Obviously the info I'm talking about was on the internet so it must be true. Guy on You tube was demonstrating aluminized mylar bags and oxygen absorber, and an easy way to heat seal bag with a clothes iron. Said he had put up rice and beans in 5 gallon pail without the mylar bags. Said he opened them about 10 years later and the rice had discolored but otherwise looked ok. Sent some rice and beans in for "testing" and the results were "suitable" for consumption but had "degraded" quite a bit. Reason: he found out the poly buckets allow oxygen to migrate thru the poly. Mylar bags are oxygen barriers. The aluminum coating prevents ultraviolet light from getting to the food and thus helps preserve it. The oxygen absorbers do what they say. As long as the oxygen absorber is big enough, it absorb the 21% oxygen, leaving 78% nitrogen and 1% trace gases. If you look at the big name brand food prep companies that say their food will last for 15-20 years, they say the bags are nitrogen purged (also saw this on a you tube, and copied it for my preps). The aluminized mylar bags I bought had "ziplock" (registered trade mark of Ziplock) type seals for after opening, but it also makes filling and nitrogen purging easier. Only cost a few pennies more. It is better to put too many oxygen absorbers in the bag then not enough. The oxygen absorbers work by causing iron powder in the packet to "rust" or oxidize due to the moisture in the bag, consuming the oxygen and bonding it to the iron in the form of iron oxide. Normal humidity is necessary while processing the bag. Mason jars with sealing caps/lids work great but keep out of the light. If you open one those jars, you will notice it has a slight vacuum in it do to the 28% oxygen being consumed. Old 2-3 liter soda bottles work too. You will notice the bottles get sucked inward in about a day or so. Again keep out of the light.
I have used the food saver for about 18 years now. Love it for the freezer, etc. The bags are mylar too. I have stored small stashes in the vac bags, with an oxygen absorber for safety sake and wrap in aluminum and then into the brand new 5 gallon pail and lid. I've only opened one pail out of curiosity after 3 years and tried rice, beans and pasta. All were fine. I doubt I would push past ten years. Around then I will pull up the foods and put them in the pantry and put out new food.