Easy Food Dehydrating

Ep 10 - What are Mylar Bags and Why Use Them?

September 13, 2022 Susan Gast
Easy Food Dehydrating
Ep 10 - What are Mylar Bags and Why Use Them?
Show Notes Transcript

Let's talk about Mylar bags today. Specifically what they are, and why we use them in our food dehydrating efforts. You know, when we store dried foods for long-term storage, it's important to keep three 'enemies' at bay:

  • Water
  • Light
  • Air

These tough bags are an excellent way to keep your dehydrated foods safe.

* * *

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00:07
Hello and welcome to Easy Food Dehydrating, the show that teaches you how to safely dehydrate and store fresh (or frozen) fruits and vegetables, along with cooked meats.
I’m your host, Susan Gast.  

00:24
What on Earth are Mylar Bags used for?
Hey there, let's talk about Mylar bags today. Specifically what they are, and why we use them in our food dehydrating efforts. You know, when we store dried foods for long-term storage, it's important to keep three 'enemies' at bay:

  • Water
  • Light
  • Air

00:50
What Are Mylar Bags Made From?
Mylar bags are made from polyester film. This material was developed in the 1950s by DuPont and is now produced by a number of different companies. It's a strong, durable, and flexible material that can be used for a variety of applications. It's a silvery gray color.

01:11
Why Use Mylar Bags for Dehydrated Foods?
When it comes to dehydrating foods for long-term storage, Mylar bags are an excellent option. They're strong and durable, so they won't tear easily. They're also airtight and moisture-resistant, so they'll keep your dried foods fresh and free from mold and other contaminants.

If you're looking for a simple and effective way to store your dried foods, Mylar bags, as I said, are a great option.

01:42
Mylar Bags vs. Food Storage Containers

Mylar bags are often used in conjunction with food storage containers. This combination provides an extra layer of protection against moisture and air, as stated earlier. You can easily place filled and sealed Mylar bags inside feed buckets that have airtight lids.

Food storage containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They're typically made from glass, plastic, or metal. We'll stick with glass and plastic, namely plastic-lidded bins and buckets, and glass Mason jars.

02:26
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03:07
Back to the Mylar bags:
Mylar bags can be placed inside food storage containers, or they can be used on their own. If you're using Mylar bags alone, be sure to seal them tightly with a heat sealer. Do not try to draw the air out of them. Why? Because you can't! Both of the inner sides of a Mylar bag are smooth making it next to impossible to draw air out.

03:35
When it comes to storing dried foods, Mylar bags are a great option. They're strong and durable, and they offer an extra layer of protection against the three enemies—again: moisture, air, and light. If you're looking for a simple and effective way to store your dried foods, Mylar bags are a great way to go. 

03:54
The size I get is ten inches by fourteen inches. They also include 300cc oxygen absorbers. I order them on Amazon. If you wish to purchase your oxygen absorbers and Mylar bags separately, you can. I just find it handy to buy the Mylar bags with the oxygen absorbers included… (easy for me to say, warble!)

Remember to check your oxygen absorbers to make sure the little pill inside the whole bag is pink. If the pill is turning blue, the oxygen absorbers are not viable.

04:29
How Much Can You Fit Inside the Mylar Bags?

Great question! I manage to pack about three to four of my vacuum-sealed and plastic-wrapped packages inside a Mylar bag.

After you've dehydrated your food, it's time to vacuum-seal it. We use a food vacuum sealer for this and special food vacuum sealer bags that are at least 3 mil. thick. My favorite size is the quart size. My go-to sealer is a FoodSaver model. Don't forget to add your 100cc oxygen absorber inside the vacuum-sealer bag at this time, prior to drawing the air out!

05:09
When I've finished vacuum-sealing my goodies, I then wrap the packages in plastic wrap. This aids against the bags puncturing each other when they're inside the Mylar bag. Why do they puncture, you ask?

When your foods are dehydrated, they tend to get brittle, and hard. Sometimes, a sharp edge, like from a dried carrot, can puncture its bag and its neighbor... so the plastic wrap helps cushion against that happening.

05:38
What Do You Do with the Mylar Bags?
When we've filled the Mylar bags, it's time to seal them. Remember, don't try to draw the air out, simply seal the Mylar bag with its 300cc oxygen absorber tucked inside first. Then write on the bag's contents and the date. I used to write on the very top edge of the bag, above the seal. Don't do that. Why? Because you'll end up cutting off that top part when you want to take out one or two of the bags. Then you'll have to write it all out again! Lesson learned.

06:14
Today we learned more about Mylar bags and their function in the storage of food for the long term. When you properly store food, your dehydrated goodies can last for months—and years. What I do ask of you is to rotate your stock. It's important to put the date on the bag when you sealed it, and obviously its contents.

When you've created a new batch of foods to store away, visit the bins and buckets and remove the oldest of the bunch. Replace it with your new one. Yeah, yeah, I know it's pretty obvious, but don't forget to rotate!

06:49
See you next time... Happy Dehydrating!

And again, if you enjoyed today’s show, please share it with other people whom you think might enjoy it too! Thank you.

07:02
Thanks for listening to the Easy Food Dehydrating podcast. Visit EasyFoodDehydrating.com for much more information on how to dehydrate food and the best way to safely store it.