Oxygen Absorber Packets for Long Term Food Storage

Jaggery is usually made from concentrated sugarcane juice. There are two types of jaggery, one made from sugarcane and the other one made from the palmyra palm tree. In making jaggery, the sugarcane sap from palm trees is boiled for hours, and then we obtain the concentrated liquid. The liquid is then poured into the moulds to dry and settle properly. After the liquid is completely dried, it is packed in boxes and delivered to stores.

Jaggery is also categorised into two different colour types: pale gold and deep brown. The colour range depicts the sweetness of the jaggery. It has been said the darkest variety is the purest form and therefore has the best flavour and sweetness than other jaggeries. 

Palm jaggery vs jaggery:

Both have different tastes. Palm jaggery is generally made from coconut juices. The jaggery is made from palm tree extracts and has several numbers of vitamins and minerals contained inside. However, palm jaggery is a rich source of essential minerals, restores healthy digestion and gives relief from constipation.

Whereas normal jaggery is made from sugarcane juice, detoxes the liver, and activates digestive enzymes in the body. Jaggery also purifies the blood and boosts immunity. Jaggery is generally made by extracting sugarcane sap, obtaining concentrated sugar, and molding it into different shapes.

Can jaggery get affected by fungus?

As per studies, jaggery has moisture and carbohydrates. This combination makes the jaggery ideal for breeding fungus in it. It has been said that if jaggery is not preserved with preservatives and chemicals, it is more likely to have fungus growth. Fungus growth rises, especially during summers. Jaggery is made during winters, with 5% moisture inbuilt in jaggery. The humidity content helps retain the taste and colour of the jaggery and even helps increase the product's shelf-life. However, summers can also result in melting the jaggery. The growth of fungus in jaggery can be prevented by using food-grade desiccant like an oxygen absorbers and the silica gel packets. These can be filled together or individually, while packing the jaggery.

A study conducted on commercial jaggery observed the effect of storage period on the quality of jaggery. Experimental data revealed that moisture content in jaggery could be increased from 12.07% to 22.36% in open storage, decreasing to 9.23% in bin storage. Lastly, while packed in plastic bags, moisture content was increased to 15.84%. This also results changing in the colour of jaggery. Therefore, the colour of the jaggery becomes darker during storage. 

Furthermore, jaggery's optical density and acidity were slightly increased during storage. So, to maintain the quality of jaggery, an oxygen absorber and silica gel packets must be stored with an oxygen absorber.

How is jaggery stored? 

After the concentrated liquid takes its shape and settles down properly, the storing process starts immediately. Jaggery is usually packed in airtight containers in a cool and dry place. It can also be stored by breaking it into small pieces. 

Best methods for preserving jaggery:

1. Storing in zip-lock bags: The zip-lock bags can keep the jaggery held for at least 1 to 2 years and retain its taste and colour. While storing jaggery, it would be best if you always remembered that no air goes inside the zip-lock bag. Otherwise, the colour and flavour of the jaggery will not be retained and even spoil the shape. If you don't have a zip-lock bag available, you first wrap the jaggery with paper, cover it with plastic, and store it in an airtight container. 
2. Storing in the fridge: Before storing the jaggery in the refrigerator, never pack it in a plastic box. Always try to store jaggery in a steel container. Storing jaggery in plastic can spoil the colour and taste of the jaggery. At least for 6 months or more, jaggery can be stored if we pack it properly without any moisture or air inside the container. 
3. Storing in dry leaves: To prevent jaggery from getting spoiled for a long time, you use "Dona", made from dry leaves. Dona should be kept below the jaggery, and the jaggery needs to be fully covered up with Dona. Storing with Dona can protect jaggery for 6 months and more.

As we have read above, there are three types of storing methods, but there is still another better method of using an oxygen absorber for storing jaggery. The absorber keeps the product dry and removes excess oxygen from the packed jaggery. 

Storing with an oxygen absorber and silica gel packets: 

An oxygen absorber is the best for storing jaggery. While packing jaggery, excess oxygen can be stored with the product and can spoil the taste, shape and even the colour of jaggery. So, use an oxygen absorber to avoid damaging jaggery. The absorber will never spoil the taste and colour of the jaggery and will never react with the inside content. 

Oxygen absorbers contain a mixture of iron powder, zeolite powder, salt and water. The absorbers are food grade approved. 

Here are a few reasons to use oxygen absorbers:

• Extend shelf-life
• Preserving food without using chemicals or additives
• They keep unwanted organisms away from the food

Silica gel packets are also beneficial for removing the excess moisture from the stored jaggery packets. Similar to oxygen absorber prevents spoilage of jaggery. Silica gel packets never react with the inside content, whether jaggery or any other food product. It is also said that silica gel is not widely used as an oxygen absorber in the food industry. Silica gel is only preferred for certain dried fruits and dried meat. 

Thus, the oxygen absorber and silica gel packets can be used together to remove oxygen and prevent moisture from jaggery. Both can improve the shelf-life and store jaggery for a long time, compared to other storing methods.

Therefore, here is the answer to storing jaggery for a long time, using an oxygen absorber and silica gel packets. 

Lastly, now you may have got answer to your questions regarding storing jaggery. Using an oxygen absorber for storing jaggery. It is added inside the enclosed packets consisting of jaggery to prevent the growth of fungus and store it for a long time. It also helps in decreasing the oxygen level inside the enclosed container. In addition, the absorber helps retain the food product's taste, smell and structure. 

An oxygen absorber contains Iron powder, Bentonite clay, and salt within a sealed packet. The seal of these absorbers acts as an oxygen barrier to reduce oxygen and moisture content. The benefit of an oxygen-free environment is that it prevents the growth of insects and their eggs or larvae. This method gives the advantage of not freezing the foods before repackage. It is powerful because it reduces Oxygen to 0.01 %. It ensures there is no chance of food destruction at all.

How does The Oxygen Absorber work?

The oxygen molecules of the absorber interact with the iron particles, and naturally, the iron begins to rust. The next step is to add sodium to the pack, which acts as a catalyst to oxidise the iron even in a low environment of low humidity.

Can You Use Oxygen Absorbers In Following Food and Containers?

Flour- You can use an oxygen absorber to store the bleached white flour. Just remember that the whole white wheat flour will only sustain for twelve months.

Sugar- No, you should not use an oxygen absorber to store white granular sugar. What happens is the sugar will turn into a hard brick. Not only white sugar but do not use this for brown sugar because it has much more Oxygen to be completely absorbed by the oxygen absorber.

Rice-Yes, one can go for an Oxygen absorber to store rice. With the help of this method, you can store the white rice for up to thirty years. You can also use the oxygen absorber for brown rice.

Not only the major food sources but you can also store Sweets, Namkeen, dry fruits, and many other packed foods with the help of an oxygen absorber.

Mason or Glass Jars- You can use oxygen absorbers in mason jars or glass jars for up to ten to fifteen years. It will provide a great oxygen barrier to your food.

Plastic Containers- It is not advisable to use an oxygen absorber for the plastic containers. Plastic allows Oxygen to enter the container and react with the foodstuff even if it is sealed. You might be unable to detect it because it is a very slow process.

Can You Reuse Oxygen Absorber?

Oxygen Absorber should not be reused. Once the packet is exposed to Oxygen, the iron in the package will turn into rust. This is because it will reach its capacity and will no longer be able to reduce Oxygen.

What Are The Foods I Shouldn’t Store With Oxygen Absorbers?

Foodstuffs with a high moisture content or a high amount of fats should be avoided from storing with Oxygen Absorber. The logic behind this process is that it creates the perfect environment for bacterial growth and other infiltration.

How Long Does Reaction Take To Work?

When the absorber is exposed to the Oxygen in the environment, the chemicals begin and get warm as it expands to reduce the Oxygen within a few hours completely.

Is It Alright To Refrigerate Oxygen Absorbers?

There is not any necessity to refrigerate the oxygen absorber. Besides, it has its danger that the frozen environment will destroy its property and might not work effectively.

Can Oxygen Absorbers Kill Bugs and Insects?

It is a common assumption that all packed dry foods or grains are safe, but the truth is most of them have a minute presence that you have no idea about. All the dry foods that are stored for a long period like white rice, and oats have a high chance of the presence of bug eggs in them. This is the reason it is important to repack food while planning for storing long term. Oxygen absorbers can prevent bugs and insects from entering or populating, but they cannot kill or eliminate them. It is safe to use once you are sure of the container.

Why Does It Turn Hard?

Yes, the oxygen absorbers become hard once they reach their capacity. At that stage, it won't be able to remove any oxygen or moisture content from the environment. This time you should consider replacing them.

The oxygen absorbers are environmentally friendly, and non-toxic hence, they can be easily disposable. It is ROHS certified and trusted by our thousands of customers.

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Oxygen Absorbers are utilized to eliminate oxygen from inside a sealed environment, creating a nitrogen environment for long-term food stockpiling. In addition, it cuts the oxygen level down to 0.01% or less. So, this signifies the importance of oxygen absorbers usage in packaging food products, but only if it is used properly would they be able to keep your food fresh.

Let's have a look at how to use Oxygen absorbers effectively.

Steps To Start Using Oxygen Absorbers:

Step 1: Prepare your container and food

The containers you will use should be clean and dry before adding the food, and they should be closed immediately.

Step 2: Keep Oxygen Absorbers safe

Oxygen absorbers start absorbing oxygen as soon as it comes in contact with air, so keep them packed inside a mason jar and add them immediately when your container is prepared, and close the lid.

Step 3: Seal the container and label it with the date for your reference

Why Should You Use Oxygen Absorber?

A significant part of realizing how to utilize oxygen absorbers securely is knowing why they are utilized.

Main reasons for using oxygen absorbers while packaging the food items:

• It helps in increasing the shelf life of the food products (as long as 30 years for most foods in dry form) 
• To forestall mold and the growth of microorganisms in your food. Nothing will develop without oxygen to benefit from
• To preserve the foods containing vitamins A, C, and E that get degraded when exposed to oxygen 
• It prevents browning of freeze-dried fruits
• It helps to preserve the flavor
• To kill bug eggs you might find in your food (normally grains). These eggs can't grow without oxygen.

Most foods in dry form have a pretty long shelf life, between 1-5 years, even without using an oxygen absorber. If your food stock is moving fast and doesn't stay in storage areas for long, it can do well without oxygen absorbers, but it's always good to use them for additional benefits.

What Types Of Containers Are Compatible With Oxygen Absorbers?

Since the oxygen absorbers are effective only when it is least exposed to the air, airtight containers are most preferred.

1) Mylar Bags

Mylar bag of 5mil commercial grade is generally used for packaging food, and it is adequate to protect your food from light, oxygen, and moisture. In addition, this opaque bag material is good for packaging photo-sensitive food products. Still, it must be kept inside a food-grade container and rodent-proof as 5 mil is easy to puncture and stands a high chance of getting destroyed by the rodents.

2) Mason Jars

Mason jars keep your food dry and fresh with the advantage of being 'puncture-resistant' and 'rodent-proof.' These jars need to be stored away from sunlight as they are not light-resistant and can also shatter easily with a slight push. Hence, one must be careful while using them in an earthquake zone or with playful children and pets.

3) Metal container with seamed lids

The most commonly used metal container is #10 cans; these are effective at keeping your food protected from moisture and oxygen. They also have an advantage over mylar bags as rodents can't puncture through them and stand the instability caused by earthquakes and kids or pets playing around.

4) Food-grade plastic containers using Mylar bags

Plastic containers are tough enough to get punctured or destroyed by rodents. They are also shatter-proof against any instability created by earthquakes (to some extent) or kids or pets playing around. However, plastic containers are ineffective at keeping moisture and oxygen, unlike other containers and bags for storage. Hence, using mylar bags with plastic containers is an effective combination to keep your food safe.

Also, it is suggested to use Gamma lids in such plastic containers as they help to seal out the oxygen that gets trapped inside every time the container is opened, and putting oxygen absorbers inside allows you to manage the oxygen level fairly well by reducing it down to 0.01% or less. Always check the oxygen absorber's performance and replace it with a fresh one when it has solidified.

List Of Foods That Can Be Stored With Oxygen Absorbers:

Oxygen absorbers can be used to preserve foods that contain 10% moisture or less. Storing the foods in an oxygen reduced environment can lead to botulism poisoning if the moisture and oil content exceeds the permissible limit.

• Natural cheese and other dairy products
• Prevents fruits and vegetables from browning due to non-enzymatic process
• Inhibits oxidation and buildup of red color in most berries and sauces
• Bread, cookies, cakes, pastries
• Nuts and snacks
• Candies and confectioneries
•  Whole fat dry foods
• Dried fruits and vegetable
• Spices and seasonings
• Flour and grain items 
• Fresh and precooked pasta and noodles
• Vitamins 

Oxygen reacts with the food in varying ways often, by destroying and staining the food and turning it horrible while it is chemically sound for eating (whereas such components won't cause any harm if somebody eats it but it is still not recommended that such food should be eaten). With oxygen absorbers trapping the available oxygen and moisture inside the packet, food looks new as it is just packed and tastes better.

Even vitamins in the food can get oxidized.

Nutrient oxidation will bring about a few issues, yet one of the significant worries for any store is a loss in its nutritional values. Food that is newly packed in an oxygen-rich environment would lose dietary benefits somewhat because oxygen causes the degradation of vitamins. Among all the vitamins, Vitamin E, A, and C are the ones that can react easily with oxygen. Hence, it is clear that foods fortified with these vitamins would benefit from using oxygen absorbers inside the package as it helps create an environment devoid of oxygen, leaving Nitrogen in plenty, which enhances the shelf life of the food product.

Add Oxygen Absorber

You must wonder how a small packet of oxygen absorbers can absorb all the oxygen in the package? Then, Read On to Know More! The key to the average oxygen retaining package (like these) is a chemical reaction between sodium/iron in the packet and the dampness in the surrounding air. Plastic packets permit the entry of moisture. Sodium and humidity allow iron in the packet to get rusted, leading to the formation of iron oxide. As soon as this oxidation happens, the packet quickly empties the trapped oxygen of the container. However, a more viable or bigger packet is intended for containing metal rust. Hence oxygen gets removed without affecting the food. Other major air components such as Argon and Nitrogen are left with different elements present in trace amounts. These components generally don't react with food, further leading to enhancement in the shelf life.

Additional methods for improving the viability of oxygen absorbers from the outset guarantee that you are utilizing a safeguard appraised appropriately for the size of the compartment, just like the sort of food that you will use. Foods in powdered form leave very little space inside the container for concealing oxygen and hence, utilize small packets of oxygen absorber. As a general rule, metal and glass containers are much more effective for storing food for longer durations, whereas some plastics are permeable to the entry of oxygen.

Now, it has changed to a solid structure, which signifies that it has utilized its maximum potential. Now that we know why it should be used and where it should be used, we must understand how it should be used, and the most important aspect is to limit the exposure of oxygen absorbers to the surrounding air before adding it to the container, as it starts functioning the moment it comes in contact with the air and becomes less effective as an oxygen absorber. Remember to replace the packets with fresh packets when it starts to feel as opposed to their powdered form when added to the container. These little scavengers help keep your food fresh and nutritious while stockpiled in storage areas or supermarkets.

The type of food and the container will help you determine how many packets of oxygen absorber you'll require based on the content of oxygen that can be effectively brought down to 0.01% or less.

Oxygen absorbers contain Iron Powder, Bentonite, Activated Charcoal, Sodium Chloride, Resin, and Water. These components make a perfect adsorbing base that adsorbs the oxygen and moisture that somehow enters while packaging the product. Oxysorb for food storage is effective against deterioration caused by oxygen while in storage.

When oxygen absorbers get solidified, that's the sign that all the iron powder has been oxidized, and it's time to replace the used packets with the new packets of oxygen absorbers. Oxygen Absorber is available in 50cc, 100cc, 300cc, 500cc, 1000cc, and 2000cc packets. Also, these packets can be used in combination to cover the volume. Once you have determined the number of packets, food, and the type of container, you can begin with the steps below.

Step 1:  Prepare your container and food.

Containers that you will use should be clean and dry before adding the food, and they should be closed immediately.

Step 2: Keep the Oxygen Absorbers inside a sealed container

Oxygen absorbers start absorbing oxygen as soon as it comes in contact with air, so keep them packed inside a mason jar and add them immediately when your container is prepared and close the lid.

Step 3: Seal the container and label it with the date for your reference

Containers For Oxygen Absorbers

When choosing containers compatible with oxygen absorbers, mylar bags, mason jars, and large plastic containers are the best-recommended containers. Generally, a mason jar is preferred to preserve a small amount of food, and a mylar bag/large plastic container is used to store a large amount of food.

Foods That Must Be Preserved With Oxygen Absorbers:

Foods containing 10% moisture or less can be preserved with oxygen absorbers. Those with moisture and oil content above the permissible limit can be botulism poisoning when stored with oxygen absorbers.

• Natural cheese and other dairy products

• Prevents fruits and vegetables from browning due to non-enzymatic process

• Inhibits oxidation and buildup of red colour in most berries and sauces

• Bread, cookies, cakes, pastries

• Nuts and snacks

• Candies and confectioneries

• Whole fat dry foods

• Dried fruits and vegetable

• Spices and seasonings

• Flour and grain items 

• Fresh and precooked pasta and noodles

• Vitamins 

One Should Be Careful Of The Following Points While Using Oxygen Absorbers:

Oxygen absorbers are often misunderstood for silica gel made of silicon dioxide. It is one of the widely used desiccants in many products like shoes, leather purses, electronics, pharmaceuticals etc. It helps in preserving the goods against the adverse effects of moisture.

Ensure the oxygen absorber packets are least exposed to the surrounding air before adding to the container because it starts functioning soon after coming in contact with the air.

Replace the old packets with new oxysorb packets when they become solidified instead of a powdered form when added to the container.

Oxygen absorbers have wide usage in the food and beverage industry where it is employed to remove excess oxygen from food packages. The presence of oxygen in packages/containers holding food items does not bode well for the latter. This is due to the following reasons:

1) When exposed to oxygen over a period of time, food products turn stale and therefore, inedible.

2) Oxygen provides the perfect environment for the growth of micro-organisms like fungi, bacteria, which are harmful for the packed items.

It is thus to remove an excess amount of oxygen from closed spaces that companies make wide use of oxygen absorbers. The oxygen absorber or scavenger (as it is sometimes known as) will suck in all the extra oxygen present in the atmosphere thus leaving behind nitrogen, which is conducive for the long shelf life of products.

The functioning of the oxygen absorber is explained as follows: The oxygen absorber sachet contains iron particles, which will react with the absorbed oxygen to form iron oxide. Ideally, one needs at least 65% relative humidity in the atmosphere for the oxidation process to begin. As the oxidation process continues, all the oxygen in the packages will be removed and come down to below 0.01%. When all the oxygen has been taken in, the sachet gets “saturated” and will not be able to take in any more oxygen.

Iron is mostly used in oxygen scavengers because of many reasons. Firstly, it does not react with the packed food items. Secondly, it does not release odor like sulfur or aluminum compounds.

The Right Way of Using Oxygen Absorbers

Now that one has decided to use oxygen absorbers, they must also know the proper way of using the absorbent. First, one must keep all the jars/vacuum sealing bags in the table. Next, with the help of gloves place all the food items, which are to be preserved, in the jars and vacuum bags. The usage of gloves is recommended as it protects the food items against the ill-effects of moisture and oils.

After all the food items are placed in the containers, open the bag of absorbers and place one as fast as possible into the jars. The jar lids must be kept nearby so that as soon as the oxygen absorbers are placed one can seal the jars/containers. This is important as it will prevent any outside air from getting inside the container. Please note: Keep the unused oxygen absorber sachets sealed for further use.

If you have babies at home, you must be keeping baby food to feed them from time to time. It is very important that baby food is kept fresh and unspoiled at all times because you don’t know when the food will be required. If it gets spoilt then it will cause great discomfort to the baby and parents as the former will be hungry for a long period of time. If one is at home there is some relief because you can feed the baby something else. The difficulty of not having fresh baby food occurs when one is traveling and is only carrying baby food. This is when the role of oxygen absorbers becomes essential as just a few sachets of oxygen absorbers would have kept the baby food fresh for hours.

What Is Oxygen Absorbers?

Oxygen Absorbers are mainly used to maintain optimum oxygen levels in the atmosphere. They are mostly used while storing and transporting things like food items, pharmaceuticals, drugs among others. Oxygen absorbers are highly needed for storing food like bakery items, dairy products, and baby food. Baby puree storage using Oxygen absorbers is always a good idea. The oxygen absorbers ensure that only the safest baby food is made available to your baby.

Oxygen absorbers are made of iron powder or ferrous oxide, which will absorb all the oxygen from the surroundings. When oxygen absorbers are placed alongside baby food, they will absorb the oxygen, thus leaving behind nitrogen, which is conducive to the long life of baby food. The main constituent of oxygen absorbers is iron, which will react with the incoming oxygen to form a ferrous oxide. This process will continue till all the oxygen has been absorbed and then the oxygen absorber becomes “saturated”.

Oxygen absorbers usually come in small sachets and are generally sold in food-safe, BPA-free pouches. These pouches are perfectly okay for baby food as they are non-toxic and will not react with the food items stored inside. Also Check this Article: Five Benefits of Using Oxygen Absorbers in Food Storage.

Safest Baby Food With Oxygen Absorbers

While some people recommend freezing baby food to keep it fresh and usable, that may not be a good idea in the long run. Keeping baby food in the freezer helps for short periods of time and if it needs to be given immediately to the infant. However, if it needs to be kept unspoiled for longer hours then the safest option is to place oxygen absorbers alongside the baby food. Then you can have the safest baby food for the longest time possible.

The biggest advantage of using oxygen absorbers is that it always follows baby food storage guidelines and in the process keeps parents assured and tension-free. Baby food storage guidelines are of utmost importance as they ensure the baby food is stored in the best manner possible. This goes a long way in providing top-quality baby food to infants, which aids their growth in the proper manner.

Baby food storage guidelines are of utmost importance as they ensure the baby food is stored in the best manner possible. This goes a long way in providing top-quality baby food to infants, which aids their growth in the proper manner.

Baby food storage guidelines are of utmost importance as they ensure the baby food is stored in the best manner possible. This goes a long way in providing top-quality baby food to infants, which aids their growth in the proper manner.

If one is opting for oxygen absorbers for baby food storage, the former goes a long way in keeping mold and aerobic pathogens away from baby food. If the baby food is freshly prepared and there is the growth of mold and aerobic organisms in it, it will become stale and thus cannot be given to the baby. So for the health of the baby, one must always consider baby food storage using oxygen absorbers.

Placing baby food items in storage alongside oxygen absorber sachets will also ensure that no pests will harm the baby food. Oxygen absorbers, as one knows, removes all the oxygen from the atmosphere. This oxygen-less environment is not beneficial for the growth of eggs and larva so the pests are not able to grow. Thus in this manner, oxygen absorbers keep baby food intact for longer periods of time.

Not many people are aware of it, but oxygen absorbers for baby food storage go a long way in keeping moisture away from the latter. The oxidation process changes the iron oxide into rust. When this process is going on then it also absorbs the moisture, sodium and activated carbon or charcoal. All these factors are responsible for the growth of micro-organisms. Once they are removed, the baby food will be fresh for days together.

Mostly meat products and dairy products go through the entire process of dehydration to ensure that their shelf life is extended. For example, beef jerky is one of the most common items that are created in the food processing industry with the help of dehydration. Several methods are used in order to increase the beef jerky shelf life.

This article will discuss briefly the creation and storage of beef jerky using oxygen absorber bulk. This post will let you know how long does dehydrated beef jerky lasts and how to dehydrate meat for long-term storage.

The oxygen absorbers bulk is the sachets that are used by many food processing units in order to keep air, oxygen, and moisture away from the beef jerky. But do oxygen absorbers absorb moisture? Well, read on ahead to find out more.

Importing And Exporting Dehydrated Meat Products

Ever since the existence of dehydration processes in the food and beverage industry, people have been fascinated by the creation of beef jerky. To extract the entire moisture out of the meat to make it last for a long time is something that can help in extending the shelf life of the meat. This is one of the main reasons why meat processing factories are all focusing on the production and import/export of beef jerky and other dehydrated meat products.

However, doing that isn’t that simple. There are certain issues that can crop up when it comes to the production of beef jerky and the extension of its shelf life. For example, one of the most common issues for the shelf life of beef jerky would have to be moisture. You see, after the completion of the dehydration processes, it is imperative that the beef jerky is stored in a sealed environment so that it stays away from moisture. After all, it is the lack of moisture that allows the microorganisms to grow and create beef jerky. Very often, it happens that moisture might find its way back to the beef jerky and as a result, it might not be suitable for import/export.

Does Beef Jerky Go Bad?

The answer to that question would have to be yes. The question here is whether the beef jerky is home-made or store-bought. The beef jerky that is bought from the stores will be able to last for a period of about 2 years if the container remains unopened. However, home-made beef jerky doesn’t last that long.

The factors that are responsible for the lasting of the beef jerky are mentioned below.

Complete Lack of The Fat

Since beef jerky tends to be a lean and thin cut piece of meat, there is literally no fat amount in it. So, the beef jerky lasts for a longer duration of time.

No Moisture

One of the main factors for bacterial growth is moisture. Beef jerky is created in an environment with no moisture and hence is able to extend the shelf life of the product.

Curing

Beef jerky has got a salty taste, to begin with. This is because it is treated and cured with the help of salt. The process of salt curing helps in preserving the beef jerky so that it can last for a very long time.

How Long Will The Beef Jerky Last?

One of the main questions revolving around the storage of beef jerky is that how long does dried meat last? Well, the contamination, storage factors, moisture, ingredients, and the time period are all factors that decide the shelf life of beef jerky.

The product packaging has the expiration date so that you can check it out before you buy the beef jerky.

Now how to tell if beef jerky has gone bad? Well, there are some methods that you can use for checking the spoilage if the package doesn’t mention the expiry date clearly.

Checking for signs of moisture is one of the ways to see if the beef jerky has gone bad. If there is the formation of water droplets, then there are chances that the beef jerky has gone bad. Also, you can check by pressing every single piece to see if there is any softness. If there is, then the beef jerky is probably bad and it is a sign of bacterial growth. Also, unnatural odors are a great sign for checking the spoilage too.

How To Store Beef Jerky For Peak Flavor And Freshness

It is essential to know how to store beef jerky if you want to extend the shelf life of the product. There are different beef jerky packaging requirements that need to be followed for proper storage of the product. Here are some of the steps that you need to follow.

Limit The Air Exposure

Retaining the same quality of the beef jerky can be done by sealing it in an airtight container. Most people would recommend the use of oxygen absorber sachets which can help in preserving by not allowing oxygen to enter the beef jerky.

Eliminate The Sources of Moisture

Water in the beef jerky will make it go bad very soon. You need to make sure that it stays dry for the retaining of the shelf life. Using oxygen absorbers, the moisture content can also be eliminated from the product.

Control The Temperature

Most of the time, over sweating the beef jerky spoils the quality of the product. So, storing your beef jerky in a particularly cool temperature will be a good idea. Try freezing the jerky before you store it in the 50cc oxygen absorbers.

Maximizing Beef Jerky’s Shelf Life

Here are some tips and tricks that you can use in order to retain and maximize the shelf life of your beef jerky.

Allow the beef jerky to cool down for some time before you store it in the oxygen absorbers 300cc

Storing the beef jerky in a particular paper bag will allow it to remove all traces of moisture from the product.

Using oxygen absorbers can also be a great way of maximizing the shelf life of the beef jerky. With these absorbers, oxygen can be completely eliminated so that the bacterial growth can be stopped in the beef jerky. There are many sizes available for oxygen absorbers. The most common ones are the 500cc oxygen absorbers and the 2000cc oxygen absorbers. It is important to decide what size oxygen absorber to use depending on the beef jerky that you have.

Vacuum packaging is another way of extracting the oxygen in order to prevent the beef jerky spoilage.

Conclusion

The storage and care of beef jerky are really important in order to maximize the beef jerky shelf life. Although all these methods are pretty common in the food processing units, the use of oxygen absorbers is one that is used most of the time.

Hence to resolve this issue, Sorbead India product “oxygen-absorber” has a slight proportion of water already present in the sachet hence it instantly activates upon exposure even under relative humidity less than 45%. The Oxygen Absorbers for Pharmaceuticals are highly recommended to oxygen-sensitive drugs & found to use for all those sensitive drugs which are amorphous & spray dried API. They are available in various sizes and absorption capacity, making it suitable for both bottle and bulk packing. The paper and the ink used to print on the Oxygen Absorbers Packets are all food-grade hence it can be used in direct contact with the drugs. Even during accidental consumption, there is no damage to the human body.

Oxygen scavengers Used in Meat Packaging to control color in red meat packages. When the pigment for red meat (hemoglobin) is exposed to oxygen, the meat appears as a bright red color, which is associated with freshness and overall acceptability. However, when meat is exposed to too much oxygen over time, the pigment converts to hemoglobin, which appears as a brown color and is not visually acceptable to consumers. Oxygen can turn fats rancid, cause flavor deterioration, create color changes, encourage mold and aerobic bacteria growth, and deplete nutritional values.

The Uses of Oxygen Absorber designed for the specific package can retain freshness and extend product shelf life without the use of artificial additives.

The main use of Oxygen Absorbers is to protect against the decay products, mainly food items. Oxygen Absorbers are small sachets, which are placed alongside the food products to ensure that they do not get spoilt. They absorb the oxygen present in the closed space and leave behind a nitrogen-filled environment, which is useful in extending the shelf life of the product. Oxygen Absorbers usually contain iron powder and sodium chloride, which reacts with the adsorbed oxygen to create iron oxide. When all the oxygen is absorbed, the Oxygen Absorber sachet becomes ‘saturated’ and will stop the intake of oxygen.

Main Benefits of Using Oxygen Absorbers

• Effectively brings down the oxygen levels– The main use of oxygen absorbers for food is for reducing the levels of oxygen present in packages so that the product can enjoy an extended shelf life. Oxygen Absorbers carry out this function properly as they absorb nearly 90% of the oxygen present in the closed space. Experts are of the opinion that amongst all the technology available today, oxygen absorbers are the best in maintaining optimum oxygen levels.
• Cost-Effective: Another major advantage of using Oxygen Absorbers is that it is highly inexpensive and thus proves cost-effective while transporting food products to faraway places. Cost is an important factor to consider during long-distance transportation and the use of less expensive Oxygen Absorbers is always an advantage.
• Readily Available: Another major advantage of Oxygen Absorbers is that it is easily available in the market and one does not have to search everywhere as to where to purchase it from.
• Non-poisonous ingredients: Oxygen Absorbers are okay to keep with food products as they are not poisonous and only contain iron oxide. Some people felt that when placed alongside food items, sometimes the Oxygen Absorber may react with the former and spoil them.
• Easily Disposable: Last but not least, the main advantage of Oxygen Absorber sachets is that they are environment-friendly and can be disposed of using the regular disposal methods. They do not require any special method for disposal.

Going through these benefits one understands why so many people opt for Oxygen Absorbers during storing and transportation of food products

It is a known fact that food products have a limited shelf life. If they are exposed to air or vapor, then they will get damaged in no time. Food products are easily vulnerable to spoilage organisms like mold, fungus and different kinds of bacteria like mesophiles, psychrotrophic, thermophiles, and psychrophiles. The presence of this kind of fungus and bacterial organisms spells bad news for all kinds of food products, beverages, and dairy items.

The damages caused by fungus and bacteria are many. These spoilage organisms work by breaking down the chlorophyll present in plants and the iron elements in protein. This will not only make the food product inedible but also cut down its shelf life. When the organic enzymes are separated, then it leaves behind traces of ammonia, amines, sulfides and organic acid buildups. These react in a negative manner with food products. It will lead to the food items changing colors, turning rancid and becoming greasy. The end result of exposure to fungus and bacteria is that the food will turn stale and be unfit for consumption. If this happens while the food items are being transported from one place to another, then it will lead to heavy financial losses for companies.

Role of Oxygen Absorbers in Food Storage

Spoilage organisms like fungus need oxygen to grow and survive. They grow and reproduce faster in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. So the first thing one must do in order to prevent the growth of spoilage organisms is to remove all traces of oxygen from the packed spaces. When deprived of oxygen, the spoilage organisms cannot thrive and thus one can prevent the food items from getting spoilt.

While there are many other ways to create a vacuum in closed spaces, the best method is to make use of oxygen absorber sachets. These sachets contain ferrous oxide, which reacts with the oxygen present in the packed spaces to turn into rust. This process usually continues till all the oxygen has been absorbed and the oxygen absorber becomes “saturated”. Once all the oxygen has been absorbed, all that remains behind in the closed spaces is nitrogen, which is favorable for prolonging the shelf life of the product as well as keeping spoilage organisms at bay.

We hear the term oxygen absorbers everywhere but do we actually know what they are and what they are used for? Oxygen Absorbers are small packets containing iron powder, which are placed along side products like electronic and leather items, pharmaceuticals and most importantly, food items, which become stale after some time. This happens due to the presence of oxygen in the packages containing these products. It will react with the food items/pharmaceuticals to turn them rancid and change their physical/chemical combinations respectively. This is why companies make use of oxygen absorbers to take in all the excess oxygen present in closed spaces so that the packed products remain intact. If the goods are being transported to long destinations, then oxygen absorbers are a “must” as the goods will packed for days together and therefore their chances of getting spoilt are higher.

How Oxygen Absorbers Function

The working of the Oxygen Absorber is explained as follows- the iron powder present in the Oxygen Absorber sachet will absorb almost all the oxygen present in the closed environment. This will preserve the shelf life of the product and keep it fresh for longer periods. After all the oxygen is absorbed, certain atmospheric gases will be left behind in the packages. They are, however, inert and do not lead to spoilage of items. Oxygen Absorbers for food is important as these items are perishable and therefore need extra attention.

How Oxygen Absorbers Preserve Sweets

Like all other food items, sweets and confectioneries also have a limited shelf life. If left unattended, they can get spoilt and therefore inedible after a period of time. If this happens on a big scale, then the losses will be immense. This is the main reason why the food and beverage industry need oxygen absorbers in large numbers. When sweets are packed in large quantities, one should also place a sufficient number of oxygen absorbers as well because it will absorb all the oxygen in the packages and ensure that the sweets remain fresh for longer periods. This is ideal for situations like when the sweets have to be transported to far away places.

In the packages, the oxygen absorbers work to take in all the oxygen from the atmosphere. This leaves behind nitrogen, which is conducive for the long shelf life of the packed sweets. Periodical checking must be done to see if the oxygen absorbers are saturated or not. If they are saturated, then they must be replaced with new ones.

Oxygen is known to be one of the main sources of bringing along with it unwanted moisture and sometimes other toxic gases mixed with it. This causes most packaged foods and other sensitive equipment to get spoiled in double-quick time. Especially, in packaged foods, the presence of oxygen can lead to severe contamination and mold growth along with rancidity and in the loss of nutritive value of the foods that are packed with oxygen in them.

Oxygen Absorbers

A suitable solution was needed to protect and extend the shelf life of most packaged foods. This saw the emergence of oxygen-absorbing strips and packets that contained specific substances that have a strong affinity for water vapor. Many of these strips can protect the foods from as much as 99.9 % of moisture and thereby be ensuring their longevity. Additionally, they preserve all the qualities of the original food before it was packed.

The use of oxygen absorbing strips has almost become a necessity when foods have to be preserved to be used at a later time. Apart from keeping oxygen out, they prevent the growth of aerobic pathogens and other microorganisms that thrive in oxygenated places where food products are stored. They also reduce the need for any additives in order to retain the originality of the food.

There is also sensitive equipment that performs critical operations that need protection from the harmful effects of moisture that comes with the oxygen. In many cases, they can be easily corroded or develop rust, which can be severely poisonous to humans. The use of Oxygen Absorbing Strips has becomes almost mandatory when these items are packed or stored. They are known to absorb even the smallest amounts of oxygen that may permeate through the packaging material.

Most of the oxygen-absorbing materials are packed in food grade packets and come with a warning printed on them to prevent their consumption.

Research Reports

According to several research results that have been conducted on the efficacy and safety of these Oxygen Absorbers, it has been concluded that the shelf life of food products can be extended for considerable periods of time. In the case of meats, they can be stored up to a month, whereas, there are other foods that remain the same until the time their packing is opened and consumed. They are also known to prevent the formation of volatile compounds that may be formed in the case of foods that have a high content of fat.

Oxygen is the fundamental requirement of every living being. But it is also the main reason for the spoiling of food and rusting of metals. This can mainly pose a threat in packaged food. And you cannot use any chemical to remove the oxygen because those chemicals will also react with the food products, making them toxic and unfit to consume. The best solution to avoid food spoilage from oxygen is by using absorbers. Oxygen absorbers are also known as oxygen scavengers. Scavengers are substances that remove unwanted products when added to a particular package. FDA standard approved food grade and pharma grade o-busters to help protect the packed food items. Due to their oxygen killing characteristics, they are also called o-busters.

Oxygen scavengers are basically small porous sachets containing a mixture of powdered irons and sodium chloride. Iron is the active ingredient responsible for the process of oxidation. The iron in the packet absorbs 99.9% of the oxygen in the container and begins to rust. It gives out nitrogen which is helpful in keeping insects and pests at bay. O² scavengers react rapidly with oxygen, passivate steel surfaces, have volatility and can be safely handled. Because they do not discharge any harmful gases or toxic elements, it is safe to use them in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Oxygen scavengers are designed to remove or decrease oxygen levels from inside packaged products, especially vacuum packing. They help to prevent the growth of fungus mold, mildew, and bacteria. In this way, they increase the shelf life of a product. Usually, each package is about 20cc to 3000cc o-busters in size. Sometimes, even zeolite and water are also used in absorbers. Water-based oxygen scavengers are generally used in seawater injection and production separation systems as a tool to prevent oxygen-induced corrosion.

The oxygen scavengers create oxygen depriving environment to help keep the packed food fresh. Hence they are used in packing of coffee and nuts, spices, seasoned foods, cheeses, and dairy products, fruits and some vegetables, berries, and sauces, snacks, cured meat, flour, and grain items, Bread, cookies, cakes, pastries, medical diagnostic kits and devices, and pharmaceutical products. As the oxygen scavengers are approved by the FDA, they are safe to be used in food packing and pharmaceutical packing.

The key use of oxygen absorber is to protect the shelf life of the food. In the case of packaged food, it stays in the retailer shop or malls for many days which may impact the quality of the food. But oxygen absorbers protect the taste and quality of the food along with the color. It also prevents the growth of oxygen-aerobic microorganisms like fungi etc. Plastic foods are not able to keep oxygen away from the food unlike metal or glass container. Oxygen, on the other hand, helps microorganisms to grow which causes damage to the product. But these oxygen absorbers absorb the oxygen from the packet.

Different kinds of oxygen absorbers are presently available in the market and the application depends on the specific needs. The components of oxygen absorber vary according to the purpose for which it is being used. Basically there are three ingredients iron powder, sodium, and activated carbon. Iron is the primary ingredient and sodium acts as an activator and causes the iron particles to rust and effectively reduce the level of oxygen from the surrounding atmosphere. An oxygen absorber is not harmful to the foods, it doesn’t generate any other gas and doesn’t distort the original smell and taste of the product.

Over the last almost 15 years oxygen absorbers have brought a revolution for the food package industry. It has made the job much easier and simpler than before. This has increased the life of foods after the storage process. On average these absorbers last for around one year. So, you can expect the taste and color of the food to remain unchanged even after a year's time period. Is it safe to eat this absorber? Well, it may not be a good option for your health. This is why it is often mentioned outside the container that there is oxygen absorber inside which should be discarded upon finding.

Now the concern is how many oxygen absorbers are required? Well, the number varies for different things like the size of the packet of the oxygen absorber, area of the container, type of the food that is being canned and the altitude of the place. But it is proved through various tests that a 500cc packet is enough to fulfill most of the jobs.

One of the most effective ways of producing quality oxygen absorbers is by combining zeolite and chelated carbon and packing them either in polyester, polyethylene or in Tyvek paper as per the demands of the packaging required. It is important to note that these packing materials remain non-toxic at all times and do not bring about any changes in the meat products packed with them, besides, they have been approved by the USFDA.

Apart from eliminating the presence of oxygen and moisture, these packets also help in securing the contents from other corrosion contributing factors and increase their shelf life considerably without even changing their color or other compositions of their contents.

There are other similar methods that can be used to bring the same desired results. Interestingly, all these are low in cost and can preserve meat products for almost 30 days in their original condition. Consumers can now feel confident that the meat packaged in this way is very safe for consumption.

The Many Benefits of Oxygen-free Packaging

Some of the several benefits of this form of packing meat products are listed here:

• It enhances the storage or shelf life over extended periods of time.
• It is a low-cost solution for preserving meat products.
• The packaged meats can now be transported and distributed freely.
• This method of oxygen removal is sometimes more effective than the job done by expensive machines.
• It preserves the quality and the taste along with its visual appearance till it is consumed.

These oxygen packets do not require any activation and provide a low start-up cost.

Advantages of oxygen absorbers sachets:

• Extend the shelf life of products
• Prevent oxidation of spice oleoresins present in spices themselves and in seasoned foods
• Prevent food damage from infestation of insects
• Inhibit the growth of aerobic pathogens such as molds, mildew, and bacteria.
• Significantly improve keeping qualities of polyunsaturated fats and oils
• Delay the discoloration in foods
• Eliminate the need for additives such as sulfur dioxide, BHA, BHT, sorbates, etc.
• Foods are not crushed or squeezed
• Prevent oxidation of vitamins A, C, and E
• Help retain the fresh-roasted flavor of coffee and nuts

Sorbead India is the global supplier of oxygen absorbers, its Oxygen Absorbers come in sachets and are supplied to a wide range of customers in the Food Industry.

Excellent quality iron is used to make the high-quality oxygen absorbers and iron quality make it an apt oxygen absorber to be used for food products, it is a necessity to use the food grade iron form to get the safe quality of oxygen absorbers for the avoidance of any type of risk to the packed products.