By Dr Simon Cichello, B. Agric. Sc. (Hon), LLB, PhD in nutrition and food science, and a SAI Global lead food safety auditor. Dr Cichello is Managing Director of Wholesale Group International Pty Ltd, the Australian supplier of OxySorb™ oxygen absorbers.
The cc rating on an oxygen absorber is the volume of oxygen the sachet is intended to absorb. It is not the volume of the jar or Mylar bag. A one-litre container full of air holds about 210 cc of oxygen, because air is about 21% oxygen. The Ask OxySorb™ calculator on oxygenabsorber.com.au is there to turn your container volume into a conservative starting capacity, and this page shows which OxySorb pack to buy for that result.
The shop and the calculator use the same conservative starting rule as the size guide: about 250 cc of absorber capacity per litre of sealed volume. That is a starting point, not a validated shelf-life specification.
How to use the calculator, then buy the size
- Open the Ask OxySorb™ calculator.
- Enter the sealed volume of your bag, jar or pail in litres or millilitres. If you only know the flat bag size, measure a sample by filling it to the seal line with water or with a dry ingredient of known volume.
- Note the suggested capacity in cc. If your food is bulky and traps a lot of air, stay with the conservative figure or go one size up.
- Use the table below to buy that size, or a combination of sachets that adds up to the same total.
| Calculator result (conservative capacity) | Buy this OxySorb size | Typical starting volume |
|---|---|---|
| About 20 cc | Buy 20 cc | Up to 80 mL |
| About 30 cc | Buy 30 cc | Up to 120 mL |
| About 50 cc | Buy 50 cc | Up to 200 mL |
| About 100 cc | Buy 100 cc | Up to 400 mL |
| About 200 cc | Buy 200 cc | Up to 800 mL |
| About 300 cc | Buy 300 cc | Up to 1.2 L |
| About 400 cc | Buy 400 cc | Up to 1.6 L |
| About 500 cc | Buy 500 cc | Up to 2 L |
| About 1000 cc | Buy 1000 cc | Up to 4 L |
| About 2000 cc | Buy 2000 cc | Up to 8 L |
If the calculator result sits between two sizes, buy the larger sachet or combine two smaller ones. Two 500 cc sachets equal a nominal 1000 cc. Sachet dimensions and weights are in the oxygen absorber FAQ.
What the calculator cannot decide for you
- Whether the food is dry enough to pack safely in a low-oxygen environment.
- Whether your bag or jar is a genuine oxygen barrier with a reliable seal.
- A number of years of shelf life. Always test a small pack first for a commercial claim.
For rice, flour and grains, read storing rice, flour and grains long term. If moisture, not oxygen, is the main problem, see oxygen absorber vs desiccant.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the OxySorb size calculator?
It is on the informational site at oxygenabsorber.com.au/#calculator. After you have a cc result, return here or use the “buy this size” links in the table to order from wholesalegrouponline.com.
Why does the calculator suggest more cc than 21% of my container volume?
The conservative shop rule allows about 250 cc per litre, a little above the 210 cc of oxygen in a litre of air, so there is a margin for residual air in the food and for ordinary packing variation. It is still only a starting guide.
What if my bag is larger than 8 litres?
Combine sachets. A 10 litre bag starts at about 2500 cc (one 2000 cc and one 500 cc). A 20 litre bag starts at about 5000 cc. See the Mylar bag guide for worked examples.
Are the sachets food grade?
OxySorb sachets are specified as food-contact packaging accessories. Manufacturer analysis has been performed by SGS Laboratories in Shanghai, and the specification states compliance with AS 2070:1999. Confirm suitability for your own food and packaging before you rely on a pack in production.
Browse the full OxySorb range, or contact Wholesale Group International for a commercial application. Orders are picked and packed in Melbourne and sent by Australia Post.
This page is a starting guide, not a shelf-life specification or a guarantee. Oxygen absorbers do not perform in every packaging system. It remains the customer’s responsibility to confirm that the sachet and packaging are suitable for their food, and to test a small sample first. To the extent permitted by law, Wholesale Group International Pty Ltd is not liable for loss arising from use of this information. OxySorb is a trademark of Wholesale Group International Pty Ltd.