Mylar Bags for Dehydrated Food Storage: Seal for Years!

Photo of Susan Gast
Susan Gast, Author and Food Preservation Enthusiast
Susan has been dehydrating and preserving foods for over a decade, sharing practical, tested methods that help readers make healthy, long-lasting meals at home.

Looking for the best way to keep your dehydrated foods fresh for years? Mylar bags are the go-to solution for long-term food storage because they block out light, air, and moisture - the three biggest enemies of shelf life.

✅ Quick Answer: What are Mylar bags used for in dehydrated food storage?
Mylar bags are durable, airtight pouches that protect dehydrated food from air, moisture, and light. When sealed with oxygen absorbers, they extend shelf life for 5 to 25 years—making them one of the best options for safe, long-term food storage.

Whether you’re storing crunchy vegetables, homemade jerky, or emergency supplies, Mylar bags add an extra layer of protection you can’t get from regular vacuum-sealer bags alone.

They’re strong, puncture-resistant, and easy to seal with oxygen absorbers, giving you peace of mind that your food will still taste great when you need it most.

Putting vacuum-sealed packages inside Mylar bagPutting vacuum-sealed packages inside Mylar bag

In the image above, you see me inserting cling-wrapped vacuum-sealed dried foods into the Mylar bag.

I can get three to four packages in the Mylar bag. I use pint- and quart-sized food vacuum sealer bags and I also make custom-sized bags from rolls.

Three Mylar bags, 10" x 14" in size

When your Mylar bags have been filled and sealed, the final step for long-term food storage is inside plastic lidded bins, or buckets. Doing all this is for "serious" food preppers.

How Mylar Bags Stop Spoilage: Air, Moisture & Light Defense

These special bags are made from a polyester film and are very shiny in appearance. I use them to keep out air, light, moisture, and BUGS!

Mylar bags are very tough and tear-resistant and are ideal for food packaging—they provide an extra layer of protection to our individual food packets.

Where to Find the Best Deals on Mylar Bags

Dry-Packs ShieldPro Mylar Bags

Dry-Packs 1-Gallon ShieldPro Mylar Bags

  • 10" x 14" Dry-Packs ShieldPro Mylar Bags
  • Includes 60x 300cc Oxygen Absorbers (in packs of 20)
SHIELDPRO 1 Gallon Mylar Bags

1-Gallon Mylar Bags

  • 10" x 14" Genuine Mylar Bags for Long-Term Food Storage
  • Pack of 50
  • No oxygen absorbers included

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases — this does not affect the price you pay. Read full disclosure.

A Quick Look at the Surprising History of Mylar Bags

Mylar is a thin, silvery gray polyester film that was first invented in the 1950s by the DuPont chemical company. Now commonly called Mylar, it paved the way for a versatile new form of durable and flexible plastic sheeting.

Today, Mylar polyester film is manufactured by a number of corporations around the world. It continues to be valued for its unique combination of strength, flexibility, and thinness.

Unlike many plastics, Mylar polyester films can be stretched and flexed without tearing or cracking. Mylar also resists punctures which is good to know. Why? Many dried foods are brittle and have sharp points!

Why Preppers Swear by Mylar Bags for Food Storage

When it comes to storing dried foods, Mylar bags are ideal. They are airtight and moisture-resistant as mentioned above. Keeping your dried foods inside Mylar bags helps keep it fresh and free from mold and other contaminants (bugs!).

I put my filled and sealed Mylar bags inside food storage containers (like lidded bins and buckets), or on a shelf, loose. If you need storage room (and who doesn't?!) check out how to make storage space out of thin air here!

IMPORTANT: Mylar bags offer an extra layer of protection
against the three enemies:

👉 MOISTURE

👉 AIR

👉 LIGHT

If you're looking for a simple and effective way to store your dried foods,
use Mylar bags.

IMPORTANT: Mylar bags offer
an extra layer of protection
against the three enemies:

👉 MOISTURE

👉 AIR

👉 LIGHT

If you're looking for a simple and
effective way to store your
dried foods, use Mylar bags.

Can You Vacuum Seal a Mylar Bag? Here’s Why You Don’t Need To

Mylar bags are smooth, both inside and out, unlike food vacuum-sealer bags.

As stated earlier, the reason you can't vacuum these bags, (or at the very least is hard to do), is that both sides of the Mylar bag are smooth and when clamped closed in the food vacuum-sealer, the air cannot be drawn out. But really there's no need to draw the air out.

We simply use the Mylar bags to store our filled vacuum-sealed bags as extra protection.

Here's the reason for the "textured side" in vacuum-sealer bags:

Food vacuum-sealer bags need to have one inner side textured. You need to have a way for the air to be drawn out when vacuum-sealing your packages that are filled with dehydrated food!

Pro Tip: How to Use Desiccants with Oxygen Absorbers the Right Way

Oxygen absorbers are designed to remove residual oxygen and keep your food fresher for longer. Desiccant packets (like silica gel or food-safe bentonite) are excellent for controlling moisture, especially in humid environments.

⚠️ But here’s the catch: oxygen absorbers need a little humidity to activate properly. If a desiccant is placed too close, it may pull that moisture away before the absorber can do its job.

✔️ Best practice:

  • Inside food-storage bags (Mylar or vacuum sealer) → use oxygen absorbers on their own.
  • If you want both → put the desiccant at the bottom, add your food, and place the oxygen absorber on top before sealing.
  • Or, keep the oxygen absorber inside the food bag, and place the desiccant packet outside in your larger container (like a 5-gallon bucket with lid).

This way, you control both oxygen and moisture without them working against each other.


Understanding Vacuum-Sealer Bags

Look closely at the plastic vacuum bags that the dehydrated food goes into first; you'll notice that one side is smooth and the other side is 'bumpy', for want of a better word.

Vacuum-sealer bags have a bumpy side to enable air removal effectively. Without this texture, air cannot be properly vacuumed out!

Click the images below to view them bigger!

Inside a vacuum sealer bag - showing you the smooth sideShowing ONE side of bag as SMOOTH.
Inside a vacuum sealer bag - showing you the textured sideShowing OTHER side with textured BUMPS.

Smart Labeling Tricks to Avoid Confusion Later

Black Felt Tipped Marker

When you've filled your 10-inch x 14-inch Mylar bags, use a black felt-tipped pen to describe the contents of the bags.

Write the date on it too!

Keep reading to see the reasonable number of vacuum-sealed packages that can fit inside one of the bags.

Remember to write on the center of the bag, or at the bottom(!) so that the date and its contents won't get cut off at the top when opening, and resealing. Trust me, rewriting bag labels gets old fast—ask me how I know! 😂

Step-by-Step: Packing & Sealing Mylar Bags Without Mistakes

I can get at least three plastic-wrapped vacuum-packed packages into one bag, sometimes four. Do not over-stuff, though. 

Overpacking risks punctures—and losing your food stash when you need it most. That's the reason why I plastic-wrap the packages after vacuum sealing.

For a 10-inch by 14-inch Mylar bag, don't forget to add a 300cc oxygen absorber for long-term storage, before sealing. Adding an oxygen absorber before sealing is for when you know you won't be going in the bag for a long time. I also add a 20g desiccant packet in there too.

NOTE: To make sure you're following along—we do NOT vacuum the air out of the Mylar bags when using them for dehydrated food storage. Only use the sealing function on the vacuum-sealer machine; not the air removal function.

The vacuum AND sealing function takes place only when using food vacuum-sealer bags or food vacuum-sealer rolls. We only draw the AIR out of our food vacuum sealer bags that have the oxygen absorber and desiccant packet (if desired) are tucked in before vacuuming it!

I know I keep going on about it, but I want to make sure it sinks in.

Sealed and Safe: Storing Dehydrated Food the Smart Way

Mylar bags packed and sealed

Don't forget to check out Amazon for the best prices for Mylar bags—and as you can see in the Amazon ads shown farther up the page, some Mylar bags come complete with a matching number of appropriately sized oxygen absorbers!

Handy Storage Reference Chart for Long-Term Food Safety

This is my proven step-by-step layering method—simple, repeatable, and pantry-safe.

Handy Storage Reference Chart for Long-Term Food Safety
Layer Container What Goes Inside O₂ Absorber Desiccant Seal Method Notes
Primary Vacuum-sealer bag Dry food 100cc 5g Vacuum seal Wrap in cling film (abrasion guard)
Secondary Mylar bag 3–4 primary packs 300cc 20g Heat-seal (no vacuum) Barrier + light block; label contents & date
Storage Pantry/Shelf Finished Mylar bundles — — — Cool, dark, dry; rotate oldest first

Mylar Bag Thickness Guide (Quick Reference)

Thickness Best Use Notes
3.5 mil Short-term storage or inner bag inside bucket Most flexible; easier to puncture with sharp foods
5 mil Standard long-term storage for dehydrated foods Best balance of barrier + durability; heat-seals cleanly
7 mil+ Heavy-duty use; sharp or frequently handled packs Maximum puncture/light protection; slightly less flexible
Stand-up 4–5 mil Snacks / daily-use items you open often Usually has zipper; still heat-seal for longer storage

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Mylar Bags

⚠️ Even seasoned food preservers can slip up with Mylar storage. Here are the most common mistakes I’ve seen - and how to steer clear of them:

  1. Not letting food fully cool and dry. Warm or slightly moist food creates condensation once sealed. Always let dehydrated foods rest until room temperature and crisp before bagging.
  2. Using the wrong oxygen absorber size. A tiny absorber won’t remove enough air, while an oversized one wastes money. Match absorber size to the bag volume - for example, 300 cc for quart-size bags and 500 cc for gallon bags.
  3. Skipping the desiccant in humid climates. If your local humidity runs above 60%, add a desiccant packet outside the inner bag but inside the storage bucket to control moisture.
  4. Reusing bags without checking for pinholes. It’s fine to reseal good-quality Mylar - just inspect each one under bright light first. A single pinhole ruins your seal.
  5. Forgetting to label or date your bags. Future-you will thank present-you for noting contents and sealing dates. Permanent markers work best on the dull side of the bag. Write CLOSE to the top so there's plenty of room to re-seal and re-write what's left in the Mylar bag.

👉 Pro Tip: Store sealed Mylar bags in buckets or bins to prevent accidental punctures and light exposure.

Your Top Questions About Mylar Bags Answered

Can I reuse Mylar bags for food storage?

Yes - if the bag isn’t punctured or contaminated, you can trim the seal and reseal it again. Always check for pinholes or odors before reusing.

What thickness of Mylar bag is best for long-term storage?

For most dehydrated foods, 5–7 mil bags provide the best protection against punctures. Thinner bags (3.5 mil) are fine for short-term or less sharp foods.

How do I know what size oxygen absorber to use in Mylar bags?

Match absorber size to bag volume: 300cc for quart-sized bags, 500–800cc for one-gallon bags, and 2000cc+ for 5-gallon bags. This ensures proper oxygen removal.

What are the best Mylar bags for dehydrated food?

The best Mylar bags for dehydrated foods are 5-mil or thicker, food-grade, heat-seal bags with oxygen absorbers included. Thicker bags (5–7 mil) resist punctures and light better than thinner 3.5 mil ones.
Choose flat gallon-size bags for long-term bulk storage or quart-size stand-up bags for smaller batches like fruit chips. 
✅ Tip: Always pair each bag with the correct-size oxygen absorber (300cc for quart-sized Mylar bags) to ensure a full oxygen-free seal.

Can you store dehydrated fruit in Mylar bags?

Yes - Mylar bags are excellent for storing dehydrated fruits, provided the fruit is completely dry (≤ 10% moisture).
Residual moisture can lead to mold, so test for crispness or use a desiccant packet if in doubt. Place the fruit in a clean Mylar bag, add an oxygen absorber, then heat-seal the top.
For best results, store the sealed bags inside a food-grade bucket or tote to protect from rodents and punctures. Properly dried fruit sealed this way can last up to 10 years in a cool, dark place.

How long does food last in Mylar bags?

Properly sealed Mylar bags can extend the shelf life of many dry or dehydrated foods for 10 to 30 years, depending on food type and storage conditions.
Low-fat, low-moisture foods like rice, beans, grains, and dehydrated vegetables last longest. Higher-fat items (nuts, granola) have a shorter life span of 3 to 5 years.

Can Mylar bags store non-food items?

Absolutely. Mylar bags are ideal for storing seeds, medicine, and emergency supplies that need to stay dry and protected from light.

Thanks for stopping by to learn more about using Mylar bags for dehydrated food storage. With the right bags, oxygen absorbers, and sealing method, you’ll keep your meals safe for years - whether it’s soups, jerky, or snacks.

And before you go, don’t forget to grab your free 5 Dried Food Recipes You'll Actually Love PDF below. You’ll get carrot soup, minestrone soup, split pea soup, spicy beef jerky, and even banana cinnamon rolls to enjoy with your perfectly stored food!

Get 5 Dried Food Recipes You'll Actually Love

5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

Here's where you can get your copy of our all new
5 Dried Food Recipes (That Actually Taste Great)
They're my all-time favorite easy dried food meals!

Get it here right now.

For Free!

You Might Like These

You Might Like These


Before You Go...

If you enjoyed this page, tap the ❤️ in the lower right-hand corner.
It saves this page to your Grow bookmarks so you can find it again later.

You’ll also see quick share buttons to copy the link, post to Facebook,
or save it straight to Pinterest.