If you've already decided to use oxygen absorbers, the next challenge is making sure you're using the right one.
Questions like Which oxygen absorber should I choose?, Will it work with my packaging?, How do I calculate the correct size?, and How can I tell if an oxygen absorber is performing properly? are some of the most common questions we hear from manufacturers.
In this guide, we'll walk through the key decisions that determine whether an oxygen absorber actually delivers the shelf life you're expecting.
1. What Problems Can an Oxygen Absorber Solve?
An oxygen absorber removes oxygen from a sealed package, creating a low to zero oxygen environment that slows product deterioration.
When used with the proper packaging, oxygen absorbers can help:
- Prevent mold growth in bakery products and dried foods
- Reduce the risk of insect egg hatching
- Slow oxidation of fats and oils, reducing rancidity
- Preserve color, flavor, texture, and nutritional value
- Extend product shelf life while reducing product waste
If oxygen is the cause of quality loss, an oxygen absorber is often one of the simplest and most effective preservation solutions available.
2. Will Oxygen Absorbers Work for Your Product?
Although they are best known for food packaging, oxygen absorbers are used in many industries where oxidation control is important.
Food Applications
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Bakery Products
Mooncakes, cakes, waffles, Swiss rolls, mochi, pastries, rice cakes, cookies, and other baked goods.
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Meat Products
Beef jerky, pork jerky, dried chicken, sausages, ham, meat floss, and other processed meats. These products contain fats that are highly susceptible to oxidation.
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Nuts & Snack Foods
Pistachios, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, macadamias, pine nuts, and similar products benefit from extended freshness by slowing oil oxidation.
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Dried Seafood
Dried fish, scallops, squid, shrimp, abalone, and seafood snacks are vulnerable to oxidation, mold, and moisture damage.
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Agricultural & Dried Foods
Tea, seaweed, dried fruits, mushrooms, dates, dehydrated vegetables, beans, rice, dried sweet potatoes, and more.
Non-Food Applications
Oxygen absorbers are also widely used in:
- Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals – herbal medicines, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutical products
- Preservation & Storage – precision instruments, electronic components, military equipment, historical documents, museum collections, and tobacco products
- Pet Food & Animal Feed – pet treats, livestock feed, aquaculture feed, and fishing bait
3. Is Your Packaging Compatible?
One of the biggest reasons oxygen absorbers fail isn't the absorber itself-it's the packaging.
Oxygen absorbers should always be paired with high-barrier packaging materials. Otherwise, oxygen continuously enters the package faster than the absorber can remove it.
As a general guideline, the packaging should have an Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) of 20 ml/m²·24 hr or lower.
Recommended packaging
- KOPP/CPP
- NY/PE
- KPET/PE
- KNY/PE
- PET/AL/PE
Generally not recommended
- Standard OPP/CPP
- Standard PP
- Standard PE
Tip: OPP films can become brittle at low temperatures. Cracks or fold marks may significantly reduce their oxygen barrier performance.
4. How Do You Choose the Right Oxygen Absorber Size?
Selecting the correct capacity is just as important as choosing the right packaging.
A simple sizing guideline is:
Oxygen Absorber Capacity (cc) = (Package Volume (ml) − Product Weight (g)) ÷ 5
To calculate package volume:
Rectangular pouches
Length × Width × Height (cm)
Round containers
π × Radius² × Height (cm)
The goal is to estimate the empty headspace inside the package, since that's where most of the oxygen remains after sealing.
Note: This formula provides a useful starting point. Product moisture, residual oxygen after filling, nitrogen flushing, package permeability, and desired shelf life may also influence the recommended oxygen absorber size.
5. Should You Choose Iron-Based or Iron-Free Oxygen Absorbers?
There are two main categories of oxygen absorbers available today.
Iron-Based Oxygen Absorbers
These are the most commonly used oxygen absorbers and utilize iron powder as the active ingredient.
Advantages
- Cost-effective
- High oxygen absorption capacity
- Suitable for most food applications
Typical applications
- Bakery products
- Jerky and processed meats
- Nuts
- Dried seafood
- Agricultural products
- Dietary supplements
Important: After opening the master bag, oxygen absorbers should ideally be used within 30 minutes, and no later than 1 hour, to maintain performance.
Iron-Free Oxygen Absorbers (Oxygen Absorption with CO₂ Release)
These oxygen absorbers typically use ingredients such as Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or sodium erythorbate.
Unlike iron-based absorbers, they remove oxygen while releasing an equal volume of carbon dioxide.
Key advantage
This prevents vacuum formation inside rigid containers, helping eliminate paneling or denting of cans and jars.
Best suited for
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Canned foods
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Rigid plastic containers
- Metal cans
- Other rigid packaging formats
- Packages needed to pass through metal detector
6. How Can You Tell if an Oxygen Absorber Is High Quality?
Not all oxygen absorbers perform equally. Two performance indicators are especially important.
Total Oxygen Absorption Capacity
This measures the total amount of oxygen an absorber can remove over its lifetime. It directly affects product shelf life and long-term protection.
Oxygen Removal Time
This measures how quickly oxygen levels inside the package are reduced.
The faster oxygen is removed, the sooner mold growth, oxidation, and insect activity are suppressed. Fast activation is especially important for products with a high risk of spoilage.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right oxygen absorber is about more than choosing a sachet size. Product characteristics, packaging materials, oxygen absorber type, and handling practices all work together to determine how well your products are protected.
When matched correctly, oxygen absorbers can help:
- Extend shelf life
- Prevent mold growth
- Reduce oxidation and rancidity
- Preserve flavor, color, and freshness
- Minimize product losses and customer complaints
At YOME, we work closely with food manufacturers and packaging professionals to recommend oxygen absorber solutions tailored to each product and packaging application. If you're unsure which oxygen absorber is right for your product, our technical team is always happy to help.
