How to Store Dehydrated Food:
Keep It Fresh for Years

It's time to learn how to store dehydrated food properly. Whether for short-term use, or long-term... it's important to pay attention to how you handle it before packing it away.

FoodSaver V2240 - Food Vacuum SealerClick to read about this FoodSaver Vacuum-Sealer

Before we get going: Shown above is my FoodSaver brand V2240 food vacuum-sealer I use. It's an oldie, but goody. It's over ten years old! Getting the right equipment pays dividends. Read more about food vacuum sealers here.

Believe it or not, I didn't know that text you see on the lid "peels" off - ha! It's just a sticker for reference. It only took me ten years to figure that out... better late than never.

Vacuum sealing dehydrated food pays off, but first - here are a few FAQs...

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Storage

How to store dehydrated food?

The page you're on right now gives you an overview of what you need to know in order to store food safely.

Click any of the links in this area for full deets.

Storing dehydrated food in Mylar bags?

Mylar bags add a critical second layer of protection after vacuum sealing your dehydrated foods. They shield against light, air, moisture, and pests — all enemies of long-term food storage.

While you don't vacuum the air out of the Mylar itself, sealing the bag tightly (after vacuum-sealing your food inside a separate pouch) dramatically extends shelf life. Always pair Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers for best results and which size to use here!

Vacuum sealed dehydrated food shelf life?

The question of how long does vacuum sealed food last is a valid question and it depends on the type of foods dried. Foods with a naturally lower moisture content will last longer than food with a naturally higher moisture content (think oranges vs cabbage).

Here's a quick comparison of the shelf life of vacuum sealed dehydrated food:

Naturally dry foods:

  • Shelf life: Up to 25 years! Due to their low moisture content (5-10%), naturally dry foods like nuts, seeds, and grains have the longest shelf life when dehydrated and vacuum sealed.
  • Examples: Rice, beans, lentils, oats, quinoa, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds.

More moist foods:

  • Shelf life: 1-12 months, depending on moisture content. Foods with higher moisture content (10-20%) like fruits and vegetables have a shorter shelf life after dehydration, even when vacuum sealed correctly.
  • Examples: Fruits (strawberries, bananas, apples), vegetables (peas, carrots, tomatoes), meat jerky.

Key factors affecting shelf life:

  • Initial moisture content: The drier the food, the longer it will last.
  • Oxygen exposure: Vacuum sealing removes oxygen, which helps prevent oxidation (browning) and spoilage.
  • Storage temperature: Cooler temperatures (below 60°F) slow down spoilage.
  • Light exposure: Light degrades nutrients and accelerates spoilage.

Throughout Easy Food Dehydrating you'll notice I mention "keeping the three enemies" at bay: Light, Air, and Moisture.

How long does dehydrated food last in Mylar bags?

It depends on how well you dehydrate your food and vacuum-seal it. If you add an oxygen absorber in the vacuum sealer bag before drawing out the air, the answer is a year or longer.

It also depends on how dry the food was before dehydrating. Meaning? If you vacuum-sealed salt or sugar, it's "pretty dry" to begin with.

On the other hand, more-moist foods like tomatoes, or celery for instance, would depend on how much moisture remained when you vacuum-sealed them. That's why I like to condition fruits and veggies before they are vacuum-sealed. Don't forget to add the oxygen absorber into the bag (or Mason jar) before vacuum-sealing!

Do you need oxygen absorbers for dehydrated food?

Yes! Oxygen absorbers help remove residual air, drastically extending the shelf life of your vacuum-sealed dehydrated foods.

What is the best temperature to store dehydrated food?

Aim to store dehydrated foods below 60°F (15°C) in a dark, dry place to maximize their freshness and longevity.

Gear Up: Why Gloves Are a Must When Storing Dehydrated Food

Wear Latex Gloves so that you don't transfer germs from your hands to the food. (There are latex-free gloves available if you're allergic to latex).

Latex-free gloves in a box.

I use my latex gloves more than once; I wash my hands while wearing them in the kitchen sink, and dry them off on a clean towel.

I then drape them over my dish draining rack—so the latex gloves are ready for another use.

When the dehydrating is done and after a day of conditioning - or overnight - it's time to vacuum seal our fruits, vegetables, and meats! Now we're ready to store our dehydrated food!

Latex Gloves at Amazon

Disposable Latex Gloves, Large, Powder-Free, 100-pk
Disposable Latex Gloves, Large, Powder-Free, 100-pk

ComfitWear Latex Gloves 100-pk

  • The Latex Pro-Tection Glove™
  • 100 Disposable Gloves Powder-Free
Dynarex Safe-Touch Vinyl Disposable Gloves, Clear, 100-pk
Dynarex Safe-Touch Vinyl Disposable Gloves, Clear, 100-pk

Dynarex Powder-Free, Clear Gloves 100-pk

  • Food Safety and Compliance, Powder-Free
  • 100 Disposable Exam Gloves

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

Save Big and Store Longer: Use Oxygen Absorbers the Right Way

It's important when food vacuum-sealing your dried fruit and vegetables that you have an 'oxygen absorber' tucked inside your food vacuum-sealer bag or jar.

The little oxygen absorber packs absorb oxygen and are readily available in different sizes, such as the smallest at 50cc, then 100cc, 300cc, and up to a whopping 2000cc.

Read more about the reason for different-sized oxygen packs here as it depends upon what size container your dehydrated foods will finally be stored in.

Oxygen Absorbers at Amazon

NOTE:
50cc are perfect for small jars and containers. Ideal for keeping spices and smaller dried foods fresh.
100cc are great for quart-sized jars and vacuum-sealer bags. The most versatile size for everyday use.

200-pk 50cc Oxygen Absorbers
200-pk 50cc Oxygen Absorbers

50cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • PackFreshUSA Oxygen Absorbers
  • 200-Pack
  • Food-Grade, Non-Toxic
Oxy-Sorb 100cc Oxygen Absorbers, 100-pk
Oxy-Sorb 100cc Oxygen Absorbers, 100-pk

100cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • 100-Pack
  • Long-Term Food Storage Freshness Protection
Oxy-Sorb 300cc Oxygen Absorbers, 60-pkA
Oxy-Sorb 300cc Oxygen Absorbers, 60-pk

300cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • Bags of 20 (60 Count total)
  • Super Effective for Dried Goods
Oxy-Sorb 2000cc Oxygen Absorbers, 10-pk
Oxy-Sorb 2000cc Oxygen Absorbers, 10-pk

2000cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • Pack of 10
  • I use these for airtight bins and buckets

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

Mylar Magic: Double Your Food’s Shelf Life with This Trick

After vacuum-sealing individual packages, do this:

Three Mylar bags, 10" x 14" in size

After vacuum-sealing dehydrated fruits and vegetables in the food vacuum sealer bags. it's time to store them in Mylar bags as an additional layer of protection.

NOTE: We do not vacuum the air from the Mylar bags, we simply seal the Mylar bag. It's only necessary to remove the air from the vacuum-sealed bags of food.

There are ready-made food vacuum sealer bags— and there are food vacuum sealer rolls readily available to make the perfect-length bag... here's a bit of info regarding the rolls below:

My Newest Discovery for Food Vacuum Sealer ROLLS

Here's where to get this great deal on Amazon:

Wevac Sealer Bags, 8
Wevac Sealer Bags, 8"x50', 11"x50' Rolls, 2-pk

Wevac Vacuum Sealer Rolls

Wevac Vacuum Sealer Rolls - make your own size bag using these 8" x 50' and 11" x 50' roll 2-pack for Food Saver, Seal a Meal, or Weston. Commercial Grade, BPA Free, Heavy Duty,

Great for food vacuum storage, meal prep or sous vide applications!

This two-pack purchase is a "no-brainer." Watch the video to see why!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

Back to Mylar Bags at Amazon...

Dry-Packs 60-1 Gallon ShieldPro Mylar Bags (10"x14") & 60-300cc Oxygen Absorbers (In packs of 20) For Dried Dehydrated and Long Term Food Storage - Food Survival,Silver,MB10x14-300CC-60PK-OB
Dry-Packs 60-1 Gallon ShieldPro Mylar Bags (10"x14") & 60-300cc Oxygen Absorbers (In packs of 20) For Dried Dehydrated and Long Term Food Storage - Food Survival,Silver,MB10x14-300CC-60PK-OB

Dry-Packs 1-Gallon ShieldPro Mylar Bags

  • 10" x 14" Dry-Packs ShieldPro Mylar Bags
  • Includes 60x 300cc Oxygen Absorbers (in packs of 20)
1 Gallon Genuine Mylar Bags 10” x 14” for Long Term Storage of Food, Organics or Pharma (50)
1 Gallon Genuine Mylar Bags 10” x 14” for Long Term Storage of Food, Organics or Pharma (50)

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.
The price you pay does not increase.

Fresh Every Day: Store Your Dehydrated Food in Mason Jars

Two quart-sized jars, and one half-pint-size Mason jar.

When storing dehydrated fruit and vegetables for daily or weekly use, try using different-sized airtight Mason jars that sit nicely on your upper kitchen cabinet shelves.

Remember to add an oxygen absorber into each jar, then screw the lid on. Read about how and why to use different-sized oxygen absorbers here.

Below the Amazon Mason jar links is a great tip on how to prevent punctured bags.

Read on to find out!

Amazon has Really Great Prices on Mason Jars

Ball Reg Mouth Quart (32oz) Jar, 12-pk
Ball Reg Mouth Quart (32oz) Jar, 12-pk

Mason Jars Regular Mouth Quart Jars

  • Ball brand regular mouth Glass Mason Jars. Quart size (32oz)
  • Package of 12
Ball Mason Jar Pint size, Wide Mouth, 12-pk
Ball Mason Jar Pint size, Wide Mouth, 12-pk

Mason Jars Wide Mouth Pint Jars

  • Ball brand wide mouth Glass Mason Jars. Pint size (16oz)
  • Package of 12
Jarden Kerr Wide Mouth 8oz jar, 12-pk
Jarden Kerr Wide Mouth 8oz jar, 12-pk

Mason Jars Wide Mouth Half Pint Jars

  • Ball brand wide mouth Glass Mason Jars. Half-Pint (8oz)
  • Package of 12

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

Ultimate Storage: Mylar Bags + Bins = Food Security

Safely Store Dehydrated Food in Spare Closets or the Garage!

5-gallon, #2 plastic food-grade feed buckets with lids

PRO TIP: Wrap vacuum-sealed packages in plastic wrap to prevent punctures before placing them in Mylar bags.

I choose to wrap up my vacuum-packed packages with cheap plastic wrap. This keeps the sharp edges from puncturing the other packets—and then I put them into my Mylar bags.

Mylar bags are made from a polyester film and are very shiny in appearance; they are very tough and tear-resistant and are ideal for long-term food packaging.

They provide an extra layer of protection to our individual food packets.

And for final storage in a garage, for instance, put the Mylar bags in plastic-lidded bins or feed buckets with lids. Doing this makes it easy to move, is water-proof, bug-proof, and air-tight!

If you're wondering if there are special instructions for ORGANIC foods, check out my post: Best Organic Dried Foods Long-Term Storage Family Guide.


Our Great Wall of... Dehydrated Food and Canned Goods!

This is how you create space for your dehydrated food where there previously was none! Click here to see the end result of our 8' span of shelving shown in the photo.

The dehydrated Food Storage Wall is halfway through completion showing buckets, bins, and boxes of dehydrated food

Don't forget to check out my optional way of protecting dehydrated food vacuum-sealed packages by reading the Plastic Wrap Guide.

Now you know how to store dehydrated food, and pretty much all the items mentioned are for sale at the biggest website store in the world: Amazon.com — (so no worries there!)

For those of you who have written in asking about storing dry goods, read this page for how to store flour, salt, and sugar.

Thanks for stopping by how to store dehydrated food. Now you know what things you need to get - along with a dehydrator! Read more about dehydrators here.

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