Mylar Bag Sealer

[bayoumom]

I tried ordering a mylar bag sealer for myself and got a response that they are on backorder from ldscatalog (they don't know when they will get any in).

My question is does anyone know if it's okay to use my FoodSaver machine to seal the mylar bags. I tried it and it 'seems' to have a good seal. I was just wondering if anyone out there has any information about whether or not it will hold. I still plan on putting the oxygen absorber in the bag even though the FoodSaver will draw air out.


Bayou Mom

[AngelaBarbara]

Set it to the "wool" setting. It is inexpensive and works great! It doesn't hurt the iron, either, but if you're concerned about it, you can get an old iron at a thrift store.

I tried my Foodsaver to seal the mylar bags (5 gallon pail liners) but the bag was so wide that it was kinda awkward. But I know of some people who do that. One of the disadvantages to using the Foodsaver is that the seal created is pretty narrow. I felt better about having a wider seal.

[bayoumom]

Thanks for the info regarding the iron making a good seal on the mylar bags. I have a few big bags of food to put into the mylar bags, don't know if I'll get to it this week or not. I am trying to find places to put food in the house before I haul it in from the garage.

I just watched a video of a lecture given by Wendy DeWitt in Arizona and am inspired to do more.

[AngelaBarbara]

Originally Posted by bayoumom

I just watched a video of a lecture given by Wendy DeWitt in Arizona and am inspired to do more.

Is that the one where she tells you to use lots of bay leaves "to keep the bugs away?" If so, a good video, but the bay leaf is completely unnecessary. The food is in mylar bags and in a plastic bucket; why on earth does she think that bugs will get in?

If you're really worried about bugs, put some Diatomaceous Earth in with the food. It kills anything that might hatch after packing. (But the Oxygen absorbers should make it impossible for them to live anyway.) But skip the bay leaves and spend the money on storage food instead.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by AngelaBarbara

If you're really worried about bugs, put some Diatomaceous Earth in with the food. It kills anything that might hatch after packing. (But the Oxygen absorbers should make it impossible for them to live anyway.) But skip the bay leaves and spend the money on storage food instead.

Read this before you start putting Diatomaceous Earth in with edible foods!!! Diatomaceous earth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diatomaceous Earth is used in gardening but it only works on soft bodied bugs. Like slugs and grubs etc. Wouldn't bother a weavil at all. Weavils are hard bodied.

The reason I use the Food Saver VACUUM sealer is it vacuums the air out of the bag and leaves only the food product. Resealing a mylar bag with an iron doesn't remove the air.

[AngelaBarbara]

Originally Posted by Iggy

Read this before you start putting Diatomaceous Earth in with edible foods!!! Diatomaceous earth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diatomaceous Earth is used in gardening but it only works on soft bodied bugs. Like slugs and grubs etc. Wouldn't bother a weavil at all. Weavils are hard bodied.

The reason I use the Food Saver VACUUM sealer is it vacuums the air out of the bag and leaves only the food product. Resealing a mylar bag with an iron doesn't remove the air.

Thanks for the bit about the weevils...I was unaware of that.

Resealing a mylar bag after putting oxygen absorbers in it will remove the oxygen, and it will create a vacuum. Same effect as if you had used your vacuum sealer. Anything that removes the oxygen will create a vacuum.