Vacuum sealing oxygen barrier bags

[mikee]

So I recently got 5lbs of hops from hops direct. I was going to just purchase some oxygen barrier bags and seal them. I told my friend this and he said that the standard vacuum sealer will not seal these bags. I took that as a challenge.

30 min and 6 failed attempts later success!

Here is how. First take your regular vacuum sealer bag roll and cut a 3 inch strip off the end. You will notice a pattern on one side of the bag and nothing on the other. Cut the non patterned side off and then cut the patterned side into strips about ½ inch thick.


Fill your oxygen barrier bag with an ounce of hops. Stick the strip with the rough side down (not sure why this matters) inside the bag and the lines (like tire tracks) are vertical.

Put the bag in the sealer and hit vacuum/seal. Bam done!

 

[D-MOTITAN]

Nice....I too am getting some hops soon. Just the ticket.

 

[dfox56]

The vacuum seal bags are textured to allow the air to get channeled to the vacuum. By putting in a little piece of this bag in the Mylar bag it creates this channel. Just keep it where the clamp is and not where the heat strip is and it should work every time. If you don't have a vacuum sealer you can use a oxygen absorber then seal the Mylar bag with a hot iron.

 

[mikee]

actually, for my sealer it required me to put it across the heat strip.

 

[xdfireguy]

Do you have a good source for the O2 barrier bags?

 

[ekjohns]

are regular food sealer bags not oxygen barriers?

 

[zeekage]

Austin homebrew has the oxygen bags for $8 for 100 of em.

 

[iaefebs]

mikee

 

[mikee]

no regular sealer bags are not oxygen barrier

 

[ekjohns]

glad all my hops are being stored in regular food sealer bags

 

[Ramitt]

I use ball jars with the vacuum sealer attachment.

 

[Hermit]

I use ball jars with the vacuum sealer attachment.

Same here. Then I just stick them in the freezer. No air, no light, frozen.

 

[mikee]

I'll be sure to do that with my whole williamette hops - man does that stuff take up a LOT of space!

 

[Clementine]

Just a question regarding hops storage, why do commercial hops companies not vacuum seal their container, I know they flush with nitrogen, however surely people would prefer to see the vacuum sealed that way the know that there is next to nothing in container? Does the vacuum pressure have any effect of the alpha acids?

And a second question, since those of us that keg have easy access to CO2 and it is heavier than air so is it worth flushing our hop bags with CO2?

Clem

 

[dfox56]

Do you have a good source for the O2 barrier bags?

Just look for "Mylar" bags.

 

[Hermit]

I've been able to pull a vacuum but these bags never stayed sealed for me.

 

[slarkin712]

So vacuum sealer bags are not oxygen barriers? I don't understand this. If oxygen can get through the bags wouldn't you loose the seal? i.e. the bag would fill with air.

 

[Ramitt]

Just a question regarding hops storage, why do commercial hops companies not vacuum seal their container, I know they flush with nitrogen, however surely people would prefer to see the vacuum sealed that way the know that there is next to nothing in container? Does the vacuum pressure have any effect of the alpha acids?

And a second question, since those of us that keg have easy access to CO2 and it is heavier than air so is it worth flushing our hop bags with CO2?

Clem

The 1lb bags I received from hopsdirect were all vacuum sealed.

 

[zcrxt]

So vacuum sealer bags are not oxygen barriers? I don't understand this. If oxygen can get through the bags wouldn't you loose the seal? i.e. the bag would fill with air.

I have the same thoughts. I am going to be doing the same thing soon and glad i stumbled on this thread. Thanks for the info!

 

[ekjohns]

Yeah I looked it up they definitely are oxygen barriers. Other wise they would not be very good for holding a vaccum, it is physics. Mylar are just a higher quality plus they are light barriers. But for hop storage for homebrewer it seems it will be fine. A sealer for Mylar bags are also super expensive

 

[dfox56]

You can seal Mylar with a hot iron over a broom handle. Just add an oxygen absorber packet before sealing and in about 2 days no more air in bag!

 

[slarkin712]

Yeah I looked it up they definitely are oxygen barriers. Other wise they would not be very good for holding a vaccum, it is physics. Mylar are just a higher quality plus they are light barriers. But for hop storage for homebrewer it seems it will be fine. A sealer for Mylar bags are also super expensive

Sweet! Common sense prevails! I have 5-6 lbs in 2-4 oz portions using food sealer bags. I was starting to get pissed that I did something wrong. My hops are safe from evil oxygen!

 

[The_Mad_Scientist]

All my hops are in food saver bags as well....and tossed into the freezer. So far no issues. Now the trick to reseal the Mylar bags is a good one to save on waste. (always have little bits of food saver bags left around).

 

[ekjohns]

I spent some time reading further last night and it seems like the vacuum bags are good for short term (~1 year) while mylar is good for 5-10 years. Personally, mine get opened then vacuum sealed every few months or so, so it is not a big problem. Plus hops are not going to last 5 years in the freezer. happy brewing

 

[mikee]

Just an update, my bags are remaining sealed as long as I don't rough them up. the seal breaks where the strip goes in. just be gentle with them and they should be fine. All of the ones I have are still sealed, but if I knead the bag or pull on it the seal breaks.

Also I left the bag on the sealer while I filled the next bag to give it some more time to melt/seal

 

[slarkin712]

You could seal them with the foodsaver strips, while leaving a little extra bag on the end. Then cut off the excess foodsaver strip (i.e. portion outside of the seal), which should leave a portion of the end of the bag with out the strip. Then put another seal on the end(no vacuum, just heat seal) and then you should have any more problems losing your seal. It's a little extra work, but I think it should work.

 

[Hang Glider]

Does the vacuum pressure have any effect of the alpha acids?

Clem

I cannot imagine a vacuum would hurt the acid levels, but time certainly does.

http://www.promash.com/

I don't have Beersmith on my work computer, but I think it has such a calculator too

 

[anthony58]

Very nice.... its really very interesting tips you have shared.

 

[theonetrueruss]

ok, looking around I found videos showing how to get a vacuum sealer to work with a Mylar bag... that and this thread make me think it will work.. so I am looking to get a sealer for this so I can store hops.

I seem to hear various results on getting a good seal with a vacuum sealer. OP- you said you get a good seal every time... what sealer are you using? I just want to get one that I can be sure will get hot enough to give a good seal. I feel confident I can get the vacuum to work using your method. Thanks! Also, what thickness mylar bag are you using?

 

[freeokw]

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