Oxygen Absorbers or Vacuum Sealing: Which is Best?

I used to use my vacuum sealer all the time many years ago. I stashed all sorts of things in the rolls, from an assortment of food to perishables for my bug out bags; I’ve even tried stuffing clothing and small fleece sleeping bags in them. Why? Because I could!

But at some point I began to wonder whether it was worth the effort. Aside from the expense of the rolls/bags, I noticed not all bags stayed sealed. I never could figured out exactly why. After all, I usually sealed the ends multiple times just to be sure they didn’t leak. And I did my best to ensure I didn’t include anything that might create sharp edges, which could cause a small hole; even items like pasta noodles could be problematic.

Over the years, I gravitated toward a preference for Mylar bags, which almost always included using oxygen absorbers. Although Mylar comes in different sizes and thicknesses, they’re usually always thicker than any vacuum roll or bag. (Know that you’ll need to properly size oxygen absorbers to the Mylar bag size and food type.)

That said, I rarely use vacuum bags or Mylar bags these days. Although both are useful, I’ve transitioned towards more durable options, like glass mason jars and food-grade buckets. But if I had to choose, Mylar and O2 absorbers would be my preference over vacuum bags for any long-term use. Granted, even Mylar bag seals can fail if not done properly, so it’s not like one option is clearly superior to the other.

What I can say is that you should use what works for your situation. And you’re only going to know that by experimenting. Above all else, test seals the following day to ensure the process worked as intended. Then, when you’re satisfied with the results, further protect the bags in something else, like a 5 or 6 gallon bucket (doesn’t need to be food-grade if using vacuum bags or Mylar) or even a sturdy box because it’s often the abrasiveness of movement and handling that cause problems down the road.

Finally, I suggest you watch the following video to get a deeper understanding of the pros and cons of oxygen absorbers vs. vacuum sealing. Enjoy!