A common question is whether Mylar bags work well for food storage.

Yes, Mylar bags are very good for food storage because they create a strong barrier against oxygen, moisture, and light. When sealed properly with oxygen absorbers, they can preserve dry foods like rice, beans, pasta, and cornmeal for many years.

Mylar bags are becoming a very reliable and very desirable means of storing food long-term. Made up of multiple layers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a thin layer of metal foil, these bags are designed to seal out air, moisture, light, and contaminants from the environment to protect your food as much as possible. With the property of creating protection for the food inside, many companies and home users are using Mylar for dry goods at home or on the shelf for long periods of time.

How Mylar Bags Preserve Food

Mylar protects food from spoilage by providing a barrier against several elements that can spoil food. The most common way food spoils is when it is exposed to air, light, and moisture. Exposure to those elements is the primary reason that most food loses its flavor, nutrients, and shelf life over time. Using Mylar bags will help prevent that exposure and greatly extend the amount of time that foods stay fresh.

The most important aspects of using Mylar for food storage are:

1) Excellent barrier to oxygen. Mylar has an excellent oxygen barrier which prevents food from oxidizing, thus preventing spoilage. 

2) Provides protection against moisture (water or humidity).

3) Provides light-blocking properties which reduce the degradation of nutrients.

4) Durable material that cannot be punctured or torn easily.

5) Heat sealable closures will seal the bag up tight, giving you a vacuum seal.

If paired with oxygen absorbers, many types of food can typically be stored for many years using Mylar bags.

"Removing oxygen prevents spoilage and kills insect eggs that could hatch." - Caltex Plastics Food Storage Guide

Best Types of Foods for Packing in Mylar

Mylar bags are best used to store dry foods with little or no moisture. Most of these products can last for a very long time when sealed in Mylar as long as they are stored in an appropriate way.

Common foods that can be effectively stored in Mylar bags are:

• Rice: 5 years
• Beans: 20 years
• Pasta: 20 years
• Cornmeal: 20 years
• Flour: 10 years
• Dehydrated vegetables: 10 years or longer
• Powdered milk: 20 years or longer
• Oats and Grains: 25 years or longer
• Freeze-Dried Foods: up to 25 years

Storage times of these products vary due to how they are stored (temperature, humidity) and whether they have been treated with oxygen absorbers.

How to Store Food in Mylar Bags

To obtain the best results from Mylar bags, you must have the proper filling and sealing procedures. Although this is a simple process, you can still have success with Mylar bags when you follow these instructions.

1) Fill the Mylar bag with dry food.

2) Add enough oxygen absorbers for the size of the bag you are using.

3) Heat seal the bag with an impulse sealer or a regular household iron.

4) Store the sealed Mylar bag in a cool, dark place.

You may also want to put the sealed bag inside a food-grade bucket to protect it from being damaged or from pests.

Why So Many Brands Use Custom Resealable Mylar Bags for Packaging Food

In addition to home storage, custom resealable mylar bags arw widely used by commercial food manufacturers because it helps maintain food freshness, quality during shipping, and shelf display. Many snack, coffee, and dry food brands use customized packaging Mylar bags because they provide strong barrier protections, and flexible package designs, which are critical for all food manufacturers.

For branded companies that need to professionally package dry foods, creating a good partnership with a reputable supplier, such as Brandmydispo, is critical for creating durable custom resealable mylar bags that protect the product, while also have an attractive package appearance when on display.

View custom resealable mylar bags examples.

Short Answer

Mylar bags are very good for food storage and widely since their multilayer material protects food from air, humidity, and contamination. When heat sealed and stored in a cool, dark place, they help extend the shelf life of many dry foods for 5 to 25 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the lengths of time that mylar bags can hold food?

Mylar bags (when sealed properly with oxygen absorbers and kept in cool, dark places) can preserve food for 5 to 25 years, but the actual time depends upon the type of food stored. Some dry staple foods like rice, beans, pasta, oats, and cornmeal have a long shelf-life because they have very low moisture levels.

2. Do I need an oxygen absorber in mylar bags?

Oxygen absorbers are strongly recommended for use with mylar bags because they remove the oxygen from the interior of the sealed bag, which prevents oxidation, mold growth, and insect infestation. Therefore, even though food is still protected from light and moisture, it would not have as long of a shelf-life without an oxygen absorber.

3. Which foods should not be stored using mylar bags?

Foods that have high moisture content and/or high levels of fat should not be stored using mylar bags for long term storage. Examples of these kinds of foods are: Fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, soft types of cheese, oily kinds of foods (like nuts), and brown rice. All these types of foods spoil much quicker than dry foods do and can car about to spoil even if they are stored using an airtight container.

4. Is it safe to use mylar bags for long term food storage?

Yes. When stored using food-grade mylar bags and sealed properly, mylar bags are considered to be safe for use in long term food storage. Because of the multiple layers of construction that mylar bags have, they block out the 3 things that cause food to deteriorate over the course of time, oxygen; moisture; and light, thus they are very popular for use in emergency food storage, bulk dry food storage, and commercial food packaging.

Conclusion

Mylar bags are a great option for storing food, especially dry food that has a long shelf life or needs protection from moisture, or oxygen. When sealed properly and stored in a cool, dark place, Mylar bags will keep food fresh for several years. Whether you use Mylar bags for food storage related to emergency preparedness, pantry organization, or commercial packaging, Mylar bags are one of the most reliable means of storing food available today.