Wallaby 1-gallon Mylar (75) review

What the set is and who it suits

This is a pack of 1-gallon Mylar-type bags sold with oxygen absorbers for sealing dry food at home. Our tracked listing is Amazon ASIN B08HVYCMG4, and the maker's own page for its 75-bag bundle describes 10 by 14 inch pouches. Wallaby's page says each holds roughly a gallon of product.

It suits a household that buys rice, beans, wheat or similar dry goods in bulk and wants to split them into gallon portions that are easy to open and use up. This review is researched, not tested. It relies on Wallaby's product page and on Utah State University Extension's food storage guidance.

What the maker says you get

Wallaby's page lists 75 bags described as 5 Mil on each side, which adds up to the 10 mil total used on our comparison page. Wallaby's current bundle page also lists 80 oxygen absorbers of 400cc each, packed in sets of 10, and 80 labels, so contents may differ from our tracked listing. Check the box on arrival.

Wallaby says the bags seal out light, residual dampness and air, and its page claims a shelf life of as long as 30 years once sealed. Treat that as a maker claim. Utah State University Extension does not give one number for every food, and the real answer depends on what you pack and how cool and dry you keep it.

What oxygen absorbers do, and the dry-food rule

Utah State University Extension says foil pouches, with oxygen absorber packets, eliminate food-borne insects and help preserve nutritional quality and taste. Its food storage page names dried beans and rice among the foods that suit this method and says absorbers should be used to remove oxygen from the packages.

The same extension page carries a safety warning: "Botulism poisoning may result if moist products are stored in packaging that reduces oxygen." It adds that products in airtight containers with oxygen absorbers must be dry, about 10% or less moisture content. In plain terms, these bags are for dry staples. Do not use them for moist, low-acid foods such as cooked rice or fresh vegetables, and do not treat sealing as a way to preserve food that needs refrigeration.

Utah State also notes that wheat does not need to be stored without oxygen unless insects are present, so absorbers matter most for beans, rice and similar items. Our emergency food storage guide and long-term food storage guide cover what to stock.

The limits: sealing and rodents

You need a way to close the bags. Wallaby calls them heat-sealable, so a hair straightener or an impulse sealer is the usual tool, and the first few seals are worth checking by pressing on the bag. A weak seal lets air back in and wastes the absorber.

Utah State Extension warns that rodents can chew through plastic bags and suggests placing several bags inside a 5-gallon plastic bucket. Plan on buckets or bins for the finished bags if mice are a concern where you store them.

How it compares with the other picks

Our food storage container comparison also lists a PackFreshUSA kit of mixed pint, quart and gallon bags, a separate pack of 300cc oxygen absorbers, a 5-gallon bucket with a Gamma Seal lid, and the Gamma Seal lid on its own. Wallaby's bags make sense for gallon-size portions. If you want smaller bags for spices or sugar, the mixed-size kit fits better. If you already have buckets, the lid-only pick is the lighter-touch option.

Bags inside a bucket cover both oxygen and rodents.

Verdict and who should skip it

A sensible, simple way to portion dry staples for long storage, as long as the food is truly dry and you have a sealer. Skip it if you cannot seal bags, if your food is moist or oily, or if you only need a few weeks of food. Ordinary airtight jars are enough for that,.

Can I put any food in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers?

No. Utah State University Extension warns that botulism poisoning may result if moist products are stored in packaging that reduces oxygen, and says products must be dry, about 10% or less moisture content. Stick to dry staples such as rice and beans.

Do I need oxygen absorbers for wheat?

Utah State Extension says it is not necessary to store wheat in the absence of oxygen unless insects are present. Absorbers are most useful for beans and rice, and when you want to protect flavor and quality over a long time.

Will the bags keep mice out?

Not on their own. Utah State Extension says rodents can chew through plastic bags and suggests putting several bags inside a 5-gallon bucket for protection.

How long will food last in the bags?

Wallaby's page says sealed food can last as long as 30 years, but that is the seller's claim. Shelf life depends on the food, its dryness, the seal and the storage temperature, so rotate your stock and check it.