What is a Mylar Bag and Its Uses?

When you first hear what is a mylar bag, you might be surprised that there are a lot of things around us that fall under this category. Take, for example, emergency blankets, long-lasting storage bags for food, those shiny balloons that are filled with air, and more.

In short, all these examples are built to last. As they aren’t common-use items, we never know about Mylar. So this article fills this information gap and explains why you need to learn more about them.

What is a Mylar Bag?

Mylar bags are formed of elongated sheets that are made by combining stretched PET with Aluminum and then adding an inner layer of any food-grade PE. The process of this stretching is done first horizontally on one side and then on the other side. This stretching is why it is named biaxially oriented or BoPET.

The following are some key aspects of Mylar bags:

• The outer layer is PET or polyester, while the middle layer is aluminum foil. Finally, the innermost layer is PE, which must be food grade if we fill the bag with food.
• Typically, these bags or pouches will range from 3.5 to 7.5 in thickness, measured in mills.
• They provide long-term protection for whatever is stored in them and are sturdy in build.
• They can easily withstand extreme temperatures, anything from -18 to 80 degrees Celsius.

Foods That Can Be Stored in Mylar Bags

As long as you keep an oxygen absorber material inside these bags, you can virtually store most kinds for a long time. Here are the food items you can store in them:

• Powdered milk
• All sorts of herbs and spices
• Most types of grains
• Coffee and tea
• Most beans and legumes, especially if dried well

Benefits of Mylar Bags for Food Products

Let’s discuss some key benefits you get from Mylar bags.

Oxygen and Moisture Protection

These bags stop not just oxidation but also prevent it from entering, and are well known for resisting any moisture.

Protects from Light and Odor

Light cannot enter and doesn’t allow odor formation, so there is no more spoiling of food inside, increasing shelf life.

Storage for Long-Term

With so many key benefits and an oxygen absorber to boot, these bags can store dried food items for almost 30 years. This storage duration is the reason why most emergency equipment and supplies will use Mylar bags.

Flexibility

As the bags are made from stretched PET sheets, you can make them in any shape or form, allowing most things to be covered with them.

Puncture Resistance

These bags are quite sturdy and cannot be punctured normally, thus allowing for great sealing.

What Can Mylar Bags Be Used For? 

Here are some of the many applications of what are mylar bags.

Insulation

A mylar sheet has two sides: the shiny aluminum side and the regular dull PET/PE side. If you need sun or heat reflection, keep the shiny side towards that. Depending on the environment you are in, you can use the shiny side inward or outward.

Food Storage

Most kinds of food items, if sealed properly, dried, and with an oxygen absorber, can stay for a long time, thus kept in shelters for up to 10 years.

Packaging

There are tons of items that can be packaged within them, such as coffee, dried fruits, emergency blankets, and almost anything that needs good barrier properties.

Outdoor Activities & Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Blankets 

You can find them in most emergency and outdoor kits, as they are used in open environments or extreme cases. Their reflective layer keeps the body temperature warm. Same way runners use it while running.

Hydrogenic Gardening

Here, the mylar sheet’s primary use is to reflect extra light that probably would go out back to the plants, increasing the efficiency and allowing improved plant growth.

Musical Instruments

Most drum instruments use them as membranes, as they need to be thin and stretched enough to reverberate but strong enough to withstand constant drumming. The consistency is why mylar is used, as it maintains the pitch or tone even after prolonged usage.

Medical & Pharmaceutical Storage

It is critical for medical supplies such as medications to avoid moisture, dirt, and sunlight as long as possible. Using Mylar bags to keep them last longer is vital, and this is why most medications use inner material for this.

Other Industry Uses

You can use Mylar sheets on windows and panes where you want scratch resistance. You need a special adhesive to help you do this. Furthermore, if you want long-lasting and sturdy labels in an industry where tons of dust and gases are present, they can help.

Pet Supplies

So, what is a mylar bag for pets, and is it good enough? Yes, they are great for pets, especially once they are opened. They help keep animal food fresh longer, especially if you have purchased a big one.

How Do You Use Mylar Bags?

You now know the benefits and uses of these bags. Here is a quick step guide on using these quality high-barrier bags.

• Filling the Bags – You can fill these bags, but just leave 1-3 inches on top, depending on overall size, to let the sealing be properly done. A smaller amount of air is most preferred.
• Include Oxygen Absorber – If storing in a food item, then it is highly encouraged to include one as it absorbs any unwanted oxygen. Typically, 300 cc is enough for a large 1-gallon bag.
• Excess Air – Before sealing or closing, press the bag sufficiently but not too hard to remove as much air as you can.
• Bag Sealing – Finally, seal the bag using a regular sealer, or a heating iron can also be used. Make sure you leave at least 1″ on the top side. After that, you can seal it.
• Bag Labeling – Paste a sticker for the sealing date or get printed instructions for the expiry date.
• Storage – Please store in a cool, dry place to increase the duration of the item stored in this bag.

FAQs

Is Mylar Better for Child Resistance?

Only in the cases where it is a one-time use mylar bag. Here, the manufacturer ensures that a mechanism for child resistance is added, where you need to bend it once. Only bending it allows it to be torn open in a specific section.

Can You Store Cannabis in Mylar Bags?

Yes, most definitely, you can because of all the air, light, oxygen, and moisture resistance these bags provide. These bags keep the flavor and integrity of cannabis for a long duration.

How Long Does Food Last in Mylar Bags?

Typically, 3 years or more for dried fruits. It is less for dry fruits as they have natural oil in them. Other kinds of food will last much longer as long as you include an oxygen absorber in these bags.

Final Words

The long life and other elemental resistances make Mylar bags a good option for emergency kits as well as food storage requirements. Furthermore, as they are sturdier, they can be used for transportation in harsher regions and where there is a war going on. In this article, we provided the best information you might not know about what a mylar bag is.