| List Of Foods To Store In Mylar Bags | |
|---|---|
| Food Item | Shelf Life |
| Nuts | Less than 1 year |
| Chips | Less than 1 year |
| Chocolate or candy | Less than 1 year |
| Brown rice | Less than 1 year |
| Dehydrated meat, i.e. beef jerky | Between 1 – 3 years |
| Yeast | Between 1 – 3 years |
| Crackers | Between 1 – 3 years |
| Roasted coffee beans | Between 1 – 3 years |
| Cornmeal (maize flour) | Between 3 – 5 years |
| Herbs (ground) | Between 3 – 5 years |
| Powdered milk (full-fat) | Between 3 – 5 years |
| Sprouting seeds | Between 3 – 5 years |
| Green coffee beans | Between 3 – 5 years |
| Alfalfa | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Gluten | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Granola | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Herbs (whole) | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Millet | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Mung beans | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Quinoa | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Peppercorns (whole) | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Peanut butter powder | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Powdered milk (semi-skimmed) | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Powdered egg | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Rye | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Unbleached flour | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Wheat flakes | Between 5 – 10 years |
| Black turtle beans | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Black-eyed peas | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Buckwheat | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Butter/margarine powder | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Chickpeas | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Cocoa powder | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Durham wheat | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Flax | Between 10 – 20 years |
| White flour | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Wholewheat flour | Between 10 – 20 years |
| Coffee (instant) | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Freeze-dried fruit and vegetables | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Hulled oats | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Kidney beans | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Lentils | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Lima beans | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Noodles | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Pasta | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Pink beans | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Powdered milk (skimmed) | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Rolled oats | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Tea (bags or loose) | Between 20 – 30 years |
| White rice | Between 20 – 30 years |
| Baking soda | Indefinitely |
| Baking powder | Indefinitely |
| Honey | Indefinitely |
| Salt | Indefinitely |
| Sugar | Indefinitely |
Mylar bags have become a popular choice for efficient and cost-effective long-term food storage. These laminated food-grade plastic and aluminum bags provide a protective barrier against light, moisture, and oxygen, ensuring the longevity of stored foods. When properly sealed and stored, Mylar bags can keep a variety of foods fresh for several years.
So, what are the best foods to store using Mylar bags? Let’s take a look at some of the top choices:
- White rice
- Wheat
- Flour
- Sugar
- Oats
- Baking soda
- Honey
- Salt
- Instant coffee
- Freeze-dried fruit
- Freeze-dried vegetables
- Cereals
These foods have low moisture content, making them ideal for long-term storage. With Mylar bags providing a protective barrier against moisture and oxygen, you can be confident that your food will stay fresh and retain its nutritional value.
Storing food in Mylar bags offers many benefits, including their durability, flexibility, and resistance to punctures. In the next sections, we will delve into the advantages of using Mylar bags for food storage and provide you with essential tips to ensure proper long-term storage of your favorite foods.
Benefits of using Mylar bags for food storage
Using Mylar bags for food storage offers several benefits. First, they provide a strong and flexible packaging solution that keeps food fresh over the long haul. Mylar bags are less permeable to gases, especially oxygen, and are moisture-proof, protecting the contents from spoilage. They are also puncture-resistant, ensuring the integrity of the packaging.
Mylar bags can store a wide variety of foods for long periods, making them ideal for emergency storage. Whether you’re preparing for a natural disaster or building a stockpile for long-term food security, Mylar bags provide a reliable and efficient solution. They are suitable for storing staples like rice, flour, and sugar, as well as dried goods like beans and pasta. Additionally, Mylar bags are commonly used for storing freeze-dried food and dehydrated fruits and vegetables.
To properly store food in Mylar bags, it’s essential to use high-quality, food-safe bags that are designed for long-term storage. These bags should be thick enough to protect against light, moisture, and oxygen. Vacuum sealing the bags before storage helps remove any remaining oxygen and moisture, further extending the shelf life of the food items.
Storing the Mylar bags in a stable environment is crucial to maintain the quality of the stored food. Ideally, the storage area should be clean, dry, and cool, with minimal temperature fluctuations. This ensures that the food remains in optimal condition for an extended period.
By utilizing Mylar bags for food storage, you can take advantage of their numerous benefits and effectively preserve a wide range of foods for long-term use. Properly stored foods in Mylar bags can retain their nutritional value, taste, and quality for an extended period, making them a valuable addition to your emergency preparedness supplies or long-term food storage plan.
Benefits of using Mylar bags:
- Strong and flexible packaging
- Less permeable to gases, especially oxygen
- Moisture-proof
- Puncture-resistant
- Can store a wide variety of foods
- Ideal for emergency storage
- Keeps food fresh over the long haul
- Preserves nutritional value, taste, and quality
When properly storing food in Mylar bags, you can have peace of mind knowing that your emergency food supply is protected and will remain viable for years to come.
| Food Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Staples | Rice, flour, sugar, oats, salt |
| Dried Goods | Beans, pasta, lentils, quinoa |
| Dehydrated Fruits and Vegetables | Apples, strawberries, peas, carrots |
| Freeze-Dried Food | Meat, vegetables, fruits, desserts |
Tips for proper long-term food storage with Mylar bags
When it comes to storing food for the long haul, Mylar bags are a reliable and effective solution. To ensure your food stays fresh and safe, follow these essential tips:
1. Use high-quality, food-safe Mylar bags: Choose Mylar bags that are specifically designed for food storage. Look for bags that are made from food-grade materials and are the appropriate thickness for your storage needs.
2. Store dry foods with low moisture content: To prevent spoilage, it’s important to store foods with low moisture content in Mylar bags. Items like rice, flour, sugar, and oats are excellent candidates for Mylar bag storage.
3. Prep your food items before storing: Before sealing the bags, make sure to eliminate any moisture, oil, or additives from the food items. This will help maintain the quality and prolong the shelf life of your stored food.
4. Vacuum seal the bags: After properly preparing your food items, vacuum seal the Mylar bags to remove oxygen and moisture. This will create an airtight barrier that protects the food from spoiling and extends its storage life.
5. Consider using oxygen absorbers: For added protection, consider including oxygen absorbers in the Mylar bags. These small packets help further remove oxygen and maintain the freshness of the stored food.
6. Store in a stable environment: Finally, store the sealed Mylar bags in a clean, safe, and temperature-stable environment. Avoid areas with extreme heat or fluctuations in temperature, as these can compromise the integrity of the packaging and the quality of the stored food.
By following these tips, you can effectively store a variety of food items in Mylar bags for extended periods, ensuring they remain fresh and ready to use whenever you need them.