storing prepared food in mylar bags for long term storage

Asked February 26, 2023, 8:26 PM EST

I recently watched a you tube video by Canadian Prepper where he made a beef stew, put it in mylar bags, removed as much air as possible, sealed the mylar bag and water bathed them. The bag was then vacuum sealed inside another mylar bag with other items (packaged crackers, packaged trail mix and a protein bar). The objective is to make a simulated MRE. He claims they will be good for around 5 years without any other preservation. It seems the meat would not store long and neither would the nuts. Is this safe? What if it did not have meat that could possibly go rancid?

Marion County Oregon

Expert Response

NOT safe for the processing and storage of low acid foods like beef stew. Low acid high moisture foods like beef stew that stored at room temperature must be pressure canned following validated procedures to eliminate the risk of botulism. 

You can find validated pressure canning recipes and procedures from university extension sites. Here are soup preparation steps from the National Center for Home Food Preservation: 

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Joy

Thanks for the question. The procedure that you described isfor the processing and storage of low acid foods like beef stew. Low acid high moisture foods like beef stew that stored at room temperaturefollowing validated procedures to eliminate the risk of botulism.You can find validated pressure canning recipes and procedures from university extension sites. Here are soup preparation steps from the National Center for Home Food Preservation: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_04/soups.html Thanks for using Ask Extension!Joy

Joy Waite-Cusic Replied