Frequently Asked Questions

Are OutOfAir bags safe for food use?

OutOfAir bags are made of non-toxic FDA-approved food-safe plastic. They do not contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) or Phthalates.

Are OutOfAir bags BPA free?

Yes, they are. OutOfAir bags do not contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), nor do they contain Phthalates - which is another category of toxic plastics.

How Safe Are OutOfAir's Bags and Rolls?

The materials OutOfAir bags are made of were tested by two well-known accredited testing companies (Intertek and SGS) using FDA and European Union testing standards, and they passed all checkpoints.

More specifically, the bags were filled with a neutral food replicant and were boiled for 4 continuous hours at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degress Celsius).

The contents of the bags were then analyzed by five panelists who all rated the substance as being: clear, colorless and as having zero odor.

The food replicant was also chemically tested for BPA, n-hexane, xylene, lead, cadmium, carium, colbalt, copper, iron, lithium, manganese, zinc, and many more. All chemical test results were well within the FDA's food-safe standards.

Are they good for Sous Vide?

Yes. OutOfAir bags are made of non-toxic FDA-approved food-safe plastic. They do not contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) or Phthalates. They have passed boiling tests, and they are simmer safe for Sous Vide cooking.

What are OutOfAir bags made of?

OutOfAir bags are made out of 7 layers of Nylon and Polyethylene. Learn more about our materials.

Where are OutOfAir Bags and Rolls manufactured?

We're based in Massachusetts and all orders ship from the US (we use multiple warehouses spread across the US).

Like nearly all vacuum sealer bags, ours are also made in China.

Our manufacturer is a very large company that produces food packaging - odds are that you have bought food from the grocery store that was in packaging made by our manufacturer.

They are ISO certified for food-safe packaging production, their facilities are inspected and licensed, and we have our bags independently safety tested.

Our founder, Jonathan, uses these for himself and his family as well, they'd never cut corners to save a buck.

There are some other important things to keep in mind about US "made" bags.

As far as we are aware...

There is nearly zero manufacturing of vacuum sealer bags and there is zero manufacturing of vacuum sealer rolls in the US.

Those that make bags in the US are importing at least some of the material the bags are made out of. So even though they may say "Made in USA", they are really "put together in USA, possibly made of US and imported plastic".

There is just a single company in the US that makes the embossed layer of the bag material, and they are owned by a Chinese company.

How thick are OutOfAir bags?

OutOfAir bags are made out of 7 layers of Nylon and Polyethylene. They are 4 mil thick on the gloss side and 10 mil thick on the embossed side.

We do think it's important to note WHY they are 10 mil thick on the embossed side though. The plastic we use on the embossed side is the same as the clear side - 4 mil, but AFTER embossing it's 10 mil thick.

Other companies sometimes try to make it seem like their bags are using an actual thicker plastic on this side - they are not though, they are just not explaining this point.

Are they compatible with my sealer?

OutOfAir vacuum sealer bags work in ALL normal heat-seal vacuum sealers. Including machines made by companies such as FoodSaver®, VacMaster®, Weston®, Cabelas®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Ziploc® and more.

If you have a good working machine of decent quality, you will have no problems. Learn more about compatibility.

Can I use OutOfAir bags with a FoodSaver® heat-sealing machine?

OutOfAir bags work with FoodSaver® machines just as well as brand bags do. You have nothing to worry about. Learn more about compatibility.

Can I use OutOfAir bags with my FreshSaver® hand-held device?

No, they will not work. Hand-held devices (and countertop machines that use the accessory/hose port) require a special valve on the bag. We don't carry bags with valves on them at this time.

However, if you do have a countertop heat-seal vacuum sealer (one that removes the air, then permanently seals the bag shut), our bags and rolls will work great for you!

Are OutOfAir bags embossed?

OutOfAir bags use a tried and true embossed pattern on one side. This pattern creates channels for air to be easily pulled out of the bag when vacuum sealing, leaving no air surrounding your food. This ensures your bags will be out of air, and your food protected.

Do they have air channels?

Yes, they do. That's what the embossing is all about. The embossed pattern creates so-called "air channels" that help all the air be pulled out with ease.

What do you mean by smart features?

Each of our product lines (bags, rolls, smart box) come with extra features to make your life easier. For example, OutOfAir bags have notches for easy-open on the sides. All our rolls have markings on the sides to help you cut several bags at the same size with ease or fill them to the same level.

Browse our products to see all the smart features.

Can I write on the bags?

Yes, you can. You don't need a sharpie neither. You can write smudge-free with any pen on the white box that comes printed on all OutOfAir bags.

You can also write anywhere on the bag, the entire surface of the bags is smudge-free.

Can I wash them?

Yes, they're safe to wash and to be washed in a dishwasher, and reused.

Bags that previously contained fruits, vegetables, breads and dry goods can be washed and reused. Discard and do not wash bags that contained raw meats, fish, eggs or cheese, because they may contain bacteria that will remain after washing. Please also discard bags that contained greasy or oily foods - they're hard to wash clean.

Can I reseal them?

Yes, just cut the old seal line out and then reseal the bag. Be sure to wipe clean the new seal line of any food or grease, so you get a strong seal just as before.

Can I boil them?

Yes, you can boil them for hours and they won't lose their integrity, they will also not pass any color, odor or toxic substances into the food.

Can I microwave them?

Yes, OutOfAir bags are microwave safe.

When microwaving, please cut open a corner of the bag to allow steam to escape. Also, please try to not microwave foods containing a lot of oil - oil gets hot fast and it can cause the sides of the bag to stick together.

Can I freeze them?

For sure. As compared to 3 mil bags, our 7-layered 4 mil thick plastic provides you with even more safety against bags losing seal or freezer burn.

Can I recycle OutOfAir bags?

Yes, our material is recyclable. Please follow your local municipality's guidelines.

Do you offer a warranty?

Yes, we certainly do. Check out our 3X Safe page to learn more.

How Do Zipper Vacuum Sealer Bags Work?

Our zipper bags look just like a normal vacuum sealer bag, with one end completely open, and the other end sealed with a zipper on it. Once our zipper bags have been opened they can not be re-vacuum sealed. These bags are great for snacks and things like jerky, dog treats, etc.

Learn more about zipper vacuum sealer bags.

Do OutOfAir Bags Work with Vacuum Chamber Sealers?

Yes but, although our bags do work in chamber vacuum sealer machines, you can likely find a better price on those bags. Our bags have an embossed side which allows them to work in the more common vacuum sealer machines (like FoodSaver machines), but this makes the bags more costly for us to produce.

I have another question...

Sure, we'd love to help. Please ask us through our contact page and we'll get back to you soon.

Where Are You Located?

OutOfAir is a part of Darwin Design LLC which is a based in Massachusetts.

Our warehouse is located at 100 Foster St., Southbridge MA 01550. Most orders do not ship from this address though.

We ship most items using a network of warehouses spread throughout the US. This helps us to keep shipping free while also offering fast delivery times.

Most orders are delivered in 3-4 business days, and our goal is to deliver all orders within 6 business days from the time you place the order. Note that shipments going to Alaska and Hawaii may take 3-4 business days longer.

How Do You Ship Orders?

We ship most orders using a network of warehouses spread throughout the United States.

These warehouses use a combination of carriers such as UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, LaserShip, OnTrac, as well as many other regional carriers.

These warehouses are not run by us so we can not dictate which carrier/service is used for delivery, nor how quickly the order departs from the warehouse - we can only specify how quickly shipments should be delivered. We do not know the exact carrier for a shipment until after the order has shipped out.

When Will My Order Ship Out?

Orders typically ship out within 1-2 business days of being placed.

Why Do You Use These Networks Instead Of Having Your Own Warehouse?

We have our own warehouse as well, but using these fulfillment networks allows us to keep shipping free while also offering fast delivery times. Most orders are shipped within 1-2 days and 99%+ of orders are delivered within 6 business days* (with most orders delivered within 3-4 business days).

*HI and AK please allow up to 5 additional business days for delivery, especially during busy times of the year.

How Do I Track My Order?

You can check your order status and track your order by visit this page: Track an order

If you have any problem checking your order status or tracking your order, please contact us and we'll help!

Will I Receive an Order/Shipment Confirmation Email?

Yes, we do send order and shipment confirmation emails!

When you've completed placing your order on our website you will reach an order confirmation page that shows you your order number and confirms all the details of your order.

Is Shipping Free?

For orders above $50, Yes it is!

We ship most items using a network of warehouses spread throughout the US. This helps us to offer fast delivery times.

Most orders are delivered in 3-4 business days and our goal is to deliver all orders within 6 business days from the time you place the order.

Please be aware that shipments going to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico are not eligible for free shipping and may take 3-4 business days longer.

Where Do I Enter My Discount Code?

If you have a discount code read below for where to enter your code in when ordering.

1. After adding some items to your cart, go to the Shopping Cart page.
2. Click on the "Add a promo code" text.
3. Copy/paste your code in to the box, then press the "Add Code" button.
   

Do you have a newsletter?

Yes! We have a great newsletter where we share vacuum sealing tips and tricks and share whenever we have a sale or offer any discounts.

Vacuum Sealing Tips & Problem Solving

How Do I Install My Gaskets?

Do you have an affiliate program?

Yes, our affiliate program is available. To view the affiliate perks and the process for joining, please refer to this page.