Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and food-grade buckets for long-term food storage (2026)

Seventy-five thick (10 mil), heat-sealable one-gallon Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. Utah State University Extension calls PET-and-foil pouches, sold as Mylar, exceptional food containers because the foil layer dramatically cuts the oxygen and moisture getting in. Gallon bags fit inside a 5-gallon bucket for protection from rodents.

Best for Packing rice, beans and wheat into gallon portions

• Thick 10 mil bags
• Absorbers included
• Gallon size: easy to open and use up

• You need an iron or heat sealer
• Not rodent-proof on their own: store in buckets

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want mixed sizes for spices and smaller portions: the PackFreshUSA kit has pints, quarts and gallons.

One hundred Mylar bags in three sizes, pint, quart and gallon, each with an oxygen absorber sized for it (100cc, 300cc and 500cc) and a label. That takes the guesswork out of matching absorbers to bags, which is where beginners usually go wrong. The bags are thinner than Wallaby's at 7 mil, so keep them inside a bucket.

Best for A starter kit with the right absorber for each bag size

• Absorbers matched to each bag size
• Labels included
• Three sizes for different foods

• Thinner 7 mil bags
• You need an iron or heat sealer

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you're packing big amounts of one staple: gallon-only bags are simpler.

A sturdy 5-gallon food-grade HDPE bucket with a Gamma Seal lid, the screw-on lid that makes a bucket easy to open and reseal every day. Utah State University Extension says long-term storage packaging must keep out moisture, rodents and insects, and that heavy-duty plastic bags alone aren't insect- and rodent-proof; Mylar bags inside a bucket like this cover both.

Best for Rodent-proof outer storage for Mylar bags

• Food-grade, BPA-free HDPE
• Screw-on lid: easy daily access
• Rodent and insect protection for bags

• Plastic alone lets some oxygen through: use Mylar inside for long storage

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you already have food-grade buckets: just add Gamma Seal lids.

The original screw-on Gamma Seal lid: snap the ring onto a 3.5 to 7 gallon bucket and the center screws on and off, airtight. It's the bucket you open every week, the rice or oats you're using, rather than the sealed reserve.

Best for Turning any food-grade bucket into an everyday bin

• Fits 3.5 to 7 gallon buckets
• Sold by Amazon

• Lid only: bring your own food-grade bucket

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need the bucket too: the bucket-and-lid set above.

A big stock of 300cc absorbers, packed 10 at a time so you only open what you'll use in one session. Utah State University Extension recommends food-safe oxygen absorbers to keep rice, beans and dried milk in good condition and to protect grains from insects. Work quickly once a pack is open: absorbers start working as soon as they meet air.

Best for Refills for your own bags, cans and bottles

• Packs of 10: open only what you need
• Common 300cc size

• Thin listing detail
• One size only

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you're just starting: a Mylar kit with matched absorbers is easier.