Cart |
Ready
Main Entrees
Outdoor Preparedness Sale
Part I. Why some food storage products won’t last – 02 Absorbers
Let’s face it, any person can throw some food in a can and claim it’s going to hold up multiple decades, but the pros at The Ready Store know there’s much more to it than that. For that reason we wanted to create an in-depth series on how to make a food storage product not only be edible after several decades but still maintain its nutrition and great taste.
The first aspect we wanted to cover is the little ol’ oxygen absorber or as some call it an 02 scavenger. These packets are dropped into #10 cans (ValueBuckets too) along with the food during the canning process. The packet then goes to work absorbing the free oxygen found in the surrounding air. It works by chemically binding the oxygen by oxidizing finely divided iron into iron oxide. The reaction’s net result is the removal of oxygen creating an atmosphere free from rancidity, fungi or aerobic bacteria. What it all means to you is great shelf life and quality of the food, but some ask…
Why does The Ready Store use 02 absorbers and not use a nitrogen flush process instead?
Simply, we have found that nitrogen flushing does not do as well of a job as an 02 absorber. The peak performance and consistency lacked when comparing the two methods. For the Saratoga Farms line we are not ok with a good or acceptable process when there is a superior alternative. Check out the results from a comparison study of a leading 02 absorber brand versus gas flushing.
So now you have the best means of getting rid of oxygen, you are done right?
Nope, not so fast. Next, you must choose the right size absorber for the amount of food being stored. Using too small of a packet will not get the oxygen level down to a sufficient level. Including more than needed is perfectly a-ok, as a matter of fact we err on the side of caution and do this with all food storage products.
There are certain use and care instructions that need to be employed to assure that the absorbers work as intended. We have heard from canning pros who have worked as consultants at competing food storage companies where they witnessed employees leaving 02 absorbers out in the open for long periods of time. Here is one of the scenarios, it’s the end of the shift and the bell rings. Employees scatter leaving absorbers sitting in the bottom of empty cans that are waiting to be filled with food in the production line. The absorber slowly dies like a fish out of water.
At The Ready Store we keep the absorbers sealed until they are to be dropped in with the food. From the time they are deposited to the time the can seaming process has been run fewer than 5 minutes have elapsed. Will an 02 absorber work just fine if left out for a couple hours? Yes. Overnight? No, but when shelf life is at play, being safe and not sorry is the best way to go. Doing our best and striving to be the best is a part of who we are and strive for everyday and I think you will see it shows in everything we do.
Over the course of the next few weeks we will be going into detail on important topics related to shelf-life. Next week we will be cutting cross sections of our can seams then taking macro level photos of the seal. From there we will compare those shots alongside photos from a major university’s can seam study where they inspected various seam quality differences (and their implications) so you can see for yourself how good of a seam ours is in comparison to others out there. At a future date we will talk about the cans themselves and go into what makes a good can, there we will explain what a double enameled can is and why you should settle for nothing less. From there we will move onto other important factors related to making food storage products last so in the end you can feel 100% confident in what you get from The Ready Store to help prepare for your families future.
Excellent series.
I have been concerned about shelf life, quality assurance and technology that goes into this food.
November 21st, 2011 at 2:05 ambut where can we purchase FreshUs O2 absorbers?
November 21st, 2011 at 3:12 amPlease provide link(s) to bulk price quantities for the FreshUs O2 absorbers. Thanks!
November 21st, 2011 at 6:30 amI may be wrong – but I assume that the FreshUs 02 absorbers are commercial grade and are only meant for use when the cans are sealed at the factory. Once opened for use you have the alloted time described on the side of the cans (two weeks maybe) to consume the product before spoilage can occur. But I have been wrong in the past… :O)
November 21st, 2011 at 7:05 amYour dedication and passion for what you do is why I keep coming back…
November 21st, 2011 at 8:19 amI’m enjoying your series and this most recent one concerning oxygen absorbers is right in line with something I am considering doing at home. My question concerns using canning jars to seal things like powdered Chicken and Beef base, bouillon cubes and other items.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:31 amAfter boiling the lids to get the seals ready for sealing I was planning on placing the powder into the jars and when compacted almost to the top place several oxygen absorbers onto the top of the powder and seal the pint jars. Would this work and how many absorbers of what size would I need for the pint jars? I know the cubes would require more.
Thanks.
Wow I just purchased alot of Wise Foods just last week, this is very disturbing (just like what Rebecca stated). I think I’m going to return it & go with Ready Store instead.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:51 amDavid,
I believe Wise Foods does both an 02 absorber and nitrogen flushing so you should be good from that stand point. Not 100% sure but I think that is the case.
There is one bigger issue in my mind and that is that they are claiming 25 years shelf life in a pouch. No one else claims that (Mountain House who has been around 40+ years claims 7 years on theirs) and each time we ask Wise Foods for data on their claim we get the run around instead.
Sure something will last 25 years if it is frozen or kept at 40-50 degrees but that isn’t realistic or close to realistic.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:03 pm@Tom,
Canning with glass canners is not our expertise, while a lot of the same principles would apply I would hate to give you info that wasnt 100% accurate so I would recommend asking these questions to people within that industry. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. In the end a proper seal + o2 absorber + low moisture content = crazy long shelf life.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:13 pmAdmin,
So far, all the items I have enclosed in canning jars (properly sealed) and utilized oxygen absorbers have sealed down quite nicely. I guess, in the long run, I will be able to tell with my nose if/when the time comes to open them. Just thought I’d post what I was using them for.
One question I do have concerns the use of the absorbers in a food quality 5 gallon container with the locking tops (cannot recall the proper name at the moment). I am thinking of doing some of that type storage to compliment my food products from The Ready Store but have wondered if the bags are really necessary or if the containers are sufficient without the bags.
Thanks again for the informative articles.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:24 pmTom,
You are talking about buckets of food like our Valuebucket line right? The mylar bags are absolutely necessary to get great shelf life. As a matter of fact if you put the 02 absorbers in the buckets along with the food and omit the mylar bag the buckets will start to collapse. You don’t have to worry about that with #10 cans as they are strong but even they, when you pierce the seam with a can opener, release a lot of pressure due to the work the 02 absorber has done.
The mylar bag keeps light out (that will degrade the food) and aroma in (that will attract rodents). The bucket is there really only for its tough shell to keep the mylar bags from being pierced.
We are planning on selling the various components for those that want to source their own food and fill the buckets but it is still a bit out on our to do list.
Just a reference, Valuebuckets product line seen here: http://www.thereadystore.com/food-storage/supply-size/valuebuckets
November 21st, 2011 at 3:40 pmi appeciate all this good information… i didn’t see Oxyfree brand absorbers. anyone know how these rate? thanks
November 21st, 2011 at 5:09 pmGreat article. I am very impressed with your company, and your desire to seek out the information to make your product even better. I have never had a problem with any product I have purchased from you, and this type of research may be the reason. Looks like you don’t settle for second best and as someone who is nervous about the future and want to be prepared I thank yuo for easing my worries on this issue.
November 21st, 2011 at 5:52 pmNice thoughts on O2 absorbers. I hadn’t really considered much of the science behind it so long as it works. Thanks.
November 24th, 2011 at 12:04 pmWhat was your source for the graph? Was it published in a referreed publication or a trade journal? Without examining experimental procedure, I cannot evaluate the data. For example, was the same amount of each absorber placed in each can? I know this seems obvious, but Mark Twain said, “Statistics don’t lie; statisticians do.”
Tim
February 13th, 2012 at 7:07 amHey Tim,
February 13th, 2012 at 10:27 amWe pulled the information from http://www.freshuspac.com/. They are a leading provider of O2 absorbers. I don’t believe they have that graph on their website anymore though.
I am concerned about when one opens the # 10 cans and the remaining contents are exposed to the O2 content of the outside air. So….how about individual meals packets, etc. that have been sealed vacuum (after the freeze dry process)packed with their own individual O2 absorbers. would that not help greatly help with preserving the shelf life of the remainder of the contents after that can is opened? For the time being. I live alone and opening a #10 can would mean I would have to use that particular meal day after day until all is consumed. Thus having the freeze dried food vacuum sealed pouch, etc. with its individual O2 absorber should help main and longer shelf live that just opening the #10 can and having the contents exposed to the O2 .
February 13th, 2012 at 10:40 amDieHardPatriot,
February 13th, 2012 at 1:55 pmA freeze-dried meal can last for 6-12 months after it’s been opened. It’s important to place the lid back on every time it’s not in use though. You’re totally right too. If you aren’t going to be using it that quickly, you can put the freeze-dried food into a Myler bag and seal it again.
How long does long grain brown rice keep for it you use the mylar bags and o2 absorber?
November 6th, 2012 at 10:46 am