Oxygen Absorbers

How Many Oxygen Absorbers Do I Use?

Oxygen absorbers are sized in “cc”. You will place in the number of packets needed to cover the corresponding cc’s as in the table below based on food type and container size.

Food Type	1 Quart	1 Gallon	5 Gallon
Beans, lentils, split peas	125-150cc	500-600cc	2500-3000cc
Rice	100cc	400cc	2000cc
Flour	100cc	400cc	2000cc
Instant mixes and powders	100cc	400cc	2000cc
Coffee beans	100cc	400cc	2000cc
Pasta	125cc	625cc	2500cc
Cereal	125cc	625cc	2500cc
Instant potatoes	125cc	625cc	2500cc
Whole grains (barley, corn, wheat, oats)	125cc	625cc	2500cc

Usage Notes:

• Using too many is better than not enough…
• They should feel soft & powdery inside. If hard or chunky it’s already absorbed all the oxygen it can and should be discarded.
• They will heat up as they absorb oxygen - this is normal.
• You generally have about 10 minutes to use oxygen absorbers once the package is opened. As a result, plan ahead and do multiple containers at a time.
• Unused oxygen absorbers can sometimes be sealed into a jar to save them for later use.

When NOT to use oxygen absorbers Oxygen absorbers may only be used with dry foods (10% moisture content or less). If moist foods are packaged with oxygen absorbers, botulism can develop (it thrives in a moist, oxygen-free environment). For this reason, there are several foods not recommended to be stored with oxygen absorbers:

• Brown Rice
• Jerky
• Granola
• Pearled Barley
• Dried eggs
• Milled grains (other than rolled oats)
• Brown sugar
• Nuts
• Any dehydrated fruit or vegetable not dry enough to snap when bent

Additionally, there are foods not recommended to use oxygen absorbers for other reasons:

• Leavening agents (baking soda/baking powder) as cans may explode
• Salt/Sugar - they have a forever shelf life without the oxygen absorber and turn very hard with an oxygen absorber.