OXYGEN Absorbers.. Do and Don't..??

[Tim Horton]

I never thought of it much.. As in anywhere it seems the useful thing to do, to use an oxygen absorber and or moisture absorber.. However here are some ..Do and Don't recommendations..

So now I'm thinking there must be rules when, where, how to use oxygen absorbers like moisture absorbers.. ??
Facts, details, experience, thoughts.. ??

 

[Weedygarden]

I haven't watched the video yet. My first food saving to remove oxygen was at the LDS cannery, when you could still can your own food. Sugar was the one thing I knew not to add oxygen absorbers too. I'd bet flour is another one. Maybe salt is too. I never canned flour, so I don't know about that.

 

[Patchouli]

Here are foods she said to NOT use with oxygen absorbers:
Brown rice
jerky
granola
Dried eggs
Brown sugar
Dried fruits and vegetables Mushrooms
Baking powder
Baking soda
Nuts
Sugar
Salt
Dried fruit or vegetable powders
Botulism can occur with some of these foods when an oxygen absorber is used.
She also said with baking powder or baking soda your container can explode when oxygen absorbers are used.
Good information!

 

[Patchouli]

And who knew this: you can’t smell or see if something has botulism, the things we forget.

 

[Caribou]

To preserve food this way you must reduce the O2 level to less than 3%. Another option is to increase the CO2 level to above 3%. If you are using plastic remember that most plastic is permeable. That means that the oxygen will slowly work its way through the plastic to the food. Room air contains 21% O2 so when you use O2 absorbers you will reduce the volume of air in the container to about 80% causing a vacuum. Glass, mylar, and metal containers are impermeable. Mylar is easily punctured so do not use products with sharp points or edges, also protect the mylar from puncture or rodents by placing in a plastic or other container. If you use a vacuum sealer along with your O2 absorber you can either use a smaller absorber packet or you can get a longer effective use from the packets.

The packets come in a plastic container. It is permeable so do not set it on a shelf and sotre it for an extended period. If you must buy ahead then place the packets in sealed jars. If you are doing this I suggest multiple small jars rather than one large jar as every time you open a jar you introduce O2.