Jun202010
INSTANT SURVIVAL TIP: Mylar Rules!
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Four of the five enemies of stored food can be conquered with the use of mylar bags. This great material does a mighty job of protecting your food from light, oxygen (if you toss in an oxygen absorber), pests, and humidity. The only enemy it can’t protect against is heat; that’s your job.
If you know what a mylar balloon is, just think stronger and thicker, and you have mylar for food storage use. Storing wheat in large mylar bags is common, and many companies such as Walton Feed sell their buckets of wheat with a mylar liner. (Check out the video below.) By snipping off all or part of the sealed end, you can access the food inside and then reseal with a clothes iron or a Food Saver. One reason mylar is so popular is because it can be re-sealed over and over. Just remember to add a new oxygen absorber each time.
Unless I don’t plan on opening a bucket of wheat or other food for years, I really like the options small mylar bags provide. Think about it. Smaller quantities allow for more frequent rotation and are smaller and lighter than heavy buckets. In an evacuation, these smaller packages would be easier to grab and pack. If you make your own dehydrated food mixes, they can be sealed in small mylar bags and then re-used. For organization, store the bags in labeled bins or boxes. You can still stock up on large amounts. The only difference is in the quantities stored in each container.
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(14) Readers Comments
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Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
Mosquitos are definitely an issue with this type of design. There are
Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
mine has a watering tube running up the inside wall of the pot, which
Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
How do you control for mosquitos breeding in the stagnant water at the
Barbara
I've been doing this for years. The bucket doesn't have to be food grade with the liner, though you still don't want one that has been used for paint or any chemical or detergent. That smell and taste can get through Kryptonite.
I like to iron shut all but the last inch, use the hose (or tube) to the foodsaver machine to suck the air out. Hold the opening closely while you pull out the tube, and quickly seal the last inch. Your product is now safe from air, light, water, and vermin. (really large and persistent critters like skunks and raccoons can eventually get through and they can be more cunning than you think.)
Be sure not to fill the bag so full that you can't crumple the top of the bag down and shut the lid. They'll weigh just about 40 pounds, depending on what you put in them, so don't stack them more than three high. They could crush and cause cracks in the bottom bucket.
Jan
That is an interesting video! Thanks!
tammy
Hello survival mom
I have been reading your site for a while now as well as others (can never have too much info). However, I have never posted on any of them. I guess for the first time I feel as if I have some info for you worth sharing. I had to dig out my BOL to give you the detailed info but here it is….
You mentioned having a hard time finding mylar bags in smaller sizes, well I stumbled upon a site while reading a survival forum (not sure which one at this point) that has great deals on mylar bags of all sizes and oxygen absorbers and I was very pleased with them. That is all they deal in as far as I could see.
tammy
An example, about four months ago I ordered a 20 pack of 10X14 (one gallon) mylar bags, a 20 pack of 8.5X8.75 ZIPLOCK bags (no sealing required), 4 20X30 (5 gallon bucket size), 2- 50 pack 300 cc oxygen absorbers, 2- 25 pack 750 cc oxygen absorber packs. With shipping was less than $85.00. They are the cheapest I have found and it quality of there bags is great as well as their service.
The web address is mylarbagsdirect.com
Additionally, I am not affiliated with these people what so ever, simply received what I think is a good deal.
Keep up the good work, I am sure I am not the only silent reader out there!!!
Cheryl Adamson
Hi Tammy, Do you mind sharing here you were able to purchase those mylar bags, etc? Thanks
Cheryl
Nick
I get my mylar bags from SorbentSystems.com and have been very happy with their products and prices.
aj52
Thanks for this article as I have been wondering if it would be useful to seal prepared foods in the packaging as they come from the store.Powdered milk,noodles,cereals etc. It seems it would be helpful. I realize it would depend on a lot of factors but does anyone have a source that would give info as to how long you could store food in the bags and still retain a decent amount of the nutrients. Thank You!
LizLong
From what I've read, I think not a lot past the expiration date printed on the package. I've been putting store packages inside a food saver bag and vacuum sealing that. Some things that are in sealed bags (like Wheat Thins – we eat A LOT of those), I snip a hole in the bag so the air is removed from that as well, but it still provides protection from poking holes in the bags or spilling (for things like cake mix) and the oxygen absorbers can do their thing well. The Dehydrate2Store lady said she vacuum seals grocery store items to keep them longer. I vacuum sealed A LOT of candy and goodies after the post-easter sales so we'll still have treats on hand. That'll be worth a lot for keeping the little ones happy. And potential barter items, as well.
http://www.dehydrate2store.com/
aj52
Thank You. I'll check out dehydrate2store.
Jennifer
I put the mylar bag containging the food I want to store (with an oxygen absorber for added security) into a food saver bag. I seal the food saver bag with the food saver machine like I would normally do. The mylar bag has to be about 1 1/4" shorter than the food saver bag. I iron the top of the mylar bag with the food saver bag still over it to seal the mylar bag. Keep the top mylar seam as smooth as possible to ensure a good seal at the top. I then remove the food saver bag (optional, you can keep it on if you want for added protection, but I like to remove it to ensure the mylar bag sealed), and I have a vacuum sealed mylar bag.
Guncrazy
If you're going to be doing a lot of food storage (and you should!), here's a link to some 1-quart and 1-gallon Mylar bags on "special promotion." (I think they made too many, and they're blowing out the excess inventory, so the link might not last too long).
http://sorbentsystems.com/promotion3.html
They also sell other sizes, as well as oxygen absorbers and dessicants.
Quiltstack
Rats are a big problem; they have an urge to gnaw and the teeth with which to do it. We had them in our garage, and they chewed through a heavy-duty plastic case in which we kept a circular saw. A rat was nesting in it. If food is scarce, the vermin will be looking for it. Plastic buckets aren't safe from rats, either. The mylar bags tucked into metal cans, with a tight fitting metal lid, is ideal.
Nick
If you're not allergic to them, cats can be great for rodent control. My two cats have kept my house rat- and mouse-free for years.
George
Mylar is indeed awesome! However, food storage is not it’s only trick…
Mylar is what ‘space blankets’ are made of, and have kept me quite warm on those cold winter nights! The only problem for using them for warmth, is that they do not breath, so you might end up sweating if you wrap yourself up too much. I’ve used it between blankets to stay warm at night, but I tend to move around a bit, and it kept waking me up since it sounded like I was in a potato chip bag!
It could also be used as a great heat reflector when outside (but DO NOT get it close to the flames..it is flammable.) I’d suggest putting up a ‘reflector wall’ behind you at the least, and lining it with mylar for warmth.
Another use (kudos to Cody Lundin!) is to line the inside of your tent with mylar to act as a heat reflector during cold weather.
I always have at least 2 ‘space blankets’ in my car for emergencies, as well as anytime I go outdoors (like hiking/fishing/hunting/camping,etc). The small, cheap ‘space blankets’ are prone to rip or tear easily, but an ‘emergency blanket’ is thicker and lined with mylar (though you ‘could’ make your own…) and only a few bucks more.
Mylar can also be used to make a solar oven, or even as a signal reflector (like a mirror) during an emergency.
Great stuff, mylar.