Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart Free Download (PDF)

Get a free Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart for expert advice on keeping your pantry well-stocked and your food fresh for longer.

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There’s nothing better than a pantry packed with real, shelf-stable food—no last-minute grocery runs, no wondering if your staples will hold up. Just good, solid food storage ready when you need it.

If you’re serious about keeping dry goods fresh for the long haul, Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers are the way to go.

That’s why I teamed up with Ola from Pack Fresh USA, a food storage expert, to put together this FREE Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart—your no-nonsense guide to locking in freshness for rice, beans, home-milled flour, and more.

This easy-to-use printable takes the guesswork out of storing food, so you can stock your shelves with confidence and know your pantry is built to last.

So let’s dive in—I’ll walk you through the best ways to store dry goods, why Mylar is a homesteader’s best friend, and how to create a rock-solid food stash that stands the test of time.

Food Categories in the Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart

This Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart provides a detailed guide on the amount of cc oxygen absorbers needed for various types of food and Mylar bag sizes, ensuring optimal preservation conditions.

Here’s a breakdown of the dry foods included in our chart:

• Beans
• Cereal/Crackers
• Coffee Beans
• Dehydrated Fruits/Vegetables
• Dried Corn
• Flour
• Herbs/Spices
• Lentils
• Nuts
• Oatmeal
• Pasta
• Potato Flakes
• Powdered Milk/Drinks
• Rice
• Seeds
• Wheat Berries

By understanding the specific storage methods for each food type, you can ensure a comprehensive approach to maintaining their freshness and flavor. 

Why Mylar Bags?

Mylar bags are the champions of long-term food storage, outshining other types of food packaging like vacuum sealer bags.

Their high tensile strength and excellent oxygen barrier properties, derived from a polyester film laminated to aluminum foil, make them a superior choice.

These bags safeguard your food, from dry beans to dehydrated fruits, against moisture, light, and air – the main enemies of food spoilage.

Whether you’re storing white rice or your collection of dehydrated fruits, Mylar bags provide the best possible conditions to extend the life of your food for extended periods.

The Benefits of Oxygen Absorbers

When it comes to long-term food storage, oxygen is your biggest enemy.

That’s where oxygen absorbers come in—they suck out every last bit of oxygen, creating the perfect environment to keep your dry goods fresh for the long haul.

These powerful packets are crucial for maintaining long-term storage integrity, triggering a chemical reaction that removes excess oxygen.

This prevents oxidative damage that can degrade the quality and flavor of stored food, ensuring grains, legumes, and other dry goods stay in peak condition and free from rancidity.

Moreover, oxygen absorbers are also effective in other containers, such as food-grade plastic buckets and mason jars.

For food-grade plastic, ensure a tight seal to block oxygen.

Mason jars are particularly effective, as they create a near vacuum-like environment when sealed, ideal for preserving dry goods.

They’re beneficial for light-sensitive foods if stored in a dark place or in opaque or amber-colored glass to prevent light degradation.

Storing Food like a Pro with Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers

Long-term food storage isn’t just about stuffing bags full of rice and hoping for the best—it’s about sealing in freshness and locking out everything that could ruin it. That’s why Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers are a game-changer.

If you’re wondering how many oxygen absorbers to use for different bag sizes, I’ve got you covered.

My Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart lays it all out—whether you’re sealing up pint-sized mylar pouches or large 5-gallon bags, this guide tells you exactly what you need.

Here’s the deal: oxygen is the enemy when it comes to storing dry goods long-term. But Mylar? It’s like a fortress—blocking out air, moisture, and light so your food stays as fresh as the day you packed it.

Add the right amount of oxygen absorbers, and you’re basically vacuum-sealing without the fancy machine. Just seal, store, and forget about it—until you need it.

Simple, effective, and a total must for building a rock-solid emergency pantry.

Sealing the Deal: How to Lock in Freshness with Mylar Bags

Getting a good, airtight seal on your Mylar bags is non-negotiable if you want your food to last for years. Luckily, sealing them up isn’t complicated—you just need the right tool for the job.

• Small Bags (Quart/Gallon Size) – Grab a hair straightener or a mini-hand sealer. Yep, your straightener isn’t just for hair—it’s perfect for smaller Mylar bags. Just clamp down along the top edge, working your way across to create a solid, air-tight seal.
• Large Bags (5-Gallon Size) – This is where a household iron or an impulse sealer shines. Set your iron to high heat (no steam), then run it smoothly over the top of the bag once or twice—that’s all it takes to create a tough, durable seal that locks in freshness. If using an impulse sealer, press down for a few seconds, then check the seal for any weak spots.

Need a step-by-step guide to make sure you’re sealing Mylar bags like a pro? Check out PackFreshUSA’s instructions for foolproof sealing methods:

• How to Seal Mylar Bags (Quart or Gallon size)
• How to Seal 5-Gallon Mylar Bags

A good seal = fresh food for the long haul. Don’t cut corners—seal it right the first time!

Tips for Storing Food in Mylar Bags

If you’re taking the time to store food long-term, do it right the first time! A few simple tricks can make all the difference in keeping your pantry stocked with fresh, high-quality food for years to come.

Rotation is Key

No one wants to crack open their food stash years later and find stale, flavorless grains. Rotate dehydrated foods every 3 years to keep everything fresh and packed with nutrients.

The Truth About Flour

• White flour – Lasts up to 10 years when stored properly.
• Whole wheat flour – Spoils faster (1-2 years) because of its higher oil content, which can lead to rancidity. Use oxygen absorbers to extend its shelf life, but don’t let it sit too long!

Managing Fats (Because Nobody Likes Rancid Food)

Anything with higher fat content—like nuts and whole grains—needs extra care.

Store with oxygen absorbers to slow down rancidity, but plan to rotate these foods every 1-2 years to keep them from going bad.

Rice, Sugar & Salt: What You Need to Know

• White rice stores forever when kept dry—an absolute pantry staple!
• Brown rice has more oils, meaning it spoils faster (6 months to 1 year). Keep it in airtight Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.
• Sugar & salt don’t need oxygen absorbers, but moisture is the enemy. Keep them dry and sealed!

Sugar & Drinks: Expect Some Texture Changes

Oxygen absorbers help extend the shelf life of sugary foods and drink mixes but expect some hardening over time. Keep everything sealed tight to minimize clumping.

Whole Grains & Brown Sugar: A Little Extra Care Goes a Long Way

• Whole grains (like barley, oats, and quinoa) store similarly to brown rice—6 months to 1 year max before the oils start to turn. Oxygen absorbers help, but don’t forget to rotate!
• Brown sugar likes to clump—toss in a few grains of uncooked rice or store with a Terracotta Brown Sugar Saver to keep it soft and scoopable.

Storing Seeds for Sprouting or Planting

If you plan to sprout or plant grains and seeds, don’t store them in a completely oxygen-free environment! They need a little air to stay viable. Keep them cool, dark, and sealed, but skip the oxygen absorbers if you want them to grow later.

Want More Food Storage Tips?

Check out PackFreshUSA’s Learning Library—it’s packed with expert tips on long-term food storage so you can build a resilient, well-stocked pantry.

Stock smart. Store smarter. Eat fresh.

Download the Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart Today

Want to keep your food fresh for the long haul? This must-have guide walks you through storing food the right way so you’re not stuck with stale, spoiled, or wasted pantry staples.

Know exactly how many oxygen absorbers you need, what foods store best, and how to build a solid long-term food stash—no guesswork needed!

More Free Printables for Your Homestead

If you’re loving this Mylar Bag Food Storage Chart, you’re gonna want to grab these other free printables, too! Keeping a stocked pantry and running a smooth homestead takes planning, and these guides make it way easier.

• Pantry Staples List – No more last-minute grocery runs! Keep track of the must-have ingredients that should always be on hand.
• Ounces to Pounds Conversion Chart – Because when you’re doubling a recipe or prepping in bulk, who has time for math?
• Spice List – Never run out of the essentials! Keep your spice cabinet stocked with all the key seasonings for home cooking. Free spice labels included!

And more! Homesteading planner, seasonal to-do lists, composting chart—you name it, I’ve got it.

Download them all and make homesteading (and food storage) a breeze!