Sealing your Mylar bags can be tricky. It can be a hit or miss depending on what you use for sealing. If you're wondering if you could use your FoodSaver to make this task of food packing easier, we have the answer for you. We asked the experts and here's what they said.
No, Mylar bags aren't designed to work well with FoodSaver. Their material is thick and therefore needs more heat to close properly which a vacuum sealer cannot offer.
FoodSaver also won't be able to remove all the air inside larger Mylar bags. Or if it does succeed, packing dry, pointy-edged foods could damage the bags' surface by poking through and releasing the seal.
Keep on reading to know more about why you shouldn't use FoodSaver to heat seal your Mylar bags. We'll also teach you how to seal Mylar bags properly. We'll also help you decide which one between Mylar and FoodSaver bags is right for your food packing needs. Let's get started!
Can I use my Foodsaver to heat seal Mylar bags?
Sealing Mylar bags is important in preserving the food's good quality. It will ensure that air, moisture, and other unwanted elements won't affect the condition of the food while in storage.
We all know that the oxygen in the air, when allowed to have contact with food, can cause a chemical reaction called oxidation. It would change the appearance, taste, nutritional content, and the food's overall quality.
In the same way, when moisture creeps into the storage bag or container, it will encourage the growth of mold and bacteria that will cause foodborne diseases.
In other words, when you allow oxygen and moisture to enter your Mylar bags, you won't be able to preserve your foods and they will have a shorter shelf life. This would be a complete waste of resources.
There are different ways to seal your storage bags. But using your FoodSaver isn't one of them. Here's why.
Using a FoodSaver to Seal Mylar Bags
Mylar bags are thicker than the usual food storage bags used in FoodSaver. Users in an online forum about DIY enthusiasts shared their failed attempts in using this device to seal these food packages.
They said that this vacuum sealer doesn't get hot enough to be able to seal Mylar bags properly. Its vacuum function also isn't strong enough to remove all the air inside these bags.
If ever you'll be successful in sucking out air in smaller Mylar bags but you're packing dry goods with pointy ends, they could create holes in the bag which would damage your packaging.
Vacuum sealing would also not work well with oxygen absorbers. You see, for these absorbers to work, you need a little amount of oxygen inside the packaging and that's when they will do their thing. But if you remove all the air, then there's really no point in using oxygen absorbers in the first place.
However, be advised that this could affect the quality of your food negatively since the vacuum seal would eventually wear off and air would be allowed to enter. Without oxygen absorbers, your food won't have protection against oxidation.
How to Seal Food in Mylar Bags
Sealing your dry food items in Mylar bags doesn't have to be a complicated task. Yes, there are recommended tools for sealing such as an impact heat sealer or a clamshell heat sealer. But if these two are not available, you can use a flat iron or hair straightener instead.
Here's how to do it:
- Choose the right size of Mylar bags that you need.
- Put a label outside the packaging. Note the date of storage as well.
- Pour the dry food items into the Mylar bag but do not overfill. Leave enough room at the top portion for sealing.
- Put the oxygen absorbers inside.
- Pre-seal the Mylar bag by pressing the heater at the left, right, and center part.
- Seal the bag all the way from the leftmost to the rightmost portion. Make sure that there are no gaps.
- Store in a cool, dry, and dark place. You can also put them inside a heavy-duty bucket with a lid for added protection against mice and pests.
Check out these Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers on Amazon.
That's it! Just make sure that your heat sealer, flat iron, or hair straightener is hot enough for it to work effectively.
Mylar bags vs. FoodSaver bags: which is right for you?
Mylar bags and vacuum-sealing bags are different products so it would be hard to say which one is better. But we can help you decide which one is the right material to use for your food storage needs.
You need to consider four factors when deciding if you should use Mylar bags or Foodsaver bags. These are the length of storage, food portion, time efficiency, and freezer-friendliness. Let's discuss each one in detail.
Length of Storage
Mylar bags are made of tougher material. Of course, it's best to choose good quality Mylar bags or those with a thickness of 5 mils and above to be more confident regarding the protection that they can give.
Seal tightly and store in a cool, dry, and dark place to keep it away from unwanted external factors. Reinforce it by keeping Mylar bags inside high-quality plastic buckets or metal containers so that pets, mice, and other house pests won't have access to them.
Meanwhile, FoodSaver bags are transparent or clear. This gives plenty of opportunities for light to penetrate through the packaging and affect the nutritional content of your food.
Food Portions
FoodSaver bags are recommended to be used when packing foods into smaller portions. This way, when you need to take them out of the freezer, they're just the right proportion for what your family needs.
Mylar bags can be used for packing dry food items that have been proven to have a long life expectancy. It comes in different sizes so you can choose the right size for your packing needs.
Time-efficiency
The amount of time that you would spend packing your dry foods in Mylar bags would depend on how fast you work. You just need to place the food inside Mylar bags, add oxygen absorbers, seal tight, and you're good to go.
However, take note that timing is key. If you don't seal it fast enough, air would enter. You also have to ensure that it is sealed properly. A little wrinkle is all it takes for oxidation to happen.
On the other hand, vacuum sealing food in your FoodSaver is a very efficient process. It can suck air and seal your bag right away.
Freezer-friendliness
Mylar bags are not freezer-friendly. If you're after food storage in the freezer, you're better off with FoodSaver vacuum-sealed bags. FoodSaver bags can withstand cold temperatures.
Mylar bags, on the other hand, can become brittle the longer they stay in the freezer and will eventually get damaged.
When you want to divide food into smaller portions and store them in the freezer, you should use FoodSaver bags. But if you're packing dry goods with a stable shelf-life, you can use Mylar bags instead.
Final Thoughts
It's not recommended to use your FoodSaver to heat seal your Mylar bags. Simply put, it won't be effective in properly sealing your bags, and thus, won't be able to extend the shelf-life of your chosen dry food products.
You may also visit these links for more helpful tips regarding packing your food in Mylar bags:
