Mylar bag sealing

[jenn197399]

Is it best to let the O2 absorbers do their job or is it best to vacuum (ie. foodsaver) with the O2 absorbers. I heard some conversations that in this situation adding steps is not a good thing. I have about 55 buckets to fill.

[Fepony]

There are some good videos on both ways. Let me see if i can find them. Here ya go.

YouTube - ‪Sealing Mylar bags for...

YouTube - ‪How to Vacuum Seal Mylar...

YouTube - ‪How to Vacuum seal Mylar...

[AandB]

Typically, O2 absorbers require some headspace to work (moisture and air), so if you vacuum your bag, there will likely not be enough of either left. Also, because vacuuming puts more pressure on the bag (leading to a higher chance of puncture), we tend to recommend using O2 absorbers without vacuuming.

[vicdotcom]

Originally Posted by jenn197399

Is it best to let the O2 absorbers do their job or is it best to vacuum (ie. foodsaver) with the O2 absorbers. I heard some conversations that in this situation adding steps is not a good thing. I have about 55 buckets to fill.

It depends on what you are storing. But in general you do not vacuum seal with 02 absorbers. It doesn't do any good. I guess it won't hurt, but won't help either.

[Illini Warrior]

55 gallon buckets? or 5 gallon? ...... you can't Foodsaver a 20 inch wide bag used in 5 gallon packing ........ if you intend to use smaller bags and pack them tight in a bucket ..... you need 02 absorbers in the mylar bags and you need 02 absorber(s) loose in the bucket ...... you have alot of air void left around the individual packed bags that needs treatment ......

[SgtBooker44]

I don't vacuum out the air completely, but I do try to get out as much as I can by drawing the bag down. That gives the 02 absorber some room to work.

Wheat and honey have been found in the pyramids ready to eat, after several thousand years and they didn't use mylar or 02 absorbers, just cool, dry, dark places.



"Freedom is one of the nobelest aspirations of the human spirit"
Ronald Reagan
January 21, 1985

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by jenn197399

Is it best to let the O2 absorbers do their job or is it best to vacuum (ie. foodsaver) with the O2 absorbers. I heard some conversations that in this situation adding steps is not a good thing. I have about 55 buckets to fill.

Always pack your foods exactly like the food storage companies are doing it. They have lab tests to prove that their system works. It's very easy to make serious mistakes with food storage by doing things that "seem like they should work".

I recently answered this very question in another thread. Rather than retype it, I'll post a link.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/sho...41#post2843241

[jenn197399]

thank you so much for the link.

[jenn197399]

I have 55 buckets to fill with various items. Have food grade buckets with 0 ring lids, mylar bags and o2 asorb. just want to get it right the first time. thanks a ton.

[WannaLearn]

Thank you very much for adding this video (video's) to this forum. Great information.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by jenn197399

I have 55 buckets to fill with various items. Have food grade buckets with 0 ring lids, mylar bags and o2 asorb. just want to get it right the first time. thanks a ton.

55 buckets is quite a load. You have your work cut out for you.

But don't sweat it. It's pretty simple really. Put the bag in the bucket and fill it. Make sure you can close the lid on it. Fill as many as you plan to seal at the same time. Then when they're full, just start dropping O2 absorbers in them. Press out excess air and seal.

Try not to do too many buckets at once, or the O2 absorbers will be exposed to air for too long. Take out only what you'll be using and seal the rest up until the next batch of buckets.

I find a hair straightener makes sealing them a lot easier. But you can use an iron and a 2x4 board or yardstick or what have you.

[Velvet Elvis]

Originally Posted by AandB

Typically, O2 absorbers require some headspace to work (moisture and air), so if you vacuum your bag, there will likely not be enough of either left. Also, because vacuuming puts more pressure on the bag (leading to a higher chance of puncture), we tend to recommend using O2 absorbers without vacuuming.

People go round and round on this issue on the forum. The above makes the most sense to me if for no other reason than I can't think of a commercial food product that I have bought which was vac packed with 02 absorbers