Can You Put Boiling Water In Mylar Bags?

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The general outdoors-designed Mylar bags will be able to stand liquid temperatures closer to the two-hundred-degree mark than the two twelve degrees Fahrenheit needed for boiling water.

Remember to be patient with that backpacking and remove water from the fire for a minute or two before pouring the liquid into the Mylar bag.

The nice part about the foil layering of the Mylar bag is the fire-resistant materials, along with being able to handle higher temperatures without melting. That being said, it will always be safer to air on the side of caution when using boiling water.

Will Boiling Water Damage the Bag?

There will be a particular type of Mylar bag that will have a better chance against the two hundred- and twelve-degree Fahrenheit temperatures of boiling water than others.

In addition, there will be types of Mylar bags designed for light snacks and other products, in which the materials are thinner and less durable.

Outdoor food packaging, or MRE-like Mylar bags, will have thicker materials and more robust durability than the mentioned versions.

MRE bags can handle upwards of two hundred degrees Fahrenheit but, as with all Mylar, risk chemical contamination with anything over that.

 

Can a Bag Release Toxic Chemicals that way?

As was alluded to earlier in the article, there are going to be certain conditions that may allow for toxic chemicals to leak into the food.

For example, at the bottom of some of the Mylar bags is a multi-layered set of plastic which will cause the materials to expand, possibly crack, and leak if exposed to boiling water.

There are, of course, other conditions that will and can cause a Mylar bag to lose structural integrity, then leak chemicals into the items being stored within, most including extreme heat and radiation environments.

 

What Can You Cook in Mylar bags?

You can cook a few different kinds of food in these bags, not including ice cream or other frozen dessert foods. The most common forms will be the MRE, or outdoor backpackers’ easy-to-make meals, which only take five to ten minutes to make.

There will also be options for homemade meals, such as the famed ‘hobo potato,’ which can be cooked via fired side at any campfire.

Mylar bags are conveniently fire-resistant and highly tolerant of extremely high temperatures, making them ideal for outdoor backpacking adventures.

 

What Should You Pay Attention to if You Decide to Do it?

The most important thing is to ensure you do not burn the foods within when cooking via fireside or with Mylar bags. There is not much risk in the way of toxic chemical poisoning or leaking into the food, and this will only occur when boiling water is poured into the bags.

Also, pay attention to any foods that will have moisture beyond the water you have added, do not let it go above two hundred degrees because this will risk cracking and toxic chemical contamination, as mentioned in the section earlier.

 

Common Mistakes You Need to Avoid:

• Allowing water, or other liquids, inside to exceed temperatures of two hundred degrees – Doing so can lead to chemical poisoning and loss of the bag and food.
• Being too shy by the campfire – Mylar is a naturally fire-resistant material that can almost be set on fire when cooking using an open flame.
• Do not put alcohol inside these bags – making bread, baking confections, or other alcohol-based goods is best cooked in another container.
• Do not be scared to use kitchen heating appliances – Mylar bags can be used in the Microwave and over, but best avoid using the stove top in case of melting.

 

Final Thoughts on Can you Put Boiling Water in Mylar bags

When you think about Mylar bags, you can almost picture them as small foil packages that can take the heat.

If you remember to keep boiling water from damaging the packaging, cooking with these bags can be fun and convenient, especially for those out on the trail and camping.

Place these suckers next to the fire, atop the key cooking stone, and worry not about them catching fire.

These bags hardly weigh anything and will not take up that much space inside the pack, making them an almost perfect solution for the food storage needs of every outdoor recreation enthusiast.

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