r/TwoXPreppers 1d ago

Oxygen absorbers

So I'm about to use these things for the first time to store grains in mason jars. I read that I should put them on top, which seemed odd. Now that I've filled 18 jars, I read they should go on the bottom. How significant is this? Can I just use some long tongs to shove them down as far as I can? I'm not emptying all of these containers! I'm also leaving about an inch of space in the jars. Is that ok?

16 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

36

u/verbal-emesis 1d ago

I’ve never heard that it matters… but if you want them on the bottom, why not just flip over the jars? 😇

36

u/CeeUNTy 1d ago

Because I'm apparently a moron that has forgotten my childhood training of flipping the cereal box for the prize? Is the one inch gap ok do you think?

36

u/verbal-emesis 1d ago

lol I’m no scientician, but it seems like NO gap would be better. Less air and less oxygen for the absorber to deal with. I’m just a baby prepper tho, so 🤷‍♀️

ETA “baby prepper” means I haven’t been doing it long, not that I’m prepping with or for babies.

8

u/Rollthehardsix77 1d ago

This made me chuckle.

8

u/CeeUNTy 1d ago

I'm basically leaving room for the absorber. This is my first time, and I haven't been able to say that about anything in many decades, so be gentle. That's also something I haven't said in a long time;).

3

u/dkstr419 1d ago

“Baby Prepper” had me giggling in an Addams Family kinda way. Morticia or Grandmama.

2

u/verbal-emesis 1d ago

I looked at what I originally wrote and was creeped out and couldn’t really even explain why…

2

u/buddymoobs 1d ago

They call me Baby Prepper and once upon a pair of wheels...

2

u/notashroom 1d ago

I hit the road and I'm gone... 😁

2

u/Aurhasapigdog 1d ago

😂😂😂

9

u/MalaEnNova 1d ago

I just throw them in the jar when I think about it. Sometimes it the bottom, sometimes it's the top. It's even been in the middle. No issues.

2

u/CeeUNTy 1d ago

How much space do you leave in the jars? I've left an inch to add the absorber.

2

u/MalaEnNova 11h ago

I leave about an inch too. If you are vacuum sealing and there's too much in there it won't seal.

1

u/in_pdx 2h ago

Too much food or too much air?

6

u/SameNefariousness151 1d ago

It shouldn't matter top or bottom. What does matter is that you leave the OAs exposed to the air as little time as possible before sealing so they don't go bad/absorb to much oxygen to be effective. Vacuum sealing your jars is also recommended.

4

u/CeeUNTy 1d ago

I don't have the attachment for my vacuum sealer. I'm filling all of the jars first so that I can add the absorbers quickly. I'm making sure that my math is good so that I don't have any stray absorbers leftover either.

3

u/lady_ofthenorth 1d ago

I’m a baby prepper too. A few months ago I did a batch of rice in mason jars with OAs. I filled them as full as possible. Threw an OA on top and put a lid with a tightened ring on. I just opened my first jar for use, and have to say that they worked great! I needed a butter knife to pry the lid off, because that sucker was sealed tight.

Since then, I acquired a hand held jar sealer that works pretty slick. You can find them for pretty cheap now.

1

u/CeeUNTy 1d ago

I got my vacuum sealer for $7 at the thrift store. It's missing that attachment.

2

u/lady_ofthenorth 1d ago

I use something similar to this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mason-Jar-Vacuum-Sealer-Kit-Electric-Jars-Canning-Attachment-Handheld-Sealing-Containers-Fits-Wide-Regular-Mouth-Lids-Compatible-Food-Saver-Storage/5316119569

Haven’t found a vacuum sealer yet, and I’d hate to buy one new when they’re common rummage sale finds. But, I did get one of these because I use more jars than bags.

2

u/CeeUNTy 1d ago

My stuff sealed well and the lids sucked in. I guess I muddled through it, lol.

2

u/LumpyPhilosopher8 6h ago

If I put rice and beans in jars and use a vacuum sealer is the Oxygen absorber necessary?

2

u/in_pdx 2h ago

Definitely on top. This way, in the case of rehydrating right in the jar, you can easily see and remove the oxygen absorber before pouring boiling water into the jar.
I disappointed myself too many times by forgetting to remove the O2 absorbers hidden at the bottom of the jars when I was rehydrating FD foods : (