my sealed Mylar Bags, and I show you the ideal way to install Gamma Lids on your storage buckets in my Best Long-Term Food Storage Containers for Your Prepper Pantry video.
As another option, you can store your sealed Mylar Bags in large, heavy-duty rectangular containers with lids, such as large plastic tubs. Since your sealed bags are generally rectangular-shaped, these types of storage containers can maximize your space for storing as many Mylar Bags together as possible.
But, most importantly, giving your Mylar Bags a second layer of protection will pay off in the long run by protecting your food for long-term storage.
How Long Will My Food Last in Mylar Bags?
Much depends on what you are storing in your Mylar Bags, but food stored in these sealed bags greatly extends its normal shelf life. Some estimates say that dry foods stored in Mylar Bags can stay fresh anywhere from 10-40 years…and beyond. In the case of white rice, it might just last forever!
Speaking of forever, if you would like more information on what foods are considered Forever Foods, even with no special storage requirements, be sure to watch my tutorial video.
Additional Resources
The resources below are authoritative sources on long-term food storage, including what foods are best to store and the safest ways to keep them.
- Long-term food storage (Latter Day Saints)
- Preserve the Harvest (Utah State University Extension Service)
- A Guide to Food Storage for Emergencies downloadable booklet (Utah State University)
- Silica Gel Packs (Silicon dioxide) (Food and Drug Administration)
- Oxygen Absorbers Recommended Amounts (USA Emergency Supply)
And if you’re not sure what to store in your Extended or Prepper Pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page pantry list. You can use the food lists in this comprehensive eBook to help you stock your Four Corners Pantry.
Related Videos
To learn more about the best containers for long term food storage, plus understand the difference between Oxygen Absorbers and Silica Gel Packs, be sure to check out the videos below.
To help you get started building your own Prepper Pantry, watch the following three-part video series.
Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest
- Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
- Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy (Optional Paid) - For more detailed videos, live streams, and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook (Optional Paid) - Get a printed book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
Shop for Long-Term Food Storage Items
Favorite Food Storage and Prepping Supplies
- 5 Gallon Buckets with Lid
- Bucket Lid Opener Tool
- Gamma Lids
- Zipper Mylar Bags
- Half Gallon Canning Jars
- Leak Proof/Air Tight Jar Lids
- Bay Leaves
- 5g Silica Gel Packs
- 10g Silica Gel Packs
- Handheld FoodSaver with Docking Port
- Handheld FoodSaver
- FoodSaver Jar Adapter Kit
- FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer
- Terracotta Brown Sugar Savers
Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide
- Visit Mary’s Nest Amazon Shop
- Visit my Shopping Guide page
Get up to 15% off for stocking your Traditional Foods Pantry and equipping your Modern Pioneer Kitchen, including discounts from US Wellness Meats, Farmhouse Teas, Lehman's, Masontops, Cultures for Health, Survival Garden Seeds, Redmond Real Salt, Plan to Eat, and More!
Favorite Kitchen Supplies
- Apron
- 10-Piece Glass Bowl Set
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
- Fat Separator (Helpful device to decant bone broth)
- Flour Sack Towels
- 2-Cup Glass Storage Jars with Lids
- Masontops Fermentation Kit (see promo code below)
- Mockmill 100 Stone Grain Mill (see promo code below)
Use promo code MARYSNST for a one-time 15% off Masontops and Breadsmart products on Amazon.com.
Learn more about Mockmill electric grain mills for making fresh flour and their Flake Lover's Flaker that flakes whole grain in minutes.
Recommended Reading
*Affiliates note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My content may contain affiliate links to products and services. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay.
**Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.
