I'm trying to keep plastic out of landfills. I have corningware I put leftovers in. I have a few plastic containers(non BPA) I might freeze extra jalapenos in ...for instance. I might use a left over produce bag to freeze bread in. I typically don't buy mylar bags.

Not familiar with mylar bags. I have a dozen ziplocks that must be a year old. I put 'whatever' in ordinary flimsy baggies, then in one of these to freeze. Yes, the flimsy baggies are a waste, but 'lesser of evils'. I have only side X side freezer space -- bread, cookies, veggies, meat, chicken, a few 'emergency dinner' entrees.

Here is Lucille's first sidetrack: Do you have any commercial frozen entrees to recommend? I liked the Scott & Jon's shrimp I had recently.

What are you looking to store? What do mylar bags, specifically, offer?

Second sidetrack: why would anyone be against food storage?

We have used them for long-term bulk storage. We bought the kind that you expel the air from, and they're double zip-locked shut. Mostly used by preppers. They need a dessicant in them if you're using them for rice/beans or whatever would be ruined by moisture.

We found that, over time (years) they did eventually lose their air-tightness.

We no longer store that much food though.

FOAS Mylar bags supposedly shut out light and oxygen and extend storage for years. I'm wondering if that might help with various dry foods, pastas and grains. IDK, that's why I'm asking.

I checked out the Scott and Jon's shrimp and it looks yummy, comes in several flavors. Back in the old days I used to like Stouffer's mac and cheese.

Mylar IS plastic and does not last forever so will eventually find its way into landfills the same way plastic ziplock storage bags will. I use reusable plastic containers primarily but also biodegradable plastic bags my local grocer has available for produce, etc.

I am also not immune to a few ziplock bags when necessary.

Biodegradable plastic

Not necessarily the answer.

The good and the bad: https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2017/12/13/the-truth-about-bioplastics/

" Second sidetrack: why would anyone be against food storage? "

I'm not "against" it. We just don't maintain a storehouse of food as some people in previous threads have said they do or have described. I got hounded about comments I've made on this topic, which is fine. Many, though not all, of each of our actions are driven by personal feelings or opinions and that is mine on this topic.

Our pantry contains what gets used with no backup, with a few exceptions. Maybe a half dozen cans of tuna, but one bag of flour, one box of sugar, a few cans of whole tomatoes for sauce, etc. We don't "make extra to freeze". No extra portions or batches of anything in the freezer. Nothing is purchased and then frozen for use at a later time. All that's in our freezer is frozen veggies and items sold in frozen form only. When we run out or learn when checking to see if something we want to use isn't there, we buy more.

We prefer fresh food and act accordingly. I expect the zombie apocalypse is not going to happen in my lifetime. The prior experiences in my lifetime with "natural disasters" or supply disruptions never required having a stock of food and water in the house. So, we don't have see a need to do that.

I mostly agree with Elmer. We're minutes from three or four groceries. There's a reason they're called stores.

I don't need a pantry that is actually a duplicate kitchen.

My "Costco Closet" is for paper goods that I don't want on my grocery list regularly.

Our garbage goes out in paper bags -- unlike all our neighbors whose garbage is neatly sealed from rotting in plastic bags. (Too old to start composting.)

Kevin, how do you tell how many oxygen absorbers to put in? Thank you for the time you took to answer, your post was very informative.

I freeze some foods (gotta take advantage of those sales and that's not recent, I learned it very young), use my food saver some, but I don't disaster prep if you are asking about that kind of long term storage. I often use butchers freezer paper for things I'm freezing - that's a decades old habit and works quite well.

The one time we did have what i would call a real disaster and the entire community was without power for minimum three days, most of it longer (we happened to be on the same grid as our hospital and shared our shower, hot water a lot) - because that's what people did. They shared. What one household needed but couldn't provide another would have it and graciously shared.

If mylar is bad for the environment I'd never considered that. I don't like to wrap gifts. I have a big stash of mylar gift bags in assorted sizes, likely at least a couple of years worth. Give the top a neat twist and go heavy on longer ribbon. They look great. They take about 90 seconds each. I should have been thinking about what may happen to them after Christmas/birthday/anniversaries....and had not.

How much Oxygen Absorbers (OA's) to use depends on bag size and density of the food in the bag. Every site selling them have recommendations, and the general rule for medium density foods like flour and coffee beans require 50cc for a pint, 100 cc for a quart, 300 to 400 for a gallon, and 2000cc for a 5 gallon bag. Rice and beans would be a high density density food so a little less is needed while things like Oats and pasta are low density foods needing more.

I'll remove as much air as possible to ensure my OA's will absorb all the oxygen and even use the food saver auxiliary vacuum port to assist. Air is 21% oxygen and the rest is nitrogen with a little Co2, and all you're removing is oxygen so the bags will rarely pull tight like using a Vacuum sealer. The Nitrogen is still in there but isn't a problem for food storage.

A good OA will be soft like a fine powder, a used up OA will be hard and crunchy. If you buy some they'll be in sealed bags of 10 to 100 with a oxygen indicator inside. It's a little picture of an eye and should be a nice pink, and If the bag had a leak the eye would be a dark red. Before you open a pack have a glass jar ready just big enough to hold what is in the package. Put the oxygen indicator in the jar along with the OA's and tighten the lid. Open and quickly takeout what you need and reseal the jar, they aren't used up immediately and take time to oxidize using up oxygen to rust. When ever you use a few check the eye, and give them a bend to see it they're soft or crunchy.

Bag order sent. I used Impak since Kevin has recommended them, if I'm going to go through all this effort I want decent Mylar bags. Hope they don't take too long to ship, I'm looking forward to doing this.

This new way to store is bringing the opportunity to learn new skills. I have never used an electric bag sealer.

I'm trying to figure out how to label the filled and sealed bags, magic marker or a stick on label.

Lucille - we labeled ours with a sharpie.

edited because I misspelled Lucille!

edited because I misspelled Lucille!

You picked a fine time to misspell Lucille....

JK

Kenny Rogers, anyone?

survivalist

I'm actually seeking groups that have hands on knowledge of food storage over and above canning groups as I have done canning for many years. It's not a frequent topic here. I do not in any way fault those who choose not to do storage, people do what they want to do, but if one wants ideas and opinions on hands on, one should go where there are people who actually do storage. Although it was certainly worth asking the question here as there are several knowledgeable posters; and as always it is interesting to hear opinions.

I started with a marker but now use Avery labels and their online tool to print nice labels and it's free if you use your own printer. I make round stickers for my canning jar lids too with nice background pictures and they look great!

For the critics, I spend $343 a month on insurance policies I may never use but it's the smart responsible thing to do. I store food and supplies, just in case and hope I never need it, and a small price to pay as an insurance policy against something that may never happen. My family, friends and neighbors don't know I stock pile food and supplies but the supplies are for them if it's ever needed and the smart responsible thing to do.
You all saw human behavior at it's finest during Covid, but the food still made it's way to the stores, and no one saw it coming. Just imagine what would happened if the food supply chain stopped in it's tracks? No one would see it coming either. Way your odds of getting even a cracker in this case.

Impak corporation is a solid 30 yr old company supplying package machinery and material needs to commercial companies, and also online sales to the public. They offer the physical properties for viewing on each type of material they use for make the bags so I know exactly what I'm getting, and I appreciate this information. They use the trademark symbol after the word Mylar so I'm speculating their material comes from DuPont.

I haven't found another outlet yet who offers any technical data on the mylar bags so don't really know what I'm getting, This is why I use Impak, and I've never been solicited by them or any business associated with any survivalist group, but I'm still hoping.

lucille, my flippant comment was a peripheral reference to how extreme and rationally unnecessary food storage practices can be a prescribed behavior in fringe cults. Especially doomsday ones.

Home canning is an interesting practice for those who do so to extend the useful life of home grown or peak season produce goodness. Buying store bags of grains and other cupboard essentials easily and always found in stores, with the intent of coming back to them years later, is something different and extreme.

WAIT.

I MISSPELLED IT AGAIN!!!

lucillle

DANG NAB IT

" I have done canning for many years. It's not a frequent topic here."

There's a forum here which specializes in canning and food preservation: the Harvest Forum

Yes, I used to be an active member. It is no longer as active as it used to be, perhaps due to the popularity of fb sites. In addition, some of the old timers no longer post there.

We cant all live where Elmer lives. It just wouldn't work. I have lived as far as four hours from a store, for several years lived an hour and these days a half hour. A freezer is a sensible alternative to having to give blood-which I cant actually do- in order to make the money to pay for the gas to go to the store every time I run out of some necessity. So it is an environmental trade off I suppose, plastics or emissions. I have as many sealable glass storage containers as I can comfortably store.

We also live in a major earthquake zone plus there is an active volcano to the north over a ridge. It is considered prudent here to be prepared for lengthy periods without assistance from outside. It is not some sort of crazy zombie apocalypse thing. Simple prudence.

I have never thought of mylar for freezer storage. Interesting idea.

patriciae.

Well lucky you Elmer.

Any grocery store has about two days of food in their "store". When those two days are over you will find slim pickings there. But you who also live in a quake zone shouldn't worry? Because you haven't experienced disaster you are good? I havent experienced a major quake here. We had a 6 many years ago. Well why worry. Because we could easily have a 9. Why should I prepare for a 9. Well we are in the parameters historically for one of those. Why should you prepare for the " big one"? Just in case doesn't do it for you.

When my major disaster resources are reaching their pull date I donate to the food bank and buy new. Win win.

One of my absolute favorite stories is a news snibit I saw when they had a multi day power outage in Seattle. Some underground power feed was busted. The news feed had a couple sitting in their Livingroom in front of a fire talking about how now that they had run out of fuel in their motor home they were not going to have any more hot food or coffee. How many people here see what I saw? I think of city people as fuel for zombies. Hopeless and clueless. Since zombies are looking for brains maybe that is not a problem for some people. Still simple preparations for non optimal circumstances can really be the difference between life and death. It is not nuts to prepare for unusual circumstances. Even first world countries can fail to deliver you the necessities of life so I hope people here will be sensible and prepare for the worst and if it doesnt happen pass the extras on to people in need.

patriciae.

" I think of city people as fuel for zombies. Hopeless and clueless. "

Well, you're quite an open-minded person, aren't you!

A pretty broad generalization - you believe people who disagree with you are hopeless and clueless.

" It is not nuts to prepare for unusual circumstances. "

That's your view and you're entitled to it. Judging from what people tend to do, I think it's a small minority who share your fear of unlikely events.

Circling back to original topic, I’ve never heard of mylar storage bags. Based on reading comments, I’m not a candidate for using them. I do work to reduce use of disposable plastics though. I like Stasher reusable silicone / sealable containers for many things, some not food related. They are short terms storage. I don’t do canning or make ahead & freeze dishes. I really don’t enjoy grocery shopping so I do buy larger quantities of canned foods that we use for the base for dinner dishes & a lot of that is from Costco. We aren’t vegetarian but I have a repertoire of veggie based dishes & any meat we eat is fish & chicken maybe once a week. I have a pretty big pantry so canned storage is easy. I also buy frozen food - mostly veggies - extra freezer in garage. I also store Costco paper goods in garage shelving - did I say I don’t like grocery shopping? I do shop weekly for fresh produce though but that’s a fast in / out. I will say that besides the canned goods, we do have the MRE type box of emergency food in garage, bottled water & dry kibble for our pup which is a back up for her refrigeration required regular food. We have this practice in case of major power outage or natural disaster since we are in earthquake zone too & have been through several major ones on West coast & a major catastrophic tornado years ago in NE. Our BBQ is our back up cooker. In a major disaster, the local stores would be no help since no power & no employees to open the store. We are always prepared to be self sufficient for a week or two.

With so little meat in your diet how do you get your protein amounts every day?

The body doesn't store protein reserves like calories as fats, so if there is a short fall the body cannibalizes muscle mass to get needed protein. It just seems hard to eat enough vegetables to get 50 to 70 grams of protein and I don't believe my stomachs big enough.

Kevin - Here’s a quick list of high protein foods to give you some ideas & explain that vegetarians - which I’m not - eat more than just veggies. This list isn’t complete by any means. Vegans have a tougher time with the protein since they don’t eat dairy or eggs either. Also not on list is peanut butter or eggs both of which I love! My usual weekday breakfast is plain non-fat Greek yogurt with blueberries & some kind of no sugar added crunchy cereal. Lunch often includes water packed tuna or peanut butter - or, just hummus & tortilla chips.

Plant-Based:

• Quinoa: A grain rich in protein and all essential amino acids.
• Lentils: A legume packed with protein and fiber.
• Tofu: A soy-based product made from curds of pressed soybeans, providing a complete protein source.
• Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and more offer a variety of plant-based proteins.
• Beans: Black, kidney, and pinto beans are excellent sources of protein and fiber.
• Pea protein: A powder or flour made from peas, providing a complete protein source.
• Seitan: A wheat gluten-based product that is a high-protein meat substitute.

Dairy-Based:

• Milk: A complete protein source that also provides calcium and vitamin D.
• Cheese: Various types of cheese offer protein and other nutrients.
• Yogurt: A creamy source of protein and probiotics.

Still simple preparations for non optimal circumstances can really be the difference between life and death. It is not nuts to prepare for unusual circumstances. Even first world countries can fail to deliver you the necessities of life so I hope people here will be sensible and prepare for the worst and if it doesnt happen pass the extras on to people in need.

No one expects the events that led to the great potato famine, or wartime shortages, or suddenly losing their jobs, or recessions, or seniors who choose between food and rent, or medications and food, or the widespread sludge use affecting productivity, or bird flu.

History is replete with food shortages, both biological and political. Of course, the choice of whether to accept the risk it won't happen to you, or create some sort of simple safety net via preparations, is a personal choice.

Thinking about the arguments here over food storage, I don't think some of us like having to shop for food so often. I know I don't. I prefer reaching into my pantry, fridge and freezer, and clipping some fresh herbs or greens, rather than heading out the door and driving to the store when I want to cook something.

I'm in an apt. now and really miss having my garden - when you grow fruits, herbs and veggies, big harvests can require food storage as well.

And I really miss my little food dehydrator - dried papayas, bananas and mangoes are the bomb 😀

ETA home dried, those fruits are very different and much better than what is found in stores.

I'm in an apt. now and really miss having my garden

Oh, me too, more than I can say. It is so rewarding to grow your own veggies. But I still have plenty of opportunity for storage, In the spring last year strawberries were on sale for cheap and I canned a bunch of strawberry jam. and of course all the other items I buy in large bags and store. But there is nothing like the joy of growing your own.

Elmer, Elmer, I was making a joke. Of course I dont think city people are brainless but the people I wrote about were and the clueless reporter breathlessly interviewing people who could not figure out to make hot food on the fire they were sitting in front of and acting as if they were saying something sensible.

patriciae