Hi Sweet Friends, Today I am discussing the Difference Between Oxygen Absorbers versus Silica Gel Packets and When to Use Them in Your Prepper Pantry Food Storage. Plus, learn the importance of when NOT to use them. ➡️Be sure to head over to my TH-cam channel’s Home Page where I share lots of organized playlists of videos that I think you will enjoy. Here is the link: TH-cam.com/MarysNest ➡️SUBSCRIBE: TH-cam.com/MarysNest ➡️WATCH THE ULTIMATE PREPPER PANTRY SERIES: th-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0WCxRNWm60Yt0ihEQbfpUl.html ➡️FREE 36 PAGE ESSENTIAL TRADITIONAL FOODS PANTRY LIST (Printable): th-cam.com/video/-N8Vy2aL7CQ/w-d-xo.html Perfect for adding to your Kitchen Journal. ➡️TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction 0:36 What are Oxygen Absorbers? 0:54 How to use Oxygen Absorbers 15:51 What are Silica Gel Packets? 17:03 How to use Silica Gel Packets ➡️RELATED VIDEOS: • How to Stock Your Prepper Pantry with Real Food: th-cam.com/video/Hj71sxN6jCE/w-d-xo.html • How to Stock Your Prepper Pantry for $5 a Week: th-cam.com/video/gw8oq66-hwU/w-d-xo.html • 10 Best FOREVER Foods: th-cam.com/video/ld5D44-1R9o/w-d-xo.html • Homemade Self Stable Pantry Staples: th-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2lE7lUe4IYApi8AJPhR4GQ.html • Master the Basics of Traditional "Nutrient Dense" Foods Cooking: th-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And for more in-depth info...➡️JOIN THE TRADITIONAL FOODS KITCHEN ACADEMY (Optional Membership Community): th-cam.com/users/marysnestjoin This is where I share in-depth “Vodcasts” (like a podcast but you can watch and listen or just listen) all about Traditional “nutrient dense” foods, plus 1 monthly LIVE STREAM. This is for those who are interested in delving into all these Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods topics in greater detail. BUT DON”T WORRY…this is completely optional, and I will continue to produce all of my free public videos too. I’ve got lots of great public videos coming up here on my channel, so stay tuned. 😉 Thanks for watching! Love, Mary
Hello I bought oxygen absorbers about 5 years ago and I never used them. They are still sealed and the pick dot is still there. Do you think they will work? Thank you for your videos
What happens to your brown rice if you use oxygen absorbers? I have to go back and check but I may have use them with brown rice. I did try canning with most of my rice and beans but it’s possible I one or 2 has an oxygen absorbers in then
I think I made a mistake with my dehydrated vegetables, I put some dried fruit in a mason jar with a oxygen absorbers 2 months ago. Should I remove the oxygen absorber and put them in the oven to dry can them in order to persevere them for long term? What should I do to them now ? Is vacuum sealing the only way to preserve dry vegetables for long term? I put some dehydrated vegetables in a mason jar and Mylar bags and I believe I use oxygen absorbers in them, I think this is a no no. They should be complexly dry that they snap not sure if every piece of vegetable was completely dried. Also I put them dehydrated vegetables in the oven in order to seal the jars. Would those vegetables be good and last long term
I am somewhat new to prepping, and it seems like you have a video for all the questions that I have! I just wanted to thank you for the hours of time and preparation that you have put into these videos to help others succeed. 🥰 You have helped me more than I could possibly express! Also, when I’m feeling overwhelmed with this process, sometimes I just start one of your videos to hear you say “hi sweet friends”. As crazy as it may be, it can help me change my whole attitude. Thank you for everything you choose to be!!!
Love your videos, am learning so much! I’ve spent the past three months collecting food grade buckets, Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and bought large bulk bags of rice when on special also variety of bulk or well priced legumes too. I also purchased a heat sealer, a food saver so I’m almost ready to get my assembly line set up, I’m so excited! Rodent prevention: That mint trick works! If you don’t mind being overtaken by it, you can plant it around your home, out buildings etc to keep rodents at bay, also essential mint oil drops on cotton ball or harvest fresh mint, dry it and place bunches or sachets of dried mint inside containers, smells incredible anywhere in the home or car! Cayenne pepper (perhaps a bit mean) sprinkled around entry points can sometimes help with a variety of rodents too.
Wow, you have an incredible wealth of knowledge about food. Thank you so much for sharing so much information in an easy to understand format. I always look forward to seeing every new video that you upload. You, Sweet Mary, are a true gift to the world!!!
Thank you for this video. I am new to canning and food storage and this video helped me understand when to use oxygen absorbers and when to use silca gel packs.
My brain is foggy!! Lots of great info I’m going to make this my Bible. Thank you so much for all the information. It’s very exciting to look forward to a garden this year. Gods blessings on you.
Wow, you are a wealth of information. A couple days ago, I opened my jar of oxygen absorber to put in a jar of dehydrated food. Well, forgetful me, I neglected to put the lid back on. When I discovered it some time later, my nearly full jar of oxygen absorbers was hot to the touch. At first, I thought a burner on my electric stove had accidently been turned on, but that wasn’t the case. So, lesson learned. Also, thank you spelling out which foods not to use an oxygen absorber with.
Can you use both oxygen absorber and moisture absorber together? I do a lot of powders and I have been using both. I'd like to not die of botulism so I need to know.
No answer yet ... ugh ... My thoughts are that the O2 absorbers work within minutes... the Silica packs take hours if not days to work ... so that leads me to think using Both is best ??? Now I have herd many say NO ... so I have no idea , but I Use Both ... so I guess I might go check some of my preps in a year or two to see how they are doing ?
Hi. I just found your channel. I was watching the homemade extracts video and can't wait to try them out. I am just starting out on my search for culinary knowledge and you are a fantastic resource. Honestly, I commented before watching the video but I can tell it's going to be awesome. I can't wait to binge all of your videos.
I'm sooooo glad I saw the storage container video that linked this, as I did NOT realize there was a difference between the 2 packets! Agh! Thank you so much! I'm trying to find the longest ways to store the different foods I'm using for my preps, and I've been saving the little desiccant packets out of my vitamin bottles to stick in the jars of beans and rice, lol😁 I like the ones that are a little hard plastic tube shape, I even stick them in my salt shaker😊 Where are the best deals on the packs though?
Hi Mary . I found a 12 pound bucket of kitty litter that is only silica. We tested it at home dripping lots of water on it and it absored really well. I made my own absorber bags and have lots of silica left .
Thank you Mary, we love the content you share.. it has been a great help in these crazy times! 💖 We do have plastic buckets, however I've started buying smaller galvanized metal buckets with lids. Easy to move around, in my estimation pretty much rodent proof. Berens, is the brand I use. I get them from the farm and garden store, Tractor Supply etc. Yes, they do cost more about 20.00..... But the food i store inside will be worth much more to us when we need it. 🙂
Hi Mary. Oh my goodness. I just learned so much! I learned that I’d better get those oxygen absorbers out of my dry barley and dehydrated vegetables right away! 🙄I always learn something new from you every time I watch your videos. Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to your upcoming videos.
Thank you!! But we really need to thank the Latter Day Saints organization and the Utah State University extension service for their wonderfully authoritative resources! Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
Jolene, if your dehydrated veggies were so dry that they snapped when bent, and if you didn't see any condensation forming in the jar or package you put them in for 7-10 days before packaging them for long-term storage, then it should be quite safe to store them with Oxygen absorbers :-)
Mary Gallagher. Thank you! I probably over-dehydrate my vegetables just to make sure there’s no moisture left. So I’m likely very safe on that end. The barley on the other hand is in the trash already. Small price to pay for not getting sick. Thank you very much for your info!
I freeze my grain in a 5 gal bucket inside a food grade plastic bag. Make sure the lid of the 5 gal bucket has a o ring seal. I get the kids from the paint store there are not food grade lids but they’re tough. Then thaw out the bucket for 2days until it’s not frozen anymore because if it is it still frozen it’s going to sweat and attract moisture from the air like a cold can of cola on a hot day. So don’t open the bucket til it’s thawed out at room temperature
I was wondering about this Mary. I’ve got 25lb of flour coming Monday and I’m putting it in a 5 gallon bucket to store it. This was very informative. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless my friend.
Can I store white, unbleached all purpose (organic) flour with oxygen absorbers in mason jars? I see a lot of conflicting information. Many blogs are saying yes, but they’re also suggesting to do the same with whole wheat flour so I’m not very keen on their advice. Thank you so much, Mary, for all your helpful videos!
@@MarysNestI am thinking of storing my presealed bags in a 5 gal container, and that's a fantastic idea to tuck some bay leaves inside with them. I know on Homestead Heart, "Mrs. H" puts bay leaves directly in the bucket of rice. I would be afraid all the rice would smell like bay leaves, and I don't want that. I buy an organic rice brand that is already vac sealed, so I'll throw those intact into the bucket, as well as pastas... THEN, I put a bar of Irish Spring on top. I don't have rodents in my basement, but I do get spiders... it repels both.
I always hear that O2 packets are good to use with rice b/c rice has less than 10 percent moisture. But I saw that it's listed at 11.6 percent on the USDA website. In that case, shouldn't I use a moisture (desiccant) package instead? In thinking about botulism, I now don't want to use an O2 packet with the rice. Knowing this, what do you think is the best way to store the rice? The rice has been frozen for a few days at least and has been at room temperature for several weeks. Thanks. Great videos.
Wow. Never heard of the rodents chewing through the buckets, too. I would store several 1 gal mylar packs in the 5 gal bucket. This way, if you need part of the contents stored in the bucket, you don't have to break all of the seals. By the way, Irish Spring soap deters rodents and spiders. They do not like the mint! So, go to the Dollar Store and get two bars for $1, and set them around your emergency food storage.
Hi Joanie, Such great tips!! Thank you!! Yes, I store my food in the mylar bags in buckets too. I learned this tip from Lesia Sutton over at Sutton's Daze. It's such a great tip! Yes, I was shocked when I learned from others that rodents had chewed through their buckets!! Egad!! I have not had that happen to me, but I wanted to make folks aware of this just in case they were storing their items in an area where this could be a problem. Love, Mary
@@MarysNest Sounds like the rodents in the streets of New York City... they can get humongous! Yes, people NEED to be aware of ALL of the pitfalls as well as the upside of prepping and storing.
From what I understand, the soap deterrent is only effective as long as the scent remains. Once it disappears, mice will attempt to eat the soap. I know that part from experience. I keep a bar of soap at the sink in my shop. Water is turned off during the winter. In spring, I've seen tiny tooth marks on the bar of soap left out there over the winter.
@@oldtimerlee8820 I also had mice eat Irish spring soap. My husband put some various places and 1 was the glove box of an old car he loves. He opened it up one day and they ate most of the soap. Almost anywhere he'd put it they'd ate it! Ironically they ate through the stored bars he had in the garage. Lol We made sure we used the original scent too.
Thanks for sharing. Daniel had his first live conference with his speech therapist for this school year today. She actually worked with him when he was in Primary School. He's starting Middle School this year. The session went well. Earlier at the mailbox Daniel played on some trucks and equipment and a man chatted with me. He told me I was pretty which is surprising. Majority of men who have no trouble talking to me say that I'm cute. I mostly though make guys nervous. Not sure why. Lines of men have no trouble talking to my mother and sister.
@Rick Richins - Hi Rick, Thank you so much for sharing these kind words with my friend Jean. I know they will mean the world to her!! What a wonderful and generous soul you are!! Love, Mary🤗
Hello Mary! I Love your Videos & share them with my friends & family. I am trying to find out the best way to pack & store foods one would dehydrate themselves? For Long Term Storage? I was thinking after making sure I dehydrated my fruits & vegetables really well, put them in mylar bags with a Silica gel pack? Or Mason Jars. But I rather in mylar bags so I can haul them in a packpak for in the event, if ever there came a time, I may have take food on the run. I Trust your knowledge & Experience & am wondering how you would pack & store foods you've dehydrated for long term storage? And when I say Long Term, even just 5 years. Everything I've been reading acts like they can only last a year? Surly there's a way to sustain longer than that. And also, just to be clear. I am speaking of regular dehydrated foods, not Freeze dried. As I cannot afford one of those machines. I'll be doing good to just get a regular dehydrater. I appreciate your advice & guidance Mary. Thank you in Advance!❤️😁
Dear Foodie Lover, Mary, kindly comment whether i could use the plastic bag to store the dried black, red and chickpeas beans with a packet of oxygen absorber and then vaccum seal it in order to keep it longer n to prevent weils growing. Your kind attention n advice is highly appreciated. Thsnk u, Rena
I put up flour yesterday used a 400 cc oxygen obsorber it’s still hasn’t removed the air out of the bag should I rebag it. I used wallaby bags and oxygen obsorber they were smaller than I like to use
Portion control, the maximal size I use is 1 gal myar bags and store them in plastic or metal containers. That way the maximal I ever open is 1 gal keeping the rest sealed.
The “Canadian Prepper” and “Alaska Granny” have each put out videos on storing powdered food/ingredients. They seem to contradict each other in certain instances.
I made pemmican and was storage in cookie tins. Some sites say to save it in a jar with an O2 absorber. However, after listening to you, it sounds like it would be dangerous due to the tallow? Any suggesitons
Do you use silica gel packs or oxygen absorbers with rice, flour, etc. while they are still in their original packages and then put them i an air-tight container?
Wow Mary! Great info, thanks! This came to my recommendations...liked, subscribed and sharing. Really appreciate your sharing your knowledge and your style too:-)
Thank you so much for the kind words! And WELCOME!! So glad you're here!! You might enjoy my Prepper Pantry playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0WCxRNWm60Yt0ihEQbfpUl.html Love, Mary
Hi Mary. If I briefly open (less than 5 minutes) my food filled jar with oxygen absorber, should I add a new one? Or is my food safe with the original one
I'm still trying to find an answer to this question: what would be the harm in using both a desiccant packet as well as an oxygen absorbent in the same bag?
READ THIS: apartmentprepper.com/the-difference-between-oxygen-absorbers-and-silica-gel/ This article answers that question in 3 sections, describes 1) Oxygen Absorber, then 2) Silica Gel (desiccant) then 3) Can oxygen absorbers & silica gel be used together (NO) At the end it lists 35 Survival Foods; ENJOY! Hope this helps, BTW, never hurts to add put bay leaves w/items like beans, rice & etc because they help deter bugs!
Thank you sweet Mary! I learn so much from your videos and enjoy hearing your voice, it’s very comforting. My question is: Do you need or can you use an oxygen absorber with organic Mung Beans? Also, have you ever made an extract with cardamom seeds?
I'm planning to vacuum store dry beans in glass jars that have been sterilized and heat-dried in a 225 degree oven. Notwithstanding the 10% moisture of dry beans, I still worry that there may still be a slight risk for botulism for long term storage. Would it be useful to add a silica pack as additional insurance against this risk? I plan to long-term store my dried beans for 10-15 years in my prepper pantry. I'd very much like to hear your advise.
Thank you for this video Mary. Could you please tell me where to go to get the info from the Latter Day Saints as well as you mentioned Utah( university) thank you
Could you use moisture absorbers in a vacuumed sealed freezer jar that you have white rice in? Vacume seal with absorber then freeze to kill bugs? Then move to bucket or pantry/cellar shelfs?
I have 100cc oxygen absorbers in some dried fruit in small mylar bags and Mason jars, and also in 10 lbs of sprouted wheat flour in an airtight container. They have not been in there long. Do I need to throw that food out?
Hi Lillie, I don’t know for sure. Are the mylar bags completely free of oxygen? If so, I would be careful and consider throwing them out. I would recommend that you go over to the latter-day Saints site and do some research. I would hold the same true for the whole grain flour. In my humble opinion, I would not be comfortable keeping moist or oily foods that had been stored with oxygen absorbers. Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
I make some powders out of Garlic, onions, beets, a lot of items that I've dried I'm planning on making a powder out of, so I assume the silica packs are the best? My dried leeks got "undried" and started to grow mold.
so I currently only freeze or vacuum seal bags/glass jars for long term storage since I currently don't have any buckets or mylar bags... if I am vacuum sealing glass jars, I don't need to use a oxygen? just clarifying :)
Hi can you clarify something for me, everywhere I've ever read they say add an oxygen absorber to your flour, 2nd I get wheat berries from auguston farms which is supposed to last for 30 years when I open the bucket they have oxygen absorbers in them, and lastly, do not put oxygen absorbers and moisture absorbers in the same container, oxygen absorbers need that moisture to create rust which will eat the oxygen the moisture absorbers will prevent that process.
Yes, you are correct. It's the little bit of moisture in the food (but 10% or less) that causes the iron powder in the oxygen absorber to rust which is the chemical reaction that pulls out the oxygen from the packaging. As to adding an oxygen absorber to your flour - yes, you can do this if what you are storing is all-purpose flour or bread flour - both of which have the bran and germ removed. But generally, it is not recommended to add oxygen absorbers to whole grain flour. I realize there is some difference of opinion on this subject but I defer to the Latter Day Saints organization and the Utah State University Extension Service as these are considered to be authoritative resources on food storage. But you have to do your own research and decide what you are most comfortable doing. Finally, yes, you can store whole grains (that have NOT been ground into whole grain flour) with oxygen absorbers - except brown rice and barley which are considered not to be appropriate for storing with oxygen absorbers. Keep in mind, once you open your whole grains that are packaged with oxygen absorbers, those whole grains have now been re-exposed to oxygen so you may want to reseal your grain in an alternative air tight packaging with new oxygen absorbers. Hope this helps. Love, Mary
Good rule is, if whatever you're sealing isn't dry enough to snap or break do *NOT* use an oxygen absorber! Basically don't use oxygen absorbers on: meat, fruit/veg, brown rice, mushrooms or anything powdered. Use desiccant packs only for those items! Vaccum sealing or o2 absorbs should *NEVER* be used on anything that could grow botulism in an anaerobic environment!
I want to store a bag of bubble gum. I have like two bags and I want them to last long. It's similar to bag of dubble bubble. Would you recommend silica gel or oxygen absorbers?
I'm going to be buying 14 lb bag of banana chips and a 25 lb bag of dried pineapple chunks how do I store those I want to use 5 gallon buckets and I do have 5 gallon mylar bags do I need oxygen absorbers in there
I’m not sure about that. I think there a differences of opinions about this. But the latter-day Saints site says not to use oxygen absorbers when storing dried eggs, so I would not store them with oxygen absorbers. I would research this in more detail and then do what you feel comfortable with. Love, Mary
Hi Mary thank you so much for great information. I put oxygen absorber in whole wheat flour five days ago. I am going to take the oxygen absorber out now, is it still safe to use the flour now or I should toss it out in the garbage?
Hi Suri, That's a great question. There are different opinions on this so I am not 100% sure. I would recommend reviewing the Latter Day Saints site and the Utah State University site - both links are over on my website "MarysNest DOT com" (The direct link to the accompanying blog post to this video is in the description under this video.) Those organizations are considered to be authoritative sources on this subject. If you do not see an answer on their websites, you can call the Utah State University Extension Service and they will be able to answer your question. Keep me posted. Love, Mary
I am learning to make beef jerky. I want to save it in air sealed bags. Do I need to use a air packet in the bag prior to removing air? So of my jerky came out a bit oily?
I hope you see this and can help.....I thought this would be easy but there are so many items on the oxygen line. I am mostly concerned about botulism years later. Is there a chart for silica vs oxygen absorbers. I have seen some prepper videos saying to use both and I know we can't do this. I have bags of split peas, rolled oats, barley - similar to oats, black beans....on the line. Oats at 12.5% moisture - you say oxygen absorbers but I thought they only worked 10% or below. I need a chart; do you have one ? I hope so! Thank you!
Hi Mary, love your videos. I have the lid cover to vacuum seal my canning jars. I also have a food saver. The connection that came with my food saver does fit. I searched but, I cannot find the connection to remove the air. Do you have a link to this tool? Thank you so much.
![[BAEMON NEWS 7] NEW ALBUM COMING IN](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wtVeAPimOyo/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi Sweet Friends, Today I am discussing the Difference Between Oxygen Absorbers versus Silica Gel Packets and When to Use Them in Your Prepper Pantry Food Storage. Plus, learn the importance of when NOT to use them.
➡️Be sure to head over to my TH-cam channel’s Home Page where I share lots of organized playlists of videos that I think you will enjoy. Here is the link: TH-cam.com/MarysNest
➡️SUBSCRIBE: TH-cam.com/MarysNest
➡️WATCH THE ULTIMATE PREPPER PANTRY SERIES: th-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0WCxRNWm60Yt0ihEQbfpUl.html
➡️FREE 36 PAGE ESSENTIAL TRADITIONAL FOODS PANTRY LIST (Printable): th-cam.com/video/-N8Vy2aL7CQ/w-d-xo.html Perfect for adding to your Kitchen Journal.
➡️TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:36 What are Oxygen Absorbers?
0:54 How to use Oxygen Absorbers
15:51 What are Silica Gel Packets?
17:03 How to use Silica Gel Packets
➡️RELATED VIDEOS:
• How to Stock Your Prepper Pantry with Real Food: th-cam.com/video/Hj71sxN6jCE/w-d-xo.html
• How to Stock Your Prepper Pantry for $5 a Week: th-cam.com/video/gw8oq66-hwU/w-d-xo.html
• 10 Best FOREVER Foods: th-cam.com/video/ld5D44-1R9o/w-d-xo.html
• Homemade Self Stable Pantry Staples: th-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2lE7lUe4IYApi8AJPhR4GQ.html
• Master the Basics of Traditional "Nutrient Dense" Foods Cooking: th-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html
And for more in-depth info...➡️JOIN THE TRADITIONAL FOODS KITCHEN ACADEMY (Optional Membership Community): th-cam.com/users/marysnestjoin This is where I share in-depth “Vodcasts” (like a podcast but you can watch and listen or just listen) all about Traditional “nutrient dense” foods, plus 1 monthly LIVE STREAM. This is for those who are interested in delving into all these Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods topics in greater detail. BUT DON”T WORRY…this is completely optional, and I will continue to produce all of my free public videos too. I’ve got lots of great public videos coming up here on my channel, so stay tuned. 😉
Thanks for watching! Love, Mary
Hello I bought oxygen absorbers about 5 years ago and I never used them. They are still sealed and the pick dot is still there. Do you think they will work? Thank you for your videos
What happens to your brown rice if you use oxygen absorbers? I have to go back and check but I may have use them with brown rice. I did try canning with most of my rice and beans but it’s possible I one or 2 has an oxygen absorbers in then
I think I made a mistake with my dehydrated vegetables, I put some dried fruit in a mason jar with a oxygen absorbers 2 months ago.
Should I remove the oxygen absorber and put them in the oven to dry can them in order to persevere them for long term?
What should I do to them now ?
Is vacuum sealing the only way to preserve dry vegetables for long term? I put some dehydrated vegetables in a mason jar and Mylar bags and I believe I use oxygen absorbers in them, I think this is a no no. They should be complexly dry that they snap not sure if every piece of vegetable was completely dried.
Also I put them dehydrated vegetables in the oven in order to seal the jars. Would those vegetables be good and last long term
Hi, Mary. what do yo recommend for packets freeze dried potato flakes? Leave in original packet ... use silica or oxygen absorbers around packets?
I am somewhat new to prepping, and it seems like you have a video for all the questions that I have! I just wanted to thank you for the hours of time and preparation that you have put into these videos to help others succeed. 🥰 You have helped me more than I could possibly express! Also, when I’m feeling overwhelmed with this process, sometimes I just start one of your videos to hear you say “hi sweet friends”. As crazy as it may be, it can help me change my whole attitude. Thank you for everything you choose to be!!!
She is very sweet, isn't she?
Love your videos, am learning so much! I’ve spent the past three months collecting food grade buckets, Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and bought large bulk bags of rice when on special also variety of bulk or well priced legumes too. I also purchased a heat sealer, a food saver so I’m almost ready to get my assembly line set up, I’m so excited! Rodent prevention: That mint trick works! If you don’t mind being overtaken by it, you can plant it around your home, out buildings etc to keep rodents at bay, also essential mint oil drops on cotton ball or harvest fresh mint, dry it and place bunches or sachets of dried mint inside containers, smells incredible anywhere in the home or car! Cayenne pepper (perhaps a bit mean) sprinkled around entry points can sometimes help with a variety of rodents too.
Wow, you have an incredible wealth of knowledge about food. Thank you so much for sharing so much information in an easy to understand format. I always look forward to seeing every new video that you upload. You, Sweet Mary, are a true gift to the world!!!
Sara Basic - Thank you SO much for the kind words!! ❤️🤗❤️
I appreciate each and every video you make... I've learned SO much!
I'm so glad!
me too!!!! great way to learn while being in lockdown in Greece.
Thank you for this video. I am new to canning and food storage and this video helped me understand when to use oxygen absorbers and when to use silca gel packs.
I just got a bag of silica packs and I was going to start popping them in stuff 🤣😂 So glad I saw this🤦🏻♀️ Thank you for the explanations 🙏🙏
Wonderful!
Appreciate the thorough presentation. Watching from the Philippines where it is always humid.
You are a fantastic source of all things foods and storage. I am so glad you started this channel
Oh Elizabeth! Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m so glad you’re here! Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
I’ve always wondered why the difference in using silica v/s oxygen absorbers..
Thank you so much for this information! 👍🏼
Glad it was helpful!
My brain is foggy!! Lots of great info I’m going to make this my Bible. Thank you so much for all the information. It’s very exciting to look forward to a garden this year. Gods blessings on you.
Thank you Mary. I will call n find out n let u know. You r giving loads of important information n I am thankful for ur advice. Take care n be safe.
Suri Poonam Gahunia - Thank you so much for the kind words!! ❤️🤗❤️
Wow, you are a wealth of information. A couple days ago, I opened my jar of oxygen absorber to put in a jar of dehydrated food. Well, forgetful me, I neglected to put the lid back on. When I discovered it some time later, my nearly full jar of oxygen absorbers was hot to the touch. At first, I thought a burner on my electric stove had accidently been turned on, but that wasn’t the case. So, lesson learned. Also, thank you spelling out which foods not to use an oxygen absorber with.
Thanks for sharing. I was getting ready to store some products and didn't know if I could use an oxygen absorber. Thanks again. I love your posts!
Hi Julie, Thanks for the kind words! So happy to hear that this information was helpful. Love, Mary
Thank you, this is just what I needed to keep my dry goods not clump. 💕
Can you use both oxygen absorber and moisture absorber together? I do a lot of powders and I have been using both. I'd like to not die of botulism so I need to know.
I would also its cheap assurance dry and oxygen free.
No answer yet ... ugh ... My thoughts are that the O2 absorbers work within minutes... the Silica packs take hours if not days to work ... so that leads me to think using Both is best ??? Now I have herd many say NO ... so I have no idea , but I Use Both ... so I guess I might go check some of my preps in a year or two to see how they are doing ?
This was so great. Thank you for making this.
Thanks for another great video miss Mary. I use oxygen absorbers in my dry preps. I also use bay leaves whenever possible.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the video, I have never seen a more informational video Re: these two ways of preserving dry goods. 🌸
Thank you!!❤️🤗❤️
Hi. I just found your channel. I was watching the homemade extracts video and can't wait to try them out. I am just starting out on my search for culinary knowledge and you are a fantastic resource. Honestly, I commented before watching the video but I can tell it's going to be awesome. I can't wait to binge all of your videos.
Welcome!! And thank you SO much for the kind words!! Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
I'm sooooo glad I saw the storage container video that linked this, as I did NOT realize there was a difference between the 2 packets! Agh! Thank you so much! I'm trying to find the longest ways to store the different foods I'm using for my preps, and I've been saving the little desiccant packets out of my vitamin bottles to stick in the jars of beans and rice, lol😁 I like the ones that are a little hard plastic tube shape, I even stick them in my salt shaker😊 Where are the best deals on the packs though?
Hi Mary . I found a 12 pound bucket of kitty litter that is only silica. We tested it at home dripping lots of water on it and it absored really well. I made my own absorber bags and have lots of silica left .
Thank you Mary, we love the content you share.. it has been a great help in these crazy times! 💖
We do have plastic buckets, however I've started buying smaller galvanized metal buckets with lids. Easy to move around, in my estimation pretty much rodent proof. Berens, is the brand I use. I get them from the farm and garden store, Tractor Supply etc. Yes, they do cost more about 20.00..... But the food i store inside will be worth much more to us when we need it. 🙂
Hi Mary. Oh my goodness. I just learned so much! I learned that I’d better get those oxygen absorbers out of my dry barley and dehydrated vegetables right away! 🙄I always learn something new from you every time I watch your videos. Thank you so much! I’m looking forward to your upcoming videos.
Thank you!! But we really need to thank the Latter Day Saints organization and the Utah State University extension service for their wonderfully authoritative resources! Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
Jolene, if your dehydrated veggies were so dry that they snapped when bent, and if you didn't see any condensation forming in the jar or package you put them in for 7-10 days before packaging them for long-term storage, then it should be quite safe to store them with Oxygen absorbers :-)
Mary Gallagher. Thank you! I probably over-dehydrate my vegetables just to make sure there’s no moisture left. So I’m likely very safe on that end. The barley on the other hand is in the trash already. Small price to pay for not getting sick. Thank you very much for your info!
You're very welcome Jolene!
Thank you
So should I use a silica packet in with my dehydrated eggs? I'm putting them in a canning jar not bags. I don't have a vacuum sealer.
❤️ Im so happy I found you!!
I freeze my grain in a 5 gal bucket inside a food grade plastic bag. Make sure the lid of the 5 gal bucket has a o ring seal. I get the kids from the paint store there are not food grade lids but they’re tough. Then thaw out the bucket for 2days until it’s not frozen anymore because if it is it still frozen it’s going to sweat and attract moisture from the air like a cold can of cola on a hot day. So don’t open the bucket til it’s thawed out at room temperature
Such a wealth of information, thank you!
I was wondering about this Mary. I’ve got 25lb of flour coming Monday and I’m putting it in a 5 gallon bucket to store it. This was very informative. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless my friend.
Hi Vera, So happy to hear that this was helpful! Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
Mary's Nest 🙏🙏❤️
Excellent video. To tell you the truth, I never really thought about the difference between the two. Thank-You for bringing it to my attention. :-)
Hi Cliff!! Hope you are doing well during these quarantine times. So nice to see you here!! Glad the video was helpful! Love, Mary
@@MarysNest I always watch your videos, Mary. :-)
Thank you ! Great information.
Can I store white, unbleached all purpose (organic) flour with oxygen absorbers in mason jars? I see a lot of conflicting information. Many blogs are saying yes, but they’re also suggesting to do the same with whole wheat flour so I’m not very keen on their advice. Thank you so much, Mary, for all your helpful videos!
thankful for sharing your knowledge!
Glad it was helpful!
Good to know. I belong to a group called stocking our shelves on face book and they were talking about bugs in flour yesterday
My flour comes in a sealed plastic bag. I would feel comfortable putting it in the freezer before storing it, as no moisture can get in.
Oh wow! Yes, bugs in flour be a problem. Bay leaves can be tucked into the flour to discourage bugs. Love, Mary
@@MarysNestI am thinking of storing my presealed bags in a 5 gal container, and that's a fantastic idea to tuck some bay leaves inside with them. I know on Homestead Heart, "Mrs. H" puts bay leaves directly in the bucket of rice. I would be afraid all the rice would smell like bay leaves, and I don't want that. I buy an organic rice brand that is already vac sealed, so I'll throw those intact into the bucket, as well as pastas... THEN, I put a bar of Irish Spring on top. I don't have rodents in my basement, but I do get spiders... it repels both.
Mary's Nest lol my suggestion to her was cut and run. Not much help there
I always hear that O2 packets are good to use with rice b/c rice has less than 10 percent moisture. But I saw that it's listed at 11.6 percent on the USDA website. In that case, shouldn't I use a moisture (desiccant) package instead? In thinking about botulism, I now don't want to use an O2 packet with the rice. Knowing this, what do you think is the best way to store the rice? The rice has been frozen for a few days at least and has been at room temperature for several weeks. Thanks. Great videos.
Sending love Mary!
Wow. Never heard of the rodents chewing through the buckets, too. I would store several 1 gal mylar packs in the 5 gal bucket. This way, if you need part of the contents stored in the bucket, you don't have to break all of the seals.
By the way, Irish Spring soap deters rodents and spiders. They do not like the mint! So, go to the Dollar Store and get two bars for $1, and set them around your emergency food storage.
Hi Joanie, Such great tips!! Thank you!! Yes, I store my food in the mylar bags in buckets too. I learned this tip from Lesia Sutton over at Sutton's Daze. It's such a great tip! Yes, I was shocked when I learned from others that rodents had chewed through their buckets!! Egad!! I have not had that happen to me, but I wanted to make folks aware of this just in case they were storing their items in an area where this could be a problem. Love, Mary
@@MarysNest Sounds like the rodents in the streets of New York City... they can get humongous! Yes, people NEED to be aware of ALL of the pitfalls as well as the upside of prepping and storing.
From what I understand, the soap deterrent is only effective as long as the scent remains. Once it disappears, mice will attempt to eat the soap. I know that part from experience. I keep a bar of soap at the sink in my shop. Water is turned off during the winter. In spring, I've seen tiny tooth marks on the bar of soap left out there over the winter.
@@oldtimerlee8820 I also had mice eat Irish spring soap. My husband put some various places and 1 was the glove box of an old car he loves.
He opened it up one day and they ate most of the soap. Almost anywhere he'd put it they'd ate it!
Ironically they ate through the stored bars he had in the garage. Lol
We made sure we used the original scent too.
Thank you,
Excellent video Mary! This is the best informative video I’ve seen on this subject. 🙂
Thank you!!❤️🤗❤️
I've heard an oxygen absorber is ok with jerky in a vacuum sealed bag as long as the jerky is pretty dry.
Thanks for sharing. Daniel had his first live conference with his speech therapist for this school year today. She actually worked with him when he was in Primary School. He's starting Middle School this year. The session went well. Earlier at the mailbox Daniel played on some trucks and equipment and a man chatted with me. He told me I was pretty which is surprising. Majority of men who have no trouble talking to me say that I'm cute. I mostly though make guys nervous. Not sure why. Lines of men have no trouble talking to my mother and sister.
Hi Jean, Thanks so much for the update! Love, Mary
@Rick Richins - Hi Rick, Thank you so much for sharing these kind words with my friend Jean. I know they will mean the world to her!! What a wonderful and generous soul you are!! Love, Mary🤗
Thank you Mary. Always great well done videos. So much wonderful info and you are so easy to listen to. TFS. ❤️
Thank you so much for the kind words!🤗
Hello Mary! I Love your Videos & share them with my friends & family. I am trying to find out the best way to pack & store foods one would dehydrate themselves? For Long Term Storage? I was thinking after making sure I dehydrated my fruits & vegetables really well, put them in mylar bags with a Silica gel pack? Or Mason Jars. But I rather in mylar bags so I can haul them in a packpak for in the event, if ever there came a time, I may have take food on the run. I Trust your knowledge & Experience & am wondering how you would pack & store foods you've dehydrated for long term storage? And when I say Long Term, even just 5 years. Everything I've been reading acts like they can only last a year? Surly there's a way to sustain longer than that. And also, just to be clear. I am speaking of regular dehydrated foods, not Freeze dried. As I cannot afford one of those machines. I'll be doing good to just get a regular dehydrater. I appreciate your advice & guidance Mary. Thank you in Advance!❤️😁
I put Marshmellows in my brown sugar. Keeps it soft.
Great tip! Thank you for sharing!!
Dear Foodie Lover, Mary, kindly comment whether i could use the plastic bag to store the dried black, red and chickpeas beans with a packet of oxygen absorber and then vaccum seal it in order to keep it longer n to prevent weils growing. Your kind attention n advice is highly appreciated. Thsnk u, Rena
You can use Boveda humidity bags from Brown sugar storage.
Would you be able to give me some guidance on storage of dried fruits safely. Can they be safely stored for long or longer term storage?
Thanks for all the great information!
I put up flour yesterday used a 400 cc oxygen obsorber it’s still hasn’t removed the air out of the bag should I rebag it. I used wallaby bags and oxygen obsorber they were smaller than I like to use
Thank you, Mary, for all your good advice, I love your channel
Thank You!
Portion control, the maximal size I use is 1 gal myar bags and store them in plastic or metal containers. That way the maximal I ever open is 1 gal keeping the rest sealed.
ma'am i had a question..can we put oxygen absorbers in tortilla mix that we put in jars? thank you for all your help! Gods peace!
I have been using oxygen absorbers for my beef jerky...now i know i should be using silica gel. Thank you so much. Is it okay to use both?
The “Canadian Prepper” and “Alaska Granny” have each put out videos on storing powdered food/ingredients. They seem to contradict each other in certain instances.
Great video! ❤
I made pemmican and was storage in cookie tins. Some sites say to save it in a jar with an O2 absorber. However, after listening to you, it sounds like it would be dangerous due to the tallow? Any suggesitons
Powered Eggs - would you use a silica gel pack & a Mylar bag for long term storage of powered eggs?
Do you use silica gel packs or oxygen absorbers with rice, flour, etc. while they are still in their original packages and then put them i an air-tight container?
Wow Mary! Great info, thanks! This came to my recommendations...liked, subscribed and sharing. Really appreciate your sharing your knowledge and your style too:-)
Thank you so much for the kind words! And WELCOME!! So glad you're here!! You might enjoy my Prepper Pantry playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0WCxRNWm60Yt0ihEQbfpUl.html Love, Mary
Hi Sweet friends! Anyone know if it is good to use silica gel packs in vegetable powders? Was thinking it would prevent clumping.
Hallo Madame, a very different use is for my cashemere pullovers. Keeps thème in perfect condition...
Françoise Fincoeur - Great tip!! ❤️🤗❤️
Hi Mary. If I briefly open (less than 5 minutes) my food filled jar with oxygen absorber, should I add a new one? Or is my food safe with the original one
I'm still trying to find an answer to this question: what would be the harm in using both a desiccant packet as well as an oxygen absorbent in the same bag?
READ THIS: apartmentprepper.com/the-difference-between-oxygen-absorbers-and-silica-gel/ This article answers that question in 3 sections, describes 1) Oxygen Absorber, then 2) Silica Gel (desiccant) then 3) Can oxygen absorbers & silica gel be used together (NO) At the end it lists 35 Survival Foods; ENJOY! Hope this helps, BTW, never hurts to add put bay leaves w/items like beans, rice & etc because they help deter bugs!
please forgive me but, personally I feel that you talk more than doing. But I'm also happy to have found you
Would it make sense to stick the silica gel packets in the crisper drawer in the fridge?
Thank you Mary ❤️❤️
Hi Valerie, You’re so welcome! Love, Mary
Thank you sweet Mary! I learn so much from your videos and enjoy hearing your voice, it’s very comforting. My question is: Do you need or can you use an oxygen absorber with organic Mung Beans? Also, have you ever made an extract with cardamom seeds?
I'm planning to vacuum store dry beans in glass jars that have been sterilized and heat-dried in a 225 degree oven. Notwithstanding the 10% moisture of dry beans, I still worry that there may still be a slight risk for botulism for long term storage. Would it be useful to add a silica pack as additional insurance against this risk? I plan to long-term store my dried beans for 10-15 years in my prepper pantry. I'd very much like to hear your advise.
Great info Mary. Thanks.
It can be a bit confusing between the 2 items but you explained it very well.
Wonderful!! So happy it helped.🤗
Hi - beginner here. Just wondering, if I use a food saver on rice, do I also need an oxygen absorber in that bag? Thanks!
So I just take the silica gel and place in in my jar Right?
Don’t heat it or anything. Just put in my jar and screw lid on. Right?
Thank you for this video Mary. Could you please tell me where to go to get the info from the Latter Day Saints as well as you mentioned Utah( university) thank you
Can I store black garlic bulbs with oxygen obsorbers in mylar bags? Thanks Mary!
Could you use moisture absorbers in a vacuumed sealed freezer jar that you have white rice in?
Vacume seal with absorber then freeze to kill bugs? Then move to bucket or pantry/cellar shelfs?
I have 100cc oxygen absorbers in some dried fruit in small mylar bags and Mason jars, and also in 10 lbs of sprouted wheat flour in an airtight container. They have not been in there long. Do I need to throw that food out?
Hi Lillie, I don’t know for sure. Are the mylar bags completely free of oxygen? If so, I would be careful and consider throwing them out. I would recommend that you go over to the latter-day Saints site and do some research. I would hold the same true for the whole grain flour. In my humble opinion, I would not be comfortable keeping moist or oily foods that had been stored with oxygen absorbers. Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
Could one use oxygen absorbers with dried egg whites? Or dried nonfat milk?
Can’t believe I just found this Chanel it’s one of the best she’s Amazing ❤❤❤
Is it advisable to use both silica and o2 absorbers in the same mylar bag? Some people say you can do that if you space them apart. Your thoughts?
I make some powders out of Garlic, onions, beets, a lot of items that I've dried I'm planning on making a powder out of, so I assume the silica packs are the best? My dried leeks got "undried" and started to grow mold.
Hi Scott, Oh no! Yes, you'll want to do your best to keep out moisture. Love, Mary
If I use a vacuum sealer for beans or rice, do I need to put an oxygen absorber in each bag before vacuuming it?
so I currently only freeze or vacuum seal bags/glass jars for long term storage since I currently don't have any buckets or mylar bags... if I am vacuum sealing glass jars, I don't need to use a oxygen? just clarifying :)
Hi can you clarify something for me, everywhere I've ever read they say add an oxygen absorber to your flour, 2nd I get wheat berries from auguston farms which is supposed to last for 30 years when I open the bucket they have oxygen absorbers in them, and lastly, do not put oxygen absorbers and moisture absorbers in the same container, oxygen absorbers need that moisture to create rust which will eat the oxygen the moisture absorbers will prevent that process.
Yes, you are correct. It's the little bit of moisture in the food (but 10% or less) that causes the iron powder in the oxygen absorber to rust which is the chemical reaction that pulls out the oxygen from the packaging.
As to adding an oxygen absorber to your flour - yes, you can do this if what you are storing is all-purpose flour or bread flour - both of which have the bran and germ removed. But generally, it is not recommended to add oxygen absorbers to whole grain flour. I realize there is some difference of opinion on this subject but I defer to the Latter Day Saints organization and the Utah State University Extension Service as these are considered to be authoritative resources on food storage. But you have to do your own research and decide what you are most comfortable doing.
Finally, yes, you can store whole grains (that have NOT been ground into whole grain flour) with oxygen absorbers - except brown rice and barley which are considered not to be appropriate for storing with oxygen absorbers. Keep in mind, once you open your whole grains that are packaged with oxygen absorbers, those whole grains have now been re-exposed to oxygen so you may want to reseal your grain in an alternative air tight packaging with new oxygen absorbers. Hope this helps. Love, Mary
Mary should all purpose flour be stored in the fridge once the bag is opened?
Good information to know
Hi Nancy, glad you found it helpful!! Love, Mary
Hello Mrs Mary ! Is silica gel good to store fortified power milk in mylar bags , or what would be the best method 🤔 ? Help
Thanks very informative
Very imformative, thank you.
So glad you found it helpful! 🤗
Good rule is, if whatever you're sealing isn't dry enough to snap or break do *NOT* use an oxygen absorber! Basically don't use oxygen absorbers on: meat, fruit/veg, brown rice, mushrooms or anything powdered. Use desiccant packs only for those items! Vaccum sealing or o2 absorbs should *NEVER* be used on anything that could grow botulism in an anaerobic environment!
I want to store a bag of bubble gum. I have like two bags and I want them to last long. It's similar to bag of dubble bubble. Would you recommend silica gel or oxygen absorbers?
I put a marshmallow in my brown sugar to keep it from hardening. Works great.
Great tip!
Mrs. Mary can you store white flower with an oxygen absorber and a silica gel packet?
I'm going to be buying 14 lb bag of banana chips and a 25 lb bag of dried pineapple chunks how do I store those I want to use 5 gallon buckets and I do have 5 gallon mylar bags do I need oxygen absorbers in there
I have a harvest right freeze dryer.Have been doing lots of duck eggs in Mylar bags and 300 cc oxygen absorber.Hope that’s ok. Thanks
I’m not sure about that. I think there a differences of opinions about this. But the latter-day Saints site says not to use oxygen absorbers when storing dried eggs, so I would not store them with oxygen absorbers. I would research this in more detail and then do what you feel comfortable with. Love, Mary
Your videos are great!
Glad you like them!
Question unbleached flour should I use oxygen absorbers
Blessings 💖
Thank you!!❤️🤗❤️
Hi Mary thank you so much for great information. I put oxygen absorber in whole wheat flour five days ago. I am going to take the oxygen absorber out now, is it still safe to use the flour now or I should toss it out in the garbage?
Hi Suri, That's a great question. There are different opinions on this so I am not 100% sure. I would recommend reviewing the Latter Day Saints site and the Utah State University site - both links are over on my website "MarysNest DOT com" (The direct link to the accompanying blog post to this video is in the description under this video.) Those organizations are considered to be authoritative sources on this subject. If you do not see an answer on their websites, you can call the Utah State University Extension Service and they will be able to answer your question. Keep me posted. Love, Mary
I am learning to make beef jerky. I want to save it in air sealed bags. Do I need to use a air packet in the bag prior to removing air? So of my jerky came out a bit oily?
Silica gel isn't poisonous to eat. It's just a choking hazard for toddlers. That's why it says do not eat. Store a marshmallow in your brown sugar. =)
Great tips!! Thank you so much!! Love, Mary
Yep
You know what another name for silica is? Glass. That's it. They're just glass beads.
I hope you see this and can help.....I thought this would be easy but there are so many items on the oxygen line. I am mostly concerned about botulism years later. Is there a chart for silica vs oxygen absorbers. I have seen some prepper videos saying to use both and I know we can't do this. I have bags of split peas, rolled oats, barley - similar to oats, black beans....on the line. Oats at 12.5% moisture - you say oxygen absorbers but I thought they only worked 10% or below. I need a chart; do you have one ? I hope so! Thank you!
Hi Mary, love your videos. I have the lid cover to vacuum seal my canning jars. I also have a food saver. The connection that came with my food saver does fit. I searched but, I cannot find the connection to remove the air. Do you have a link to this tool? Thank you so much.