Mylar bags I can seal with a clothes iron?

[Angry Bovine]

I’ve never done the sealing-things-in-mylar-bags-and-putting-them-in-buckets prepper thing before. I’ve found a source for buckets, and I have the long-term food. I only have a clothes iron, though, so I’m looking for some decent mylar bags that I will be able to seal successfully without buying a fancy vacuum sealer or sealing iron or whatever. Some potential sources I’ve asked, and they’ve said no, that won’t work with their wares. Some just haven’t responded. 🙁 Expert preppers – any suggestions?

Thanks!

[namelus]

You can use oxygen packets inside mylar dip the bag in bucket of water till it covers the product fully and use a hair crimper/iron to seal. This works best with two people in a place that can handle a bit of wet.

[Angry Bovine]

Wait, water? I thought I had to keep stuff dry (maybe even with dessicant)?

[namelus]

Bovine the water is to press out the air the items are dry inside try with a zip lock bag.  Get a bowl of water put some stuff inside zip lock  dunk zip lock then seal It.  Same idea with mylar except you use hair iron to seal only the outside of bag is wet. Poor mans vaccum sealer.

[zdb]

Nice, what about a straw inserted into ziplock sticking out so the air escapes through the straw – not sure how that could work with the mylar.

[Whirlibird]

Straw? Depends on what you are packing. Flour? Pass.

The nice thing about the water, I like a large square bucket, is it gently presses the bag against the materials inside as opposed to vacuum sealers which can puncture the bag on sharp items inside.

A little practice, trying different heat settings and times is worth the loss of a bag or two, just keep cutting off the seal to try again.

 

[Anonymous]

I have just used an old travel iron I had from my military days and a metal level as the backer to seal Mylar for years. It’s very easy

[Littlesister]

I have never heard of putting it in water and sealing it. That would push the air out. I have always used a flat iron for hair to seal mine. But it did start off with a clothes iron. Both worked great. I am going to try the water method you mention above next time I need to pack some things. Which I will be doing in the next couple of months. Though I have had no issues with getting the air out in the past with DH helping me. But now he is not able to help with that. So water might be a good thing. As long as the product in bag doesn’t get wet.

[Anonymous]

Put up in Mylar nonfat powdered milk 20qts worth, 2lbs of both white and black beans all sealed with an iron on a metal level today

I always put the nutrition and cooking data in the bucket as well. Sometimes the plastic decays and sometimes is still in good shape. My thought is that it could be others not familiar with that cooking it like grandkids or something.
This used the remaining O2 absorbers I had perfectly. I’ll top the bucket off with Mylar koolaid and spices that doesn’t require absorbers

[Anonymous]

Bagged up Frosted Flakes (5yr life) and some sugar. I buy sugar and fill up the kitchen container and each time there’s about a pound leftover so I’m gonna Mylar it from here on out.

[Anonymous]

Caught a BOGO on koolaid the other day

Filtered water can get old and I’ve got grandkids and it does contain a little vitamin C

[Anonymous]

I put up in Mylar and bucket jasmine rice, quick oats, and macaroni noodle this morning. We also dry canned some just to use the 1/2gl jars we had

Trying to focus on food and do as much as I can. I had 3 text conversations going at the same time last night from people worried and wanting to do more.

[Author]

Posts