"Could you cope"? Mylar Bagging Mylar is a trade name for a membrane that is impermeable to moisture and oxygen. It is heat sealable. If you iron it closed you create an atmoshpherically sealed environment. Add oxygen and moisture absorbers (for whats already in the bag) & you vacuum seal food away from air, wet etc. Whole grains and rice should last a decade plus. The bag is vulnerable to pucture and rodents though. Seal a bag (20"x30") up in a 5 gallon or tub to protect it and you have a fantastic sealed food store! Instead of a tub use the canoe barrels from Smiths of Dean that are airtight and waterproof and you have one heck of a robust food store.
Heres how to do it
1. Line a 30 litre barrel with your 20"x30" mylar bag
2. Chuck in a moisture absorber (dessicant)
3. Pack the bag as tightly as possible. The best way is loose rice or grain. But thats a lot to use when you open it! Individual bags (even smaller mylar 10"x8" bags) can be packed inside - just add more O2 absorbers as there is more air space.
4. Fill to within 2" of the barrel rim
5. Seal both sides of the bag. Open your packet of Oxygen absorbers and drop the right number in (5 300ml ones for loose grain - 10 for bags). Seal any extras in a tight airtight jar straight away. Its best to use up your O2 absorbers all on the same day.
6. Chuck a note in the top of the barrel listing the contents. In this barrel is 12kg rice, spice, dried veg, mashed potato, dried beans etc. The bag is silver like a rat pack. How are you going to know whats in it when you have done several?
7. Seal up the barrel tight - good for a LONG time.
Now, that may seem dear. But ask yourself - is it really? 4kg own brand long grain rice from Asda is less than £2.
A barrel will hold 5 of 4kg bags (loose 20kg). Say £10. Add £10 for the (re-usable) barrel or scrounge 5 gallon tubs for free from your local bakery etc. Mylar, dessicants and O2 absorbers are around £5. So, somewhere between £25 for 40 pounds of rice good for 10 years. or...50p a pound.
Heres the problem though. There is no pre-made Mylar or dessicants or O2 absorbers to be had in the UK. You have to pay to import from the US. No real problem. Just order from
http://www.sorbentsystems.com/
or
http://waltonfeed.com/index.html
Heres how to do it
1. Line a 30 litre barrel with your 20"x30" mylar bag
2. Chuck in a moisture absorber (dessicant)
3. Pack the bag as tightly as possible. The best way is loose rice or grain. But thats a lot to use when you open it! Individual bags (even smaller mylar 10"x8" bags) can be packed inside - just add more O2 absorbers as there is more air space.
4. Fill to within 2" of the barrel rim
5. Seal both sides of the bag. Open your packet of Oxygen absorbers and drop the right number in (5 300ml ones for loose grain - 10 for bags). Seal any extras in a tight airtight jar straight away. Its best to use up your O2 absorbers all on the same day.
6. Chuck a note in the top of the barrel listing the contents. In this barrel is 12kg rice, spice, dried veg, mashed potato, dried beans etc. The bag is silver like a rat pack. How are you going to know whats in it when you have done several?
7. Seal up the barrel tight - good for a LONG time.
Now, that may seem dear. But ask yourself - is it really? 4kg own brand long grain rice from Asda is less than £2.
A barrel will hold 5 of 4kg bags (loose 20kg). Say £10. Add £10 for the (re-usable) barrel or scrounge 5 gallon tubs for free from your local bakery etc. Mylar, dessicants and O2 absorbers are around £5. So, somewhere between £25 for 40 pounds of rice good for 10 years. or...50p a pound.
Heres the problem though. There is no pre-made Mylar or dessicants or O2 absorbers to be had in the UK. You have to pay to import from the US. No real problem. Just order from
http://www.sorbentsystems.com/
or
http://waltonfeed.com/index.html