Using Oxygen Absorbers to Store Food
Most of us have had our first encounter with oxygen absorbers in the form of strange and intriguing white (or colored) sachets inside sealed food bags or jars. And if you voiced your curiosity, you were probably told that it prolongs the shelf life of the food.
Whether it made sense at the time or not, the fact is that these little packets have a lot of potential for keeping packaged foods fresh and nutritious for several months. Want to learn more about them? Simply scroll down to the reading portion.
How do oxygen absorbers function? What are they?
Oxygen absorbers, also known as oxygen scavengers, are microscopic iron-powder-filled sachets or packages. Iron is used because it has a powerful ability to absorb 99% of the oxygen present in a sealed environment.
One of the most well-known causes of food degradation is oxidation, the chemical reaction that occurs when oxygen comes into contact with the lipids or pigments in some food items. The quality of food is unaffected by inert ambient gases like nitrogen.
Therefore, as soon as a food moisture absorber is put inside a container or packaging containing food, it begins to absorb oxygen. The food's shelf life is prolonged since most moisture or air is absorbed. Additionally, this keeps pesky insects at bay.
After placing an absorber inside, the process of oxygen absorption may continue for up to four hours in a sealed container or bag.
The Purpose of Oxygen Scavengers
The most important benefit of using an oxygen absorber is that it stops oxidation. Your food stays healthy and fresh for a longer time as a result. If you want to save the food you bought at the grocery store for the following months, you can utilize one.
The fact that oxygen scavengers preserve food without the use of chemicals or additives is another compelling argument in favor of their use. Therefore, you won't be sacrificing your health for food preservation. Additionally, because mold and bacteria often cannot exist in an all-nitrogen environment, the food item won't attract undesirable germs.
Typical Errors to Avoid
Despite the fact that oxygen absorbers are simple to use, secure, and beneficial for food preservation, there are some errors you should avoid, such as -
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Never use an oxygen scavenger to preserve food products with more than 10% moisture content, as this heightens the risk of botulism poisoning.
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Food items with high oil content, such as nuts and seeds, will naturally have a shorter shelf life than other dehydrated food. Do thorough research before deciding on a timeline for preservation.
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When you place a sachet inside a sealed bag or jar, do not take it out too soon. Give at least a couple of hours for complete oxygen absorption. Taking out too soon will cause the oxygen absorber to absorb atmospheric air, and not much iron will be left to preserve food.
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Finally, ensure the iron in the packet is active. To check, get a feel of the packet with your hand. If the iron inside feels loose and powdery, it’s a green signal. If it feels solid or grainy to the touch, the contents have been used up, and the packet needs to be disposed of.
What number of packets are required?
One oxygen scavenger sachet will not work properly in every jar or bag. Find out how much oxygen the container can hold to decide how many sachets you need. You should also think about the kind of food that will be preserved.
Calculate the volume of the headspace, which is the remaining empty space in the container, as well as the void space, which is the space between the food items.
The general formula would be – Container volume – Volume of food = Residual volume.
Then, 1 gram (g) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)
Just add a few cubic centimeters to the final size for head and void space since these are typically difficult to predict. The most common sizes for oxygen scavengers on the market are 50cc, 100cc, 300cc, 500cc, 1000cc, and 2000cc. You can add one or more to preserve the food, depending on the size of the container and the packet.
O2 Absorbers That Are Valuable!
Want to begin your journey toward healthy food preservation right away? Different-sized food moisture absorbers are available from Interteck Packaging to keep the oxygen content of a food package or jar below 0.01%. Bid adieu to annoyances like oxidation and aerobic bacteria.
Contact us to order oxygen absorbers that are suitable for your needs.
