All times are based on storage at room temperature, 21 degrees.
However, a lower temperature can extend the times below significantly. For every 5.6 degrees lower temperature, the storage time doubles.
A product that can:
10 years at 21 degrees can therefore cope
20 years at 15 degrees
30 years at 10 degrees and
40 years at 4 degrees.
This information is taken from the American agency National Center for Home Food Preservation's website and publications.
Product |
In original packaging |
In Mylar bag with Oxygen Absorbent |
Flour | 1 year | 5 years |
Pasta | 1-2 years | 8-10 years |
Powdered milk | 1-2 years | 15 years |
Dried vegetables | 8-10 years | |
Beans |
1-2 years |
8-10 years |
Grains (whole grains) | 10-12 years | |
Maize | 3-4 years | 10-12 years |
Quinoa | 1-2 years | 8 years |
Rolled oats | 1-2 years | 8 years |
Egg powder | 1-2 years | 15 years |
Oboy | 1-2 years | 15 years |
Salt sugar & honey | Depending on humidity | forever |
Rice (white) | 1-2 years | 8-10 years |
Rice (brown) | 6 months | 1-2 years |
In addition to radically extending the storage time, all insects, larvae and eggs in the oxygen-free environment also die. This can take up to 12 days and requires an oxygen level of less than 1%. However, with the right number of oxygen absorbers, the oxygen level will be around 0.1%. This is something you can only achieve with the combination of Mylar and oxygen absorber.
Mylar.se sells Oxygen Absorbers in the size 300cc.
One of these uses the oxygen in about 1.2 liters of air.
You can order these in packs of 50 or 100 here.