Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers (2026)

Thick 5-gallon bags sized to line a standard bucket, with one 2000cc absorber per bag. ShieldPro says a bag holds about 30 to 35 lb of rice or wheat. Seal them with a heat sealer (Utah State University Extension says an iron gives a poor seal), then put the bag in a lidded bucket to keep pests out.

Best for Lining 5-gallon buckets of rice, wheat and beans

• Thick 5 mil per side
• Absorbers matched to the bags
• Sized for 5-gallon buckets

• Needs a heat sealer
• Absorber pack may vary (see note)

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you're storing small amounts: 1-gallon bags let you open a little at a time.

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.

Three Gamma Seal lids that snap onto standard 12-inch buckets and then screw open and shut. They're for the bucket you dip into often: rice, flour, pet food. Buckets aren't included.

Best for Turning buckets you already have into ones you can open daily

• Three lids
• Screw open without a lid wrench

• Buckets not included
• The ring is hard to remove once on

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you're sealing buckets you'll leave alone for years: the bucket's own lid is enough.

3.5-gallon buckets with screw-on Gamma Seal lids already fitted. The smaller size is easier to lift and move than a 5-gallon bucket full of wheat, and suits a smaller pantry. Put a Mylar bag inside for long storage.

Best for Smaller buckets that are easier to lift

• Lids included
• Easier to lift than 5-gallon
• Made in the USA (maker)

• Holds less per bucket

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you're storing hundreds of pounds: 5-gallon buckets use shelf space better.

The same thick 5-gallon bags with a zip top, so you can reclose a bag after you've opened it. The zip isn't the long-term seal: heat-seal above it for storage. Check the absorber size on the listing; one 500cc absorber per bag is less than ShieldPro itself suggests for a 5-gallon bag.

Best for Buckets you'll open and close again

• Reclosable after opening
• Thick 5 mil per side

• Still needs a heat seal for long storage
• Absorber size may be small for 5 gallons

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you won't reopen the bags: the open-top kit comes with bigger absorbers.

Big 2000cc absorbers wrapped one by one, so you only open what you're about to use. Utah State University Extension notes absorbers start working within minutes once exposed, which is why individual wrapping helps. Each pack has an indicator that shows whether air has got in.

Best for Large bags, one absorber at a time

• Individually sealed
• Oxygen indicator in each pack

• Only worth it for big bags

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you're filling quart or gallon bags: Utah State University Extension's booklet gives about 100cc for quarts and 300cc for gallons.

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.

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.