Removing Air From Mylar Bags: How-to Guide

Many ask "how do you get air out of mylar bags?"

To get air out of Mylar bags, fill the bag, press out as much air as possible by hand, add an oxygen absorber if needed, and heat seal it. For even better results, you can partially seal the bag first, then squeeze out the remaining air before closing it fully.

You are not the only one who has noticed that after filling a Mylar bag with something, it is full of air and you have no idea how to get rid of it. This is one of the biggest questions that new users of Mylar bags for food storage, bulk food, emergency supplies and product packaging have.

Here is the good news: You don’t have to get all of the air out of a Mylar bag for the bag to work well. In fact, the best way to remove air from your Mylar bags depends on how long you want your food to last, what type of oxygen absorbers (if any) you are using, and whether you are using a vacuum tool, or just your hands.

This guide breaks it all down in a way that actually makes sense, without the prepper myths or weird internet advice.

Quick Answer: How Do You Get Air Out of Mylar Bags?

The best way to get air out of Mylar bags is to flatten the contents, push excess air toward the top, and heat seal the bag tightly. For long-term food storage, using oxygen absorbers helps remove oxygen left inside after sealing.

To get air out of Mylar bags, you can:

Press the air out by hand
Use a rolling pin or flat object
Partially seal, then squeeze out remaining air
Use a straw or suction tool for light vacuuming
Use a vacuum sealer if your bag and setup allow it
Add oxygen absorbers for long-term dry food storage

For most people, the best method is simple: fill the bag, press out excess air, add an oxygen absorber, and heat seal it. Oxygen absorbers remove the oxygen left inside after sealing, which is what matters most for long-term dry food storage.

The Importance of Removing Air Out of Your Mylar Bags

While the air inside of a Mylar bag may not seem like that big of a deal, hiding in the bag it steadily destroys the shelf life of your food over time.

If there is too much air trapped inside of a Mylar bag, the sealed product will experience:

Rapid oxidization
Freshness loss
Changes in texture
A greater chance of stale odors or flavor fade
More space for bug infestations
Issues with spoiled products in dry products

However, the bag does not need to be completely flat like a brick when properly sealed. Although many people expect Mylar to appear completely vacuum sealed, this is not always the case. While oxygen absorbers remove oxygen from the product, they do not remove other gases, which is why it is possible to have a slightly inflated bag that is still sealed properly.

This often causes confusion for many people.

Mylar Bag Air Removal Techniques

Here's are ways to effectively empty air from mylar bags in order from most effective to least:

1. Hand Compress:

One of the easiest and most commonly used ways to remove air from a mylar bag.

- Once your mylar bag is filled,

- shake/tap bag to pack contents down,

- flatten bag as much as possible while pushing any air towards the top opening of the bag, and

- press the bag closed, keeping pressure on the bag until it is sealed.

This method yields great results with most foods including:

- rice

- beans

- pasta

- flour

- freeze dried foods

- powder (example: powdered milk)

Even though this might seem like a basic way to remove air from a mylar bag, this method is an excellent option to store most food items.

This method is most suitable for:

- Long Term Storage Of Dry Food In Your Pantry

- Organizing Your Pantry & Other Areas Of The House

- Preparedness: Emergency Preparedness

- Containing Food With An Oxygen Absorber Inside

This method cannot be used to store empty space items (for example: chips or light and fluffy snack food).

2. "Almost Seal" Method:

The "Almost Seal" process is one of the clearest ways to eliminate air

How to do it:
1. Heat seal most of the upper edge of the bag.
2. Leave 1 to 2 inches open.
3. Force or roll the air out of the bag and then immediately seal off the open area.

More control means you'll have less chance of the bag re-inflating while you're sealing it.

Why this method works so well:

It eliminates that annoying moment when the bag re-inflates right after you finish sealing.

Many people use this as their primary method once they've tried it.

3. Flatten the Bag By Rolling It Before You Seal It

Another great way to remove air from a bag is to roll it if you have compacted items inside.

To do this:

Lay bag flat on the table;
Starting from the bottom of the bag, and at the opening of the bag, roll the bag upwards towards the top of the bag;
As you roll the bag, your air will escape towards the top of the bag.

You can also use:

Rolling pin;
Cutting board;
Flat book;
Acrylic block;
Any smooth kitchen utensil.

Rolling works best on foods and products that can tightly fill the bag without getting crushed.

Some examples of how rolling the bag works with food:

Good - oats, rice, coffee, powder mix, granola
Bad - crackers, freeze dried fruit, fragile items

If your items will fit tightly in the bag after you seal it, rolling will help seal out air. Do not use air to pack away these types of food.

4. Use a Straw or Suction Tube Method

Many people have successfully used this do-it-yourself (DIY) method. So it does work.

Instructions:

Heat seal the bag about three-quarters of the way shut.
Leave a small 1" opening at the top.
Insert a straw or some type of suction tube into the bag.
Suck out the air.
Remove the straw from the bag quickly so as not to let any air back in.
Heat seal the remainder of the opening shut.

Using this method should allow you to get more air out than what you could simply by pressing the bag down by hand.

The one caveat to this method is that if you are storing food, be mindful of moisture from your breath, which is not good for long-term food storage (especially dry staples).

With that said, it will work for:

- Short-term storage
- Product samples
- Non-food items

However, it is typically not recommended for serious long-term food storage.

5. Vacuum Sealing Mylar Bags

It’s possible to vacuum seal some Mylar bags, but it depends on the type of Mylar bag and the vacuum sealer you use.

Most vacuum sealers will:

remove air
heat seal the edge
make the package look tight

The problem is:

Not all vacuum sealers work well on thicker Mylar bags. Some seals too soon, some do not remove enough air, and some require textured channels or additional equipment. Even if the vacuum sealing machine works, your Mylar bags may not have a perfect vacuum seal.

Best Use Cases:

Small Bags
Freeze Dried Foods
Compact Non-Refrigerated Dry Goods
People With FoodSaver Style Machines

Keep in Mind:

Using a vacuum sealer on your Mylar bags is helpful; however, it does not take the place of the oxygen absorbers if you are doing long term dry food storage.

This is the part that people miss out on.

Important Truth: Air is Not Equal to Oxygen

People Get Confused About This Myth!

The phrase people usually use when they say “I want to get all the air out,” typically means that they wish for the product/oil/any type of consumable, within their bag, to remain preserved for as long as possible.

Oxygen Is The Real Enemy of Long-Term Storage. That Is Also Why Oxygen Absorbers Are So Vital!

Oxygen absorbers do the following things:

Eliminate the Oxygen From The Sealed Bag
Slow the Oxidation Process
Help Prevent Products from Spoiling
Help Protect The Color, Flavor, and Shelf Life
Reduce The Chances of Insects Infesting Dry Foods

If your Mylar bag has some puffer left in it after sealing, it does not mean your bag failed. The bag may be functioning correctly.

That isn’t lack of storage; it’s a Scientific Process.

For long-term storage, using oxygen absorbers helps remove the oxygen left inside after sealing. If you’re unsure when or how to use them, check out our guide on Do You Need To Use Oxygen Absorbers in Mylar Bags?

How To Store Dry Foods For Long Term (Months to Years)

If you wish to store your foods for long-term, please use this method.

#1. Fill The Mylar Bag.

When filling the mylar bag, please leave a little above the top for expanded air. Normally this is approximately 2-3 inches from the top edge of the bag.

#2. Insert The Proper Oxygen Absorber Size.

Select the oxygen absorber (size) based on the size of the bag and the amount of empty space inside the bag.

#3. Press Air Out of Bag by Hand.

Do not quote; “Stop worrying about removing as much air out of the bag.” Just get rid of as much available air as you can without too much labor pains.

#4. Seal the Mylar Bags.

To do this, you have a few options:

Impulse sealer
Hair straightener
Household iron
Heat press with caution

#5. Store in a Cool, Dark, Dry Area

Heat and humidity are the two worst enemies of storing food.

That’s it. Clean and effective, and most of all, simple.

What NOT to Do When you Remove Air from Mylar Bags

Don’t make the mistakes below when you take air out of your Mylar storage bags that can spoil a perfectly good bag.

1. Don't Overfill Your Bag

If the contents of your Mylar bag are packed too high, there won't be enough room to create a good seal.

2. Don't Leave Residue in the Seal Area

Even a small residue can compromise the heat seal and result in leaks.

3. Don't Depend on the Zipper Alone

If your Mylar bag has a zip seal, this is nice, but when it comes to long-term storage, you should always heat seal above the zipper as well.

4. Don’t Use Oxygen Absorbers for Storing Moist or Wet Foods

Using oxygen absorbers with Mylar bags should generally only be used for dry, low-moisture food and should never be used for fresh or oily products.

5. Don’t Use “Puffed” as a Barometer of Air Removal

Some products create a lot of space in Mylar bags. Even though it may appear slightly puffy, the bag can still be properly sealed.

People think this one too often.

Do You Need a Vacuum Sealer for Mylar Bags?

No, absolutely not.

Vacuum Sealing is not a requirement.

For most people, the following items are all you really need:

Mylar bags
Oxygen absorbers
Method to adequately heat seal the bag
Method to press the extra air out of the bag

These 4 items will allow you to achieve very good results.

Yes, a vacuum sealer can help people vacuum seal Mylar bags, but it is not a magic solution. You can properly store dry foods without having to purchase expensive vacuum sealers.

Best Uses for Mylar Bags After Air Removal

Once you know how to remove air from your Mylar bags properly, you can use Mylar bags for a variety of purposes:

Rice
Pasta
Beans
Oats
Powdered milk
Dehydrated foods
Coffee
Herbs
Candy
Bulk Snacks
Small Retail Products
Sample Packaging

For businesses, removing air will also allow the bags to:

Stack better
Look nicer
Take up less room
Feel more premium

This is more important than many people realize.

customized mylar bag packaging

Why Big Brands Are Switching to Custom Mylar Bags

Many brands are now choosing customized Mylar packaging bags as opposed to traditional rigid packaging. They appreciate how great they look on store shelves, how well they can keep products safe from damage while in transit, and how easy they are for consumers to use and handle.

Rigid packaging is usually too much larger than flexible packaging and may also take a lot of time and effort to get items from one point to another due to the extra space filled by rigid packages.

Consequently, many brands have discovered that Mylar-style flexible packages not only help maintain their products' freshness and extend shelf life, but they also provide a high barrier to keep food-related products fresher longer, especially for food and snack-related products.

Final Answer: What is the Best Way to Remove Air from Mylar Bags by Hand?

The short version of the answer is this.

To get air out of Mylar bags, gently press or roll the bag to push excess air upward before sealing. For long-term storage, many people also use oxygen absorbers to help remove the oxygen left inside the bag.

Best overall method for removing air from your Mylar bags:

1. Press out as much air as you can from the bag
2. Use oxygen absorbers as needed
3. Heat seal properly

If you want to create a tighter seal, you can do this by:

1. Using the almost-seal method
2. Rolling method
3. Using a vacuum sealer

Here are the greatest points to take out as you read this:

You don't have to have every particle of air out of your Mylar bag for it to work properly. You just have to have a good air seal on your Mylar bag. This is where good storage tips stop and internet nonsense starts!

Common Questions

Q1. Can I Vacuum Seal a Mylar Bag?

Some vacuum sealers will be able to seal Mylar (especially small Mylar bags), but all machines do not work the same.

Q2. Do Mylar Bags Have to Be Totally Flat?

They do not need to appear completely vacuum sealed in order to be effective.

Q4. Should I Use Oxygen Absorbers?

Oxygen absorbers are one of the best ways to preserve the shelf life for long term storage of dry food.

Q5. Can I Use a Hair Straightener to Seal Mylar bags?

Yes, a hair straightener is one of the most common DIY methods for sealing Mylar.

Q6. Why Is My Mylar Bag Still Puffing up After I Vacuum it?

The absorbent materials will absorb oxygen but there are other gasses present in most vacuum. The slight puffiness that still exists in a Mylar bag after sealing is normal.