Mylar Bags & Oxygen Absorbers
For storing rice, beans, flour and other dry staples for years, nothing beats mylar bags sealed with oxygen absorbers. The mylar blocks light and moisture, the absorbers remove oxygen, and together they keep food shelf-stable and pest-proof. This guide covers bag sizes, absorber sizing and the products worth buying. Note: this method is for dry, low-moisture foods only.
Which type do you need?
Mylar bags
- Rice, beans, flour, oats
- Long-term (years) storage
- Light and moisture barrier
- Blocks light and moisture
- Reusable if resealed
- Need heat-sealing
Oxygen absorbers
- Removing oxygen from bags
- Preventing staleness and pests
- Pairing with mylar or jars
- Cheap in bulk
- Extend life dramatically
- Sized by cc to the bag
Find the right long term food storage
| Your need | Best type | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| Store dry staples for years | Mylar + oxygen absorbers | Best for long-term storage |
| How many absorbers per bag | Sizing guide | Oxygen absorber guide |
| Compare every product | All products | Full database |
Explore long term food storage
Long Term Food Storage database
PantryGear Lab tracks 28 long term food storage models with sourced specifications. Here is a representative preview; the full table adds filters and sorting.
| Model | Type | Size | Pack | Thickness | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEIAO 15 Mil 5 Gallon Mylar Bags for Food Storage wi | Mylar bags | 5 gallon | — | 15 mil | Check price |
| FOREVERPREP 155 Mylar Bags with 155 Oxygen Absorbers | Mylar bags | — | — | — | Check price |
| HomArtist 300 cc Oxygen Absorbers For Food Storage I | Oxygen absorbers | 300cc | 100-pack | — | Check price |
| Hombao 200 Packs 100CC Food Grade Oxygen Absorbers | Oxygen absorbers | 100cc | 200-pack | — | Check price |
| Hombao 200 Packs 300CC Oxygen Absorbers for Food Sto | Oxygen absorbers | 300cc | 200-pack | — | Check price |
| Home Sensei 10pcs 5 Gallon Mylar Bags for Food Stora | Mylar bags | 5 gallon | 10-pack | 10 mil | Check price |
| Home Sensei 20 Mylar Bags for Food Storage | Mylar bags | 2.5 gallon | — | 15 mil | Check price |
| Home Sensei 30 Mylar Bags for Food Storage 1 Gallon | Mylar bags | 1 gallon | — | 15 mil | Check price |
| LIFJOY 100 Packs 100CC Food Grade Oxygen Absorbers | Oxygen absorbers | 100cc | 100-pack | — | Check price |
| LIFJOY 120 Packs 500CC Food Grade Oxygen Absorbers | Oxygen absorbers | 500cc | 120-pack | — | Check price |
View all 28 long term food storage, with filters & sorting →
What matters when choosing a long term food storage
Match the bag to your food: 1-gallon for a few pounds of rice or beans, 5-gallon for bulk buckets. Fewer, larger bags store more but commit you to using it once opened.
Measured in mils, thicker bags (5 mil and up) resist punctures and pests better for long-term storage. Thin bags suit shorter-term use.
Absorbers are rated in cc of oxygen they remove. Match total cc to the bag volume, roughly 300cc per gallon of dry food, so oxygen is fully removed.
This method is for low-moisture dry goods. Do not store high-moisture or fatty foods this way, as the oxygen-free environment can be unsafe for them.
How PantryGear Lab researches long term food storage
We track real mylar bags and oxygen absorbers using verified specifications and current listings, recorded by brand and size and dated on capture. We never publish a figure we cannot source.
Frequently asked questions
What's the real difference between long-term storage and just stocking up on groceries?
Regular pantry stock is meant to be eaten within months, so packaging only has to survive a normal shelf life. Long-term storage uses mylar, oxygen absorbers, and sealed containers specifically so dry staples can sit untouched for years or decades without spoiling.
Which foods are actually worth storing long-term, and which aren't?
Low-moisture staples like white rice, wheat, dried beans, pasta, and sugar store well for years when sealed properly. Foods with real fat or oil content, or anything not fully dried, have a much shorter safe window no matter how good the packaging is.
Do I need a freeze dryer to get started with long-term food storage?
No. Most long-term storage is built around staples that are already dry, sealed with mylar and oxygen absorbers, with no freeze dryer required. A freeze dryer is a separate, bigger investment mainly for preserving already-prepared meals and fresh produce.
Roughly how much does it cost to set up long-term storage for a family?
A single 5-gallon bucket setup, liner, absorbers, and the bulk staple inside, usually costs about as much as a takeout meal or two per bucket. Costs scale with how many buckets a household wants on hand, not with any specialty equipment.
Where's the best place in a home to store sealed buckets?
A cool, dark, temperature-stable spot works best, such as a closet or basement rather than a garage or attic that swings with the seasons. Keeping buckets off a bare concrete floor and out of direct sunlight also helps the seal and the food last as long as it should.