I have top of the line Foodsaver. I vacuum seal fine flour in a wide mouth mason jar. I use a wooden mallet and dry coffee filter to pack it down pressed into the jar. I fill just below to the inch head space. Put a coffee filter and lid. Vacuum seal and stays fresh for years.
I can keep nuts and other high-oil foods fresh for a very long time. Rancidity is oxidation and cannot occur without oxygen. Most vacuum sealers don't do a very good job of "sucking" all of the air (oxygen) out of a container. I use a two-stage vane-type (laboratory grade) vacuum pump and place an oxygen absorber in the jar just before sealing. Since there is absolutely no oxygen left over in the jar, it's impossible for the contents to go rancid.
Interesting information. Where did you get your vacuum pump? I make videos for the average viewer who has an average vacuum sealer. And their high oil nuts definitely go rancid. Thanks for sharing this!
@@JustDoSomethingHomesteadeBay is a good source for used laboratory equipment. I use my refrigeration vacuum pump and Oxygen absorbers (homemade if I can't find a good deal on them) for high oil foods. Just the vacuum pump would be enough for many high oil foods but the Oxygen absorber adds extra protection for any Oxygen that's trapped or later released from decomposition of any Oxygen-containing compounds. The pump is also very useful for preserving them when purchasing Oxygen absorbers in bulk.
Three years ago I bought a brake bleeder and the jar attachments. It takes a little muscle to hand pump the air out of the jars, but it was very cheap and I have never had a single sealed jar fail!!! Also, I will always have a way to seal jars without electricity!!!
I buy holiday candies on sale after the holidays and vacuum seal them. Then when I want a treat I have it stashed. I found a jar of Halliween candy I forgot about a year later. Figured they wouldn't be any good. But checked and they tasted like I bought them yesterday. They were just mini size candy bars. So don't be afraid to do cookies as they last and candy bars and jelly beans. It works!😊
Were your candy bars individually wrapped and if so did you poke a hole in the wrapper (maybe they aren’t as tightly sealed as other small packages) so the vacuum sealer could do a good job of sucking out the air?
Thank you so much for watching!!!! Please share my video on social media. I’m surprised how quickly they grow when shared. And thanks for your wonderful comment.
* * * Thank you for this video.. This is by far the best information for a newbe like me trying to learn about canning and vacuum sealing to preserve food. Thank you for taking the time to share this information.
Awww. Thanks for your wonderful comment! It made my day. I’m glad it helped in your preservation journey! It’s a great feeling knowing you’re saving food to feed your family. Thank you for watching.
I completely agree that "best before" isn't expired. It's the most misunderstood, misleading and biggest cause of food waste in North America. I just trust my nose and taste buds. Items that have gone rancid aren't dangerous, they just taste horrible, so a little taste test isn't going to harm you. Wasting food is NOT an option that is sustainable. And I am all about sustainability 😁
Wonderfully said. And most of the food I’m “tossing” is actually going to my chickens and/or compost pile. We don’t waste anything. Thanks for watching.
I cannot say enough good things about Food Saver vacuum sealers. My machine is old enough to have been around to have been in Abraham Lincoln's kitchen 😂. But seriously, once every 7 years or so ( with extensive use), I have to swap out the gaskets. Can't bring myself to upgrade the product when it's still working perfectly.
My VP05 Has been working fine for a year now. Love it and I have only recharged it once. For a bag vacuum sealer I am using a Cabela's Commercial sealer. It has a port and I do have the Food Saver mason jars sealer adapter. The reason I bought this model is because it has the regular automatic vacuum and seal button BUT it also has separate vacuum and seal buttons. Have had many other sealers like Food Saver (not the model you show) and they have failed, either the seal function failed or the vacuum function failed. With the manual buttons no more failures and I have had the machine for a number of years. It also has a marinade and canister button. Love it so much.
I’m still searching for an American Made handheld vacuum sealer. They are all from China. But FoodSaver recently came out with a new sealer that charges a handheld that attaches to it. I’m interested to see how that works. Thanks for your wonderful comment!
New to your channel. I subscribed and can’t wait to watch your past videos. Thank you for the tips. I’ve been vacuum sealing for a few years but I still learned from your video.
I learned that you can vacuum seal raisins and then put them in the freezer. Yes they can get moldy left out but not in the freezer, so when I found a good buy, my freezer got fuller.
Make your own brown sugar.😊 One tablespoon Molasses to one cup sugar. Mix by hand or mixer. Add more molasses to get to your liking. I store with a small piece of bread in jar….😊😊😊
I vacuum seal dehydrated peeps as well as jellybeans! dehydrated coconut flakes and marshmallows add a wonderful treat in your Jello and hydrate back really well in that hot water. Thanks for the cupcake liner tip! I will be using that one soon!
I've used the old smaller footprint Food Saver to reseal everything that comes heat sealed in a bag, plastic, mylar and waxed. Clip a corner take what you need and reseal.
It sure isn’t. I go by the Best Buy date. The only exception is if you choose to vacuum seal nuts. They really aren’t good past that date. If you freeze them they last far longer.
I’m new to Canning and after watching mini videos I’m confused about how to properly store rice? Vacuum seal versus oxygen absorber verse in mylar bags which is the best method for long-term storage?
@@Happyfeettee1 It IS confusing and much of it is personal preference. Yes, you can seal rice in bags. But then there is the possibility of rodents and even insects chewing in the bag. Yes, you can choose to add oxygen absorbers or not. When I seal in jars, the oxygen is removed. So I always felt it was redundant. But if you feel more comfortable with a double layer of vacuum sealed and oxygen absorber, it’s fine. I do half gallon jars, no absorbers. Lasts a decade or more.
@@myazstar You are very welcome! This is vacuum sealing which is different from canning. It preserves food that is already shelf stable like crackers and baking ingredients. Canning is more involved but very satisfying to do! Thanks for watching!
Absolutely. My food lasts longer if it’s one ingredient. Multiple ingredients go stale at different rates. But I push the envelope all the time and the food is still good.
I can use an HVAC vacuum pump to make a deeper vacuum if I want. Makes mini marshmallows really BIG too lol. What I really want is a very think and heavy LARGE container so I can vacuum larger containers inside it or do multiple at one time. Would love a tool that OPENS those lids, especially without damaging them. Sealing things you don't like is reason to use that for bartering with others. Jars that I have sealed I place in a piece of paper with what is in it and date it was sealed, then have it face outwards. I use a plain old pencil since pencil doesn't fade. I write it BIG too so it can easily be seen in low light or for people with bad vision. Outside labeling can fade and can even fall off the jar.
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead Biggest worry is how much vacuum can a jar hold without imploding. Never ran a vacuum that deep. But the vacuum is strong enough to crush a 2.5 gallon plastic bucket with lid. And that wasn't the deep vacuum either. I used that for experimenting while waiting for a FoodSaver to arrive (MONTHS LATER I might add). Still looking for the other things though... Fingernails don't quite do the job very well lol.
Look up dannieat1136. I have a few suggestions how to release the vacuum without damage and reuse most jar lids. If you want a large vacuum canister, try using a pressure caner. Use duct tape to seal the venting valves ect. The strongest vacuum possible is 15 lbs per square inch relative to sea level. This is approx - 30 inches of HG. My foodsaver only draws -22 in hg, and the rechargeable mason jar sealers only draw -18 in hg. My single stage, made in china, blue, 3.5 CFM pump will draw approx -28 in hg in less than 1 minute in a quart jar. So far, I have not had a glass jar break. I use silicon aquarium air hose for vacuum hose. It collapses to an oval but not enough to hinder the vacuum. @@crazysquirrel9425
You might find one of these videos interesting. Sweet Home California vacuum chambers for jars: th-cam.com/video/IDtgnwA6wLE/w-d-xo.html Out the back door DIY vacuum chamber: th-cam.com/video/2SrWrJWi9yE/w-d-xo.html Creating cool stuff... Vacuum sealing dried goods with a modified pressure canner: th-cam.com/video/46STOCiT3ks/w-d-xo.html Rinoa's Auspicious Trava... DIY Vacuum Chamber from old Pressure Cooker: th-cam.com/video/-pYZrIgnLS0/w-d-xo.html Sup to Nutz How to Vacuum Seal Jars Without Those Vacuum Seal Lids !!!: th-cam.com/video/aQAadpgIpJQ/w-d-xo.html
@@Dannieat1136 I use a regular lineset but adapted some tubing and fittings to allow me to use the hose that comes with the sealing jars. Oh and the best vacuum anyone can get is 29.92" Hg. I do have a micron gauge too but feel that is unnecessary to use. Got a lot of stuff someone sold from their storage bin. No idea what some of the stuff is... The vacuum pump I use is also single stage and can draw down to 200 microns if I have fresh oil in it. Again, that is unnecessary. Thank you for the numbers about vacuum capabilities of things and no jar breakage. I wonder if you still need silica gel pack and/or oxygen absorber if you draw a deep vacuum. Not sure what items need which vacuum level either.
Love it. So glad you explained the small item needs. Would lentils need the barrier? I bet quinoa would. I looked in destricption for name of sealer.. I think a 5200. I will look for this ; I too love Ball jars. Thank you!
I do our favorite cereals. In a pint jar. This is exactly a bowl of cereal. If milk is not available, I have powdered milk. This does not taste too bad with cereal.
You must not have any earthquakes, tremors, etc. at your house. Your jars are partly hanging off the edge of the shelf. Any explosion or plane crash nearby, or tornado, etc. could cause them to tumble in the floor. Maybe you have thick carpet, I don't know. I live in a state where we never had earthquakes, but after the type of oil drilling they are doing, we have had a few in the past few years. You never know. All of my jars are back a few inches from the edge, but we are thinking about installing a thin safety line across the front. I have seen lots of other YT homesteaders using like caution tape, mesh, netting, cording, etc. Thanks for sharing your info!
Nope. No earthquakes or tornadoes here. We are in the process of redoing my pantry. I have cupboards replacing these shelves. That’s why they’re overcrowded right now. Thank you so much for watching!
I never even thought of doing this although I have stored some things in Mason jars. I will think about getting this sealer and doing some. Although there’s just two of us now, stuff is getting very expensive so doing this will save some money and probably cupboard space too.
Our kids are grown as well. But I think it works even better with a small family. I can use smaller jars to seal food and it doesn’t go stale as quickly. Thanks for watching!
I have a FoodSaver machine, but I mostly use my hand held brake bleeder to vacuum seal my jars. Have you ever used one yourself? Also I experiment with quite a few snack foods vacuum sealing them into jars such as holiday butter cookies and Chip ahoy cookies. Even my very picky boyfriend is satisfied with the results, and when we don't have any cookies around I dig into my secret stash of "experiments". We ate some Chip ahoy that were two years past the best by date and he never even suspected.
Yes!!!! That’s what I’m trying to tell others. There’s no chart saying how long food will last when vacuum sealed. It’s highly variable. So if someone says to vacuum seal your food to last 10 years, be careful. The only way to be sure is to try it. Open a jar and taste. If good, reseal it and store again. Pretty soon you’ll know your Oreos are good for 3 years and your coffee for four. I have a manual sealer. I just haven’t used it yet.
I'm so glad I found your channel I started vacuum sealing and jars and bags back during covid and I've been going through things because I had no one to lead me through this and started to have questions since it's been a couple of years I did vacuum seal almonds but also did some sunflower seeds I had trail mix that has raisins in I'm just about everything I could put my hands on I vacuum sealed. I vacuum sealed candy and gum from Hard Candy to Twizzlers to gummy bears and lots of things anyhow heard about botulism and ironically that's why I turned to dehydrating was I thought I did not have to worry about that so now I'm concerned about all the stuff I have in jars I also have corn muffin mix Pizza mix, grits, cornmeal, girl you name it I probably have it. LOL anyhow is there things I should just toss away that I did not know when I started this and it's been a couple of years? Thank you so much
Wow! You are an enthusiastic vacuum sealer! Most things are fine that you listed. Quality goes down eventually but as far as safety, they will mostly just go stale, not bad. The only items that could be a concern are the raisins. And trust me, MANY people are vacuum seal rebels and do it all the time. I’m more cautious. I’d probably avoid them. But that’s just personal preference. I’ve eaten raisins that were in a cereal and I was just fine. I now know more about the dangers and avoid them. Welcome to the channel. I can’t wait to hear more from you!
Since finding your channel, I've been vacuum sealing like crazy. THANK YOU!!! One question though - wouldn't the frosting in the oreos be too moist?? I love the mega stuffs, but am afraid to seal them.
That’s a very valid question. They were vacuum sealed in their original container. That’s usually a good sign of how to seal them. I’ll go research. Thanks for the heads up.
I buy a lot of coffee & tea. Most of my coffee are still "green beans", and come in their own vacuum sealed bags, same with loose tea. So, I just add a layer of my own mylar seals to ensure freshness. I've opened up 10 year old coffee & tea and it's wonderful. I recently bought a vacuum sealer for my Mason jars and love it to pieces! Also, I have a huge basement and that's where I store a fair amount of our canned jars. I wear a long sleeved t-shirt down there in Summer and a jacket in Winter (as well as gloves). The furnace keeps things from freezing (and previously when I was in a wheelchair, I didn't fire up the furnace, just used the fireplaces on the main level and I ended up with cracked jars that year).
When storing nuts, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, in oven on low heat, heat your nuts to remove as much oil as you can. Turn nuts over a few times, let cool then vacuum pack for better results.
You can use a bag and put the flour or cornmeal or whatever powdery stuff your vacuum sealing in the bag fold it over tape it and then put it in your jar or your vacuum sealer bag
I’m new to this and I will be sealing jars soon. I’ve watched other videos and read on the internet (because we all know whatever’s on the internet is right 🤪) that say once you seal the jar don’t put the ring on the it. There are several reasons given. One is a failed seal. Either it can cause the seal to fail or if the seal, for whatever reason fails, you may not notice because the ring hides it. Another is that it’s not necessary until you open the seal as it’s for holding the lid in place. I noticed that in this video you have the rings on sealed jars but you didn’t put it on very tight. What are your thoughts on the ones who say don’t put the ring on after you seal the jar?
Great Question! Canned items shouldn’t have the ring on because of false seals. Vacuum sealing is the exact opposite. It’s not sealing it or even keeping it sealed. It’s holding the lid on incase the seal fails. With canning that could cause botulism. But with vacuum sealing it can cause insects and rodents to get into your food. It can also cause your food to get stale. This way you see it’s not sealed so you go and reseal it. Since the ring was on, the food is good.
If a jar loses a seal, my first thought would be "oh, this jar/lid is faulty." I have the VPO5 and very soon after I bought it (a little over a year ago), I heard a similar complaint. So, I used it to seal a jar of stuff and put it aside as a test jar. the seal is still strong.
Edit: I ended up getting a food saver like yours for longterm storage. About 2 months after I posted the above, I went down to get a jar of something and the seal had popped. So I checked all my jars and about a third of them had lost the seal. So I got my Food Saver and resealed all my jars. I use the black cylinder one now only for short term to reseal jars and keep in the kitchen that I plan to use up within a month or two.
It will get to the stage where you're going to have to eat stuff you wouldn't normally, and food you don't like. Beans store well as do lentils. These are high protein food that when the 💩 hits the fan you'll be glad you have something to eat.
Hi fellow homesteading TH-camr!! I just found your channel and gave a Subscribe! I look forward to checking out your other videos! Don't you just love our community!? Such a wealth of knowledge 💚💚💚💚
Have sealed jars with the VPO5 Vaccum sealer and have not lost a seal yet for the past 2 years. I thought I was the only one using cupcake liners for my powders.😁
I’ve heard these sealers, even the same brand, vary greatly in quality. You may have purchased a good one. All my seals eventually popped. I’m glad yours works so well. Thanks for watching.
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead They are so cheap I would purchase another one and see if I have any success. Sometimes as I was vacuum the jars they would not seal and I figure out that some I had not cleaned the rims properly and in a couple of them, there was a chip, but other than that, all my jars have sealed. Every 3 months I do a check to see if any vacuum have popped but up to now, none has. They have a VOP06 that seems to be much better than the VOP05, which is the one I have. Enjoy your videos and have subscribed.
I just bought the Kitool sealer. Love it already! Sealed a half gallon jar and could barely get the lid off. Like that there are not pieces and cords to keep together. Going to use to seal fresh veggies in refrig that will last longer than two days. Have all my purchased spices in jars. Will be sealing them too. Happy!
You can vacuum seal ground coffee. I do it all the time. It doesn’t store as well as other foods. It will become stale after a couple years. But you’re at least safe through the Best Buy date. I’d use a barrier. Better safe than sorry! Coffee beans actually store better.
@@JustDoSomethingHomesteadwhole, roasted coffee beans will off-gas nitrogen, which may cause the glass jar to explode. Raw coffee beans will not do that. I placed roasted coffee beans in sealed mylar bags, and a year later they looked like balloons ready to pop! I later found out you can buy mylar bags with a one-way valve which releases the nitrogen.
@@dianeharrell817 wow! That’s crazy. Good to know. I have some beans vacuum sealed in canning jars. I’ve never had them explode. Lol. I do have Mylar bags though and I wonder how they’d be frozen as well?
I was taught that you can put a few mini- marshmallows (or a big one) in the jar on top of the food before vacuum sealing. You'll be able to see the difference if the seal breaks and air gets inside.
I have too. But unfortunately they won’t stay fresh much longer than that. If we’re talking long term storage (10 years+), nuts will have become stale long before even the halfway point. I have better luck freezing them. Thanks so much for sharing your success with vacuum sealing!
I’ve watched other channels that say don’t put your rings back on once the jar is sealed. If it loses its seal you won’t know until it’s too late. Have you ever had a problem like that? Thanks for sharing with us
I have not. I look at it from the opposite direction. If a seal pops, I can save the product if the ring is there. It won’t immediately go bad like canning would. But if the ring is not there, insects can get in or if bumped it could spill and attract mice. This way, it’s more protected.
Freezing them extends their life BIG TIME. I have pecans in there from 2022 and I just tested one when I made cookies a couple weeks ago. Fresh as the day I bought them.
Things like raisins, prunes and brown sugar I put them in my dehydrator until they’re completely dry for long-term Storage, when it comes to the brown sugar eventually when I use it, it’s not hard to add that moisture back to it.
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead That was a great question! For years I've washed, dried, and "cooked" jars in the oven at 220F for 20 minutes to sterilize. Glad that's overkill - will still "cook" them for a few minutes just to ensure there's NO moisture. It's probably OCD, but I still add a desiccant and oxygen absorber before vacuum sealing.
We have vacuum sealed white rice, beans, packages of flour, sugar, in the Food Saver bags. Are their issues with this practice? We can keep the packages small enough to fit in a bin and store under the bed. We have canning jars, but not a lot of room for them for Long term storage…
Great question. The only issue is that insects and rodents can chew into the bags. Watch the video I just posted on Thursday. We somehow got infiltrated with pantry moths in my pantry. If I hadn’t stored all my food in jars, I could have lost it all. Pantry moths can definitely get into plastic bags. Thanks so much for watching!
This is great for storing but as was said, not critter proof. What I’ve seen on other sites to help prevent this is putting the sealed packets in a large food safe bucket with lid.
@@rhondastillwell1542 I always vacuum seal mine and have for over a decade. Moisture is what causes sugar to clump, not sealing it. But the benefits outweigh the chance that it may clump. Vacuum sealing it guarantees no insects or critters can get in it. Most of my sugar stayed free flowing. Some clumped a little. I just smashed it with a wooden spoon.
I have the VP05 sealer. I have about 30 to 35 jars (half gallon mostly) that have pasta, beans, rice, etc in them. No rings on them to hold the lid down. They have been sealed well over a year. NOT 1 FAILURE. You must be doing something wrong, or you have bad lids.
@@shaneisom8350 It’s not always a matter of something or someone being wrong. I store my items for far longer than a year. And truly, you are blessed to have one that works well for you. But my FoodSaver is proven to hold seals for 10+ years. Some seals are 14 years and that included bouncing on a moving truck for 5 hours. You simply don’t have the data from both to compare it at this point and neither do I. My VO05 is only 2 years old. I’ve had dozens of those seals pop. Not only that but I’ve had just as many subscribers agree that their seals also popped. Thanks for watching and thanks for your comment.
I do vacuum seal nuts & raisins BUT I go through them so quickly that they will never reach the actual expiration dates. Sometimes I just freeze my nuts as well. My reason for vacuum sealing those particular foods is also to keep bugs out as my food storage area is in my basement. I wish I had a specific room without windows, that I could keep darkened and perfectly climate controlled but that is just not the case for me as with most people. I did at however turn off the air vents in the direct area of my food storage. For me, just doing something was better than nothing.
It took me nearly 60 years to get my pantry. And with the 6 kids grown and gone we could focus on what was important for us when we went house shopping. Any spare bedroom could work. I started with an 800 square foot house and the only space I had was under my bed. I progressed to a 3 foot space under the stairs. And eventually a shelf in the basement. Now I work 2 jobs and never ever take a vacation. It’s all about priorities and what is important to you. My pantry is important. I don’t vacuum seal raisins because they are too moist and can collect bacteria. That’s why raisins are bought in cardboard boxes and not in vacuum sealed bags. Have a blessed day.
By the way, I saw that you had sealed some Oreo cookies. Do they stay pretty long that way or were they eventually get rancid because of the oil and the cream? I also really want to vacuum seal some home bake cookies, but again I’m concerned about the butter.what’s your opinion?
Oreos will go rancid. Like nuts, they literally do have an expiration date where most foods have a Best Buy date. I have not been able to vacuum seal cookies to get them to last longer because of the high fat content. So I freeze mine.
I vacumme seal oreos!!! Ive had them on the shelf for a year at a time. Hubby loves them especially the Golden ones. Ive never had them go rancid. Saltines go bad after a year for me..and I made some Kansas City Firecracker Crackers and sealed those not considering the oil in them..didnt go rancid but gave us a horrible case of D!
Great question! That’s because chocolate has some fat. But it does not have as much fat as nuts. The more fat, the quicker it goes rancid. That is also why chocolate chips typically have a short shelf life. You can’t store them for 5 years or more. You have to continually go through your stock and rotate. I try to keep the separate ingredients and make my own. Cocoa lasts far longer than mixed ingredient items. Thanks for watching!
I use the bags food comes in and either put them in the jar or over the top of the jar like a condom. Then yu know exactly what is in the jar and if slipped on keeps the jar clean. In case of say a food recall you know whats in the jar with all the info!
Love that tip esp for all the recalls! I mentioned that to my sister recently about once food is put up most ppl throw away the label. I used to clip they'd get mixed up sometimes so this way is great for inside facing out or as you described🌟
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead peanuts are really oily and prone to carrying mold. Maybe that is what turned the flavor. I haven’t tried peanuts. Only pecans and walnuts
You definitely can. Some people want that extra assurance that all the air is removed. I personally don’t add them because I feel it’s redundant and an added expense. But there’s definitely no reason why you can’t.
It’s a personal choice. I never have but I’ve decided to start using them for my long term storage for foods like rice and beans. Technically your vacuum sealer should remove nearly all the air.
Do you vacuum seal flours? I used some vacuum seal bags and my flour is hard as a brick. What did I do wrong or how do I soften the flour back up to where it is useable?
Wow. I’ve never heard of flour getting hard. I don’t vacuum seal in bags. I only use jars. And even if I shake the jars, the flour isn’t hard in there. I wonder if you could sift it?
I vacuum seal all my different flours. When I open a bag and transfer to my flour bin it comes out very dense and heavy, or hard, as you say. The solution is to sift it and then weigh it for your recipe. Don't use cup measurements. I have been doing this for years.
Ball/Kerr lids are notoriously bad. Not just the many many users who complain about them on TH-cam, but my own experience has been I can always count on part or most of the batch not sealing in the canner. Unfortunately, I have many Ball lids, so I use them just for sealing dried foods where the seal isn’t as critical. I finally broke down and bought some good reputation lids, like ForJars, and haven’t had a failure since with my home canning.
ForJars lids are made in China. I saw people suggesting they were made in the USA, so I called ForJars and I asked them where the lids are manufactured. The woman I spoke with said China after trying to skirt the issue.
@@DebbieNewlanders oh noooo. I thought they were US made. Nope. I will keep searching. If anyone knows a U.S. company that sells quality lids please share!
Biggest improvement I've had with Ball lids was heading them first. For pressure canning you have the lids in simmering water but for dry goods I've been leaving them in the oven at ~180°F and have only had the rare one fail instead of a quarter to a third.
I’ve done dry roasted walnut. They seemed to keep well but I neglected to write expiration date on them so I may have eaten them before the date but I vacuumed sealed them in a jar.
I have forgotten to write dates on items many times. Sometimes I just figure I’ll remember. And of course, I don’t. It’s all on how you store them. If it’s dark and cool, they’ll store longer.
I’m not sure what you’re saying. I think you’re having trouble vacuum sealing using several different types of sealers. One quick tip that I found is to not fill your jars too high. If mine weren’t sealing I simply removed some of the items and then it would seal. Maybe that will help. Thanks for watching!
Some people do. Some don’t. I didn’t really notice a difference when I used them and it was an added cost. I have a good quality vacuum sealer so they’re rather redundant. Thanks for watching!
I also use a sharpie but I use a little rubbing alcohol on a rag or cotton ball to remove all traces of the ink-you barely even have to wipe and it comes right off.
You can vacuum seal anything. Are pickles safe to vacuum seal and put on a shelf? Absolutely not. Vacuum sealing is not a canning method. I’d cool them and put them in a canning jar with a plastic screw on lid to store in your refrigerator or can them following a canning recipe.
Hi, im new to vacuum sealing but i didn't know you can vs sugary foods, like choc chips and jelly beans. Since you can't vs regular granulated sugar? Is that true?
I vacuum seal all my cane sugar. It’s not like it’s going to go bad. Instead some people claim it gets hard. Sugar gets hard when exposed to moisture. I’d rather it be protected against bugs and critters. If it’s hard I’ll chip it off. You definitely can vacuum seal sugary foods like chocolate.
A simple season puts sugar in plastic containers and shakes container to loosen sugar every now and then. Sugar will last forever if kept dry and cool. 😊
I have top of the line Foodsaver. I vacuum seal fine flour in a wide mouth mason jar. I use a wooden mallet and dry coffee filter to pack it down pressed into the jar. I fill just below to the inch head space. Put a coffee filter and lid. Vacuum seal and stays fresh for years.
It sure does! Thanks for sharing.
@gladtidings4all
I have some waffle mix that refuses to seal. Thanks for the tip!
Can you share which vacuum sealer you use ..thank you xxx
I can keep nuts and other high-oil foods fresh for a very long time. Rancidity is oxidation and cannot occur without oxygen. Most vacuum sealers don't do a very good job of "sucking" all of the air (oxygen) out of a container. I use a two-stage vane-type (laboratory grade) vacuum pump and place an oxygen absorber in the jar just before sealing. Since there is absolutely no oxygen left over in the jar, it's impossible for the contents to go rancid.
Interesting information. Where did you get your vacuum pump? I make videos for the average viewer who has an average vacuum sealer. And their high oil nuts definitely go rancid. Thanks for sharing this!
@@JustDoSomethingHomesteadGoogle two stage vane pump - you’ll find many options and different price points.
@@JustDoSomethingHomesteadeBay is a good source for used laboratory equipment. I use my refrigeration vacuum pump and Oxygen absorbers (homemade if I can't find a good deal on them) for high oil foods. Just the vacuum pump would be enough for many high oil foods but the Oxygen absorber adds extra protection for any Oxygen that's trapped or later released from decomposition of any Oxygen-containing compounds.
The pump is also very useful for preserving them when purchasing Oxygen absorbers in bulk.
@@matthewellisor5835 Thank you for all this information. I’ll look into it!
Thank you. I have 3yr.sealed pecans, chips.
I use a large vacuum pump from a jewelry shop. Does a great job.
Three years ago I bought a brake bleeder and the jar attachments. It takes a little muscle to hand pump the air out of the jars, but it was very cheap and I have never had a single sealed jar fail!!! Also, I will always have a way to seal jars without electricity!!!
@@karenandcatz2915 I have one as well. And YES! It’s an excellent way to vacuum seal!
I use a brake bleeder a jar with two 1/4 inch nipples on the lid and a large syringe with tubing for a milker for my goats.
@@blueridgerider7954 I have one too. I’m making a video on it tomorrow.
I buy holiday candies on sale after the holidays and vacuum seal them. Then when I want a treat I have it stashed. I found a jar of Halliween candy I forgot about a year later. Figured they wouldn't be any good. But checked and they tasted like I bought them yesterday. They were just mini size candy bars. So don't be afraid to do cookies as they last and candy bars and jelly beans. It works!😊
It sure does! I’m looking forward to getting the Easter Candy next!
My hubby and I are just starting out as preppers. Doesn’t candy, chocolates have fat in them and can go rancid? Thanks in advance.
Were your candy bars individually wrapped and if so did you poke a hole in the wrapper (maybe they aren’t as tightly sealed as other small packages) so the vacuum sealer could do a good job of sucking out the air?
Thank you thank you thank you for this video. Well explained and so easy to follow. GOD BLESS. 😊
Thank you so much for watching!!!! Please share my video on social media. I’m surprised how quickly they grow when shared. And thanks for your wonderful comment.
* * * Thank you for this video.. This is by far the best information for a newbe like me trying to learn about canning and vacuum sealing to preserve food. Thank you for taking the time to share this information.
Awww. Thanks for your wonderful comment! It made my day. I’m glad it helped in your preservation journey! It’s a great feeling knowing you’re saving food to feed your family. Thank you for watching.
I completely agree that "best before" isn't expired. It's the most misunderstood, misleading and biggest cause of food waste in North America. I just trust my nose and taste buds. Items that have gone rancid aren't dangerous, they just taste horrible, so a little taste test isn't going to harm you.
Wasting food is NOT an option that is sustainable. And I am all about sustainability 😁
Wonderfully said. And most of the food I’m “tossing” is actually going to my chickens and/or compost pile. We don’t waste anything.
Thanks for watching.
I cannot say enough good things about Food Saver vacuum sealers. My machine is old enough to have been around to have been in Abraham Lincoln's kitchen 😂. But seriously, once every 7 years or so ( with extensive use), I have to swap out the gaskets. Can't bring myself to upgrade the product when it's still working perfectly.
@@bridgettstephens5582 I know!!! I wish I could be sponsored by them. I just love their products!
Thanks for the tip (cupcake liners) that would explain why my vacuum sealer only lasted a week
Oh noooo.
My VP05 Has been working fine for a year now. Love it and I have only recharged it once. For a bag vacuum sealer I am using a Cabela's Commercial sealer. It has a port and I do have the Food Saver mason jars sealer adapter. The reason I bought this model is because it has the regular automatic vacuum and seal button BUT it also has separate vacuum and seal buttons. Have had many other sealers like Food Saver (not the model you show) and they have failed, either the seal function failed or the vacuum function failed. With the manual buttons no more failures and I have had the machine for a number of years. It also has a marinade and canister button. Love it so much.
I’m still searching for an American Made handheld vacuum sealer. They are all from China. But FoodSaver recently came out with a new sealer that charges a handheld that attaches to it. I’m interested to see how that works. Thanks for your wonderful comment!
New to your channel. I subscribed and can’t wait to watch your past videos. Thank you for the tips. I’ve been vacuum sealing for a few years but I still learned from your video.
Awww. That’s wonderful! Welcome aboard.
The cupcake liner idea is wonderful! Thanks for sharing :)
You are very welcome. Thanks for watching.
I use a folded paper towel
I learned that you can vacuum seal raisins and then put them in the freezer. Yes they can get moldy left out but not in the freezer, so when I found a good buy, my freezer got fuller.
Now THAT is an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!
Great tip on the barrier. I will start doing it. I worried and just stop filling 1 1/2 inches from the top.
I only learned about the barrier a couple years ago. And cupcake liners are super easy to use. Thanks for your comment!
Make your own brown sugar.😊 One tablespoon Molasses to one cup sugar. Mix by hand or mixer. Add more molasses to get to your liking. I store with a small piece of bread in jar….😊😊😊
Thanks for sharing. I’m sure others would love to know this as well!
Thank you. Am going to try this for my kitchen project for the day
Hello. Do you vacuum seal your brown sugar and does it stay fresh and usable? New to all of this any help greatly appreciated
I'll test my jars. I do have that sealer you don't recommend. I love it. But I haven't tested my 6 mth old jars.
I do love your food saver!
I vacuum seal dehydrated peeps as well as jellybeans! dehydrated coconut flakes and marshmallows add a wonderful treat in your Jello and hydrate back really well in that hot water. Thanks for the cupcake liner tip! I will be using that one soon!
I used to dehydrate marshmallows. I stopped because I was eating them by the handfuls! Lol. They are sooo good.
do you air, solar or electric dehydrate your peeps/marshmallow? Great tip!
@@homesteadmoon air dehydrators
Cool dehydrated peeps!!!!
I dehydrated small marshmallows. I have new left over peep bunnies....
Freeze-dried peeps are amazing! I a few jars of them.
Just found you!!! And love your videos!!! Straight to the point.
Oh my gosh! Thank you!!!
I have the same food saver. I will use the heat bar in mine to reseal chips of gravy mixes. I don’t vacuum seal but just heat the packages to reseal.
Great idea!
I've used the old smaller footprint Food Saver to reseal everything that comes heat sealed in a bag, plastic, mylar and waxed. Clip a corner take what you need and reseal.
Best By is not the same as expired.
It sure isn’t. I go by the Best Buy date. The only exception is if you choose to vacuum seal nuts. They really aren’t good past that date. If you freeze them they last far longer.
I’m new to Canning and after watching mini videos I’m confused about how to properly store rice? Vacuum seal versus oxygen absorber verse in mylar bags which is the best method for long-term storage?
@@Happyfeettee1 It IS confusing and much of it is personal preference. Yes, you can seal rice in bags. But then there is the possibility of rodents and even insects chewing in the bag. Yes, you can choose to add oxygen absorbers or not. When I seal in jars, the oxygen is removed. So I always felt it was redundant. But if you feel more comfortable with a double layer of vacuum sealed and oxygen absorber, it’s fine. I do half gallon jars, no absorbers. Lasts a decade or more.
Thank you so much, I’m just beginning to can and your video has helped me to save money and food. Thank you again.
@@myazstar You are very welcome! This is vacuum sealing which is different from canning. It preserves food that is already shelf stable like crackers and baking ingredients. Canning is more involved but very satisfying to do! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the cupcake idea. I just did this and some of my lids are coming off. I will do them again with this idea. Thank you so much!!!
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching.
FEMA and the Military have done tests on stored food. They studied for 25 years. Food can be used far past those use by dates.
Absolutely. My food lasts longer if it’s one ingredient. Multiple ingredients go stale at different rates. But I push the envelope all the time and the food is still good.
I can use an HVAC vacuum pump to make a deeper vacuum if I want. Makes mini marshmallows really BIG too lol.
What I really want is a very think and heavy LARGE container so I can vacuum larger containers inside it or do multiple at one time.
Would love a tool that OPENS those lids, especially without damaging them.
Sealing things you don't like is reason to use that for bartering with others.
Jars that I have sealed I place in a piece of paper with what is in it and date it was sealed, then have it face outwards.
I use a plain old pencil since pencil doesn't fade.
I write it BIG too so it can easily be seen in low light or for people with bad vision.
Outside labeling can fade and can even fall off the jar.
LOTS of great tips! Thanks for sharing!
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead Biggest worry is how much vacuum can a jar hold without imploding.
Never ran a vacuum that deep.
But the vacuum is strong enough to crush a 2.5 gallon plastic bucket with lid.
And that wasn't the deep vacuum either.
I used that for experimenting while waiting for a FoodSaver to arrive (MONTHS LATER I might add).
Still looking for the other things though... Fingernails don't quite do the job very well lol.
Look up dannieat1136. I have a few suggestions how to release the vacuum without damage and reuse most jar lids. If you want a large vacuum canister, try using a pressure caner. Use duct tape to seal the venting valves ect. The strongest vacuum possible is 15 lbs per square inch relative to sea level. This is approx - 30 inches of HG. My foodsaver only draws -22 in hg, and the rechargeable mason jar sealers only draw -18 in hg. My single stage, made in china, blue, 3.5 CFM pump will draw approx -28 in hg in less than 1 minute in a quart jar. So far, I have not had a glass jar break. I use silicon aquarium air hose for vacuum hose. It collapses to an oval but not enough to hinder the vacuum. @@crazysquirrel9425
You might find one of these videos interesting.
Sweet Home California vacuum chambers for jars:
th-cam.com/video/IDtgnwA6wLE/w-d-xo.html
Out the back door DIY vacuum chamber:
th-cam.com/video/2SrWrJWi9yE/w-d-xo.html
Creating cool stuff... Vacuum sealing dried goods with a modified pressure canner:
th-cam.com/video/46STOCiT3ks/w-d-xo.html
Rinoa's Auspicious Trava... DIY Vacuum Chamber from old Pressure Cooker:
th-cam.com/video/-pYZrIgnLS0/w-d-xo.html
Sup to Nutz How to Vacuum Seal Jars Without Those Vacuum Seal Lids !!!:
th-cam.com/video/aQAadpgIpJQ/w-d-xo.html
@@Dannieat1136 I use a regular lineset but adapted some tubing and fittings to allow me to use the hose that comes with the sealing jars.
Oh and the best vacuum anyone can get is 29.92" Hg. I do have a micron gauge too but feel that is unnecessary to use.
Got a lot of stuff someone sold from their storage bin. No idea what some of the stuff is...
The vacuum pump I use is also single stage and can draw down to 200 microns if I have fresh oil in it.
Again, that is unnecessary.
Thank you for the numbers about vacuum capabilities of things and no jar breakage.
I wonder if you still need silica gel pack and/or oxygen absorber if you draw a deep vacuum.
Not sure what items need which vacuum level either.
Love it. So glad you explained the small item needs. Would lentils need the barrier? I bet quinoa would. I looked in destricption for name of sealer.. I think a 5200. I will look for this ; I too love Ball jars. Thank you!
@@1940sDream lentils don’t need a barrier. It’s powdery items that need one like flour and sugar. Thanks for watching!
I do our favorite cereals. In a pint jar. This is exactly a bowl of cereal. If milk is not available, I have powdered milk. This does not taste too bad with cereal.
I extend the life of several things like corn chips with great success. I will say I rarely keep them longer than 6 months.
@@lindachandler2293 yep. That’s about as far as mine stay fresh.
Very informative video. Thank you, I have subscribed and am looking forward to more videos!
@@catacomb_catholic awww. Thank you so much!
You must not have any earthquakes, tremors, etc. at your house. Your jars are partly hanging off the edge of the shelf. Any explosion or plane crash nearby, or tornado, etc. could cause them to tumble in the floor. Maybe you have thick carpet, I don't know. I live in a state where we never had earthquakes, but after the type of oil drilling they are doing, we have had a few in the past few years. You never know. All of my jars are back a few inches from the edge, but we are thinking about installing a thin safety line across the front. I have seen lots of other YT homesteaders using like caution tape, mesh, netting, cording, etc. Thanks for sharing your info!
Nope. No earthquakes or tornadoes here. We are in the process of redoing my pantry. I have cupboards replacing these shelves. That’s why they’re overcrowded right now.
Thank you so much for watching!
something to think about!
I never even thought of doing this although I have stored some things in Mason jars. I will think about getting this sealer and doing some. Although there’s just two of us now, stuff is getting very expensive so doing this will save some money and probably cupboard space too.
Our kids are grown as well. But I think it works even better with a small family. I can use smaller jars to seal food and it doesn’t go stale as quickly.
Thanks for watching!
I have a FoodSaver machine, but I mostly use my hand held brake bleeder to vacuum seal my jars. Have you ever used one yourself?
Also I experiment with quite a few snack foods vacuum sealing them into jars such as holiday butter cookies and Chip ahoy cookies. Even my very picky boyfriend is satisfied with the results, and when we don't have any cookies around I dig into my secret stash of "experiments". We ate some Chip ahoy that were two years past the best by date and he never even suspected.
Yes!!!! That’s what I’m trying to tell others. There’s no chart saying how long food will last when vacuum sealed. It’s highly variable. So if someone says to vacuum seal your food to last 10 years, be careful. The only way to be sure is to try it. Open a jar and taste. If good, reseal it and store again. Pretty soon you’ll know your Oreos are good for 3 years and your coffee for four.
I have a manual sealer. I just haven’t used it yet.
I'm so glad I found your channel I started vacuum sealing and jars and bags back during covid and I've been going through things because I had no one to lead me through this and started to have questions since it's been a couple of years I did vacuum seal almonds but also did some sunflower seeds I had trail mix that has raisins in I'm just about everything I could put my hands on I vacuum sealed. I vacuum sealed candy and gum from Hard Candy to Twizzlers to gummy bears and lots of things anyhow heard about botulism and ironically that's why I turned to dehydrating was I thought I did not have to worry about that so now I'm concerned about all the stuff I have in jars I also have corn muffin mix Pizza mix, grits, cornmeal, girl you name it I probably have it. LOL anyhow is there things I should just toss away that I did not know when I started this and it's been a couple of years? Thank you so much
Wow! You are an enthusiastic vacuum sealer! Most things are fine that you listed. Quality goes down eventually but as far as safety, they will mostly just go stale, not bad.
The only items that could be a concern are the raisins. And trust me, MANY people are vacuum seal rebels and do it all the time. I’m more cautious. I’d probably avoid them. But that’s just personal preference. I’ve eaten raisins that were in a cereal and I was just fine. I now know more about the dangers and avoid them.
Welcome to the channel. I can’t wait to hear more from you!
Hedi over at Rain Country and I myself have nuts over the best buy dates with nuts. It's always a good thing to test nuts and use what we store.
Wise words of wisdom. Thanks for sharing!
I would say look for dry roasted to cut processed oils out.
Since finding your channel, I've been vacuum sealing like crazy. THANK YOU!!! One question though - wouldn't the frosting in the oreos be too moist?? I love the mega stuffs, but am afraid to seal them.
Oreo cookies cream is made with Crisco I wouldn't trust it😊
That’s a very valid question. They were vacuum sealed in their original container. That’s usually a good sign of how to seal them. I’ll go research. Thanks for the heads up.
I guess I’ll be adding those to my bad list. Sigh.
Yes, what a shame that you are going to have to eat all the Oreos instead of sealing them.😂
I buy a lot of coffee & tea. Most of my coffee are still "green beans", and come in their own vacuum sealed bags, same with loose tea. So, I just add a layer of my own mylar seals to ensure freshness. I've opened up 10 year old coffee & tea and it's wonderful. I recently bought a vacuum sealer for my Mason jars and love it to pieces! Also, I have a huge basement and that's where I store a fair amount of our canned jars. I wear a long sleeved t-shirt down there in Summer and a jacket in Winter (as well as gloves). The furnace keeps things from freezing (and previously when I was in a wheelchair, I didn't fire up the furnace, just used the fireplaces on the main level and I ended up with cracked jars that year).
Wow! It sounds like you’re a busy person. Yep. I have to set the thermometer for my pantry or it would get too cold as well. Keep stocking-up!
When storing nuts, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, in oven on low heat, heat your nuts to remove as much oil as you can. Turn nuts over a few times, let cool then vacuum pack for better results.
Wow. I never heard of this. Thanks so much for sharing. I need to try this.
You can use a bag and put the flour or cornmeal or whatever powdery stuff your vacuum sealing in the bag fold it over tape it and then put it in your jar or your vacuum sealer bag
@@barbaraarrington9146 You can but the vacuum sealer won’t be able to remove all the air from inside the bag.
I’m new to this and I will be sealing jars soon. I’ve watched other videos and read on the internet (because we all know whatever’s on the internet is right 🤪) that say once you seal the jar don’t put the ring on the it. There are several reasons given. One is a failed seal. Either it can cause the seal to fail or if the seal, for whatever reason fails, you may not notice because the ring hides it. Another is that it’s not necessary until you open the seal as it’s for holding the lid in place. I noticed that in this video you have the rings on sealed jars but you didn’t put it on very tight. What are your thoughts on the ones who say don’t put the ring on after you seal the jar?
Great Question! Canned items shouldn’t have the ring on because of false seals. Vacuum sealing is the exact opposite. It’s not sealing it or even keeping it sealed. It’s holding the lid on incase the seal fails. With canning that could cause botulism. But with vacuum sealing it can cause insects and rodents to get into your food. It can also cause your food to get stale. This way you see it’s not sealed so you go and reseal it. Since the ring was on, the food is good.
Great vid that we all need to know. Tx so much for sharing! Moisture is definitely the enemy!❤❤
Moisture is what ruins a lot of food.
If a jar loses a seal, my first thought would be "oh, this jar/lid is faulty." I have the VPO5 and very soon after I bought it (a little over a year ago), I heard a similar complaint. So, I used it to seal a jar of stuff and put it aside as a test jar. the seal is still strong.
I’m glad it’s working well for you. Thanks for sharing.
Me too! I love mine!
Edit: I ended up getting a food saver like yours for longterm storage. About 2 months after I posted the above, I went down to get a jar of something and the seal had popped. So I checked all my jars and about a third of them had lost the seal. So I got my Food Saver and resealed all my jars. I use the black cylinder one now only for short term to reseal jars and keep in the kitchen that I plan to use up within a month or two.
It will get to the stage where you're going to have to eat stuff you wouldn't normally, and food you don't like. Beans store well as do lentils. These are high protein food that when the 💩 hits the fan you'll be glad you have something to eat.
@@user39h2j8il Absolutely. Bad tasting food is better than no food.
@@JustDoSomethingHomesteadyes 😂 the Indians have a solution for tasteless food... it's called spices. They vacuum seal well too.
@@user39h2j8il yes! I raise about 20 different herbs plus peppers, onions, and garlic. It’s amazing how fresh and delicious they are!
Hi fellow homesteading TH-camr!! I just found your channel and gave a Subscribe! I look forward to checking out your other videos! Don't you just love our community!? Such a wealth of knowledge 💚💚💚💚
Welcome Aboard! I will check out your channel as well. I do love how we all help each other. I’ve learned so much!
@@JustDoSomethingHomesteadI’ve just found you today and subscribed…so overwhelmed…but excited!
Great information! Thank you. ❤
Thanks for watching!
Have sealed jars with the VPO5 Vaccum sealer and have not lost a seal yet for the past 2 years. I thought I was the only one using cupcake liners for my powders.😁
I’ve heard these sealers, even the same brand, vary greatly in quality. You may have purchased a good one. All my seals eventually popped. I’m glad yours works so well.
Thanks for watching.
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead They are so cheap I would purchase another one and see if I have any success. Sometimes as I was vacuum the jars they would not seal and I figure out that some I had not cleaned the rims properly and in a couple of them, there was a chip, but other than that, all my jars have sealed. Every 3 months I do a check to see if any vacuum have popped but up to now, none has. They have a VOP06 that seems to be much better than the VOP05, which is the one I have. Enjoy your videos and have subscribed.
@@lifeisgood-victoria796 these are great ideas. I didn’t know about the new version! I’ll go check it out! Thank you
I just bought the Kitool sealer. Love it already! Sealed a half gallon jar and could barely get the lid off. Like that there are not pieces and cords to keep together. Going to use to seal fresh veggies in refrig that will last longer than two days. Have all my purchased spices in jars. Will be sealing them too. Happy!
I use my finger to check for chips on the top of jar, but then I use a paper towel with a touch of vinegar and wipe where the lid is placed.
@@KanDee_Olson great idea!
Can you seal ground coffee? If so, you need to include a barrier at the top? Thanks for the tips.
You can vacuum seal ground coffee. I do it all the time. It doesn’t store as well as other foods. It will become stale after a couple years. But you’re at least safe through the Best Buy date. I’d use a barrier. Better safe than sorry! Coffee beans actually store better.
Thanks
@@JustDoSomethingHomesteadwhole, roasted coffee beans will off-gas nitrogen, which may cause the glass jar to explode. Raw coffee beans will not do that. I placed roasted coffee beans in sealed mylar bags, and a year later they looked like balloons ready to pop! I later found out you can buy mylar bags with a one-way valve which releases the nitrogen.
@@dianeharrell817 wow! That’s crazy. Good to know. I have some beans vacuum sealed in canning jars. I’ve never had them explode. Lol. I do have Mylar bags though and I wonder how they’d be frozen as well?
I didn't know that about the nuts..high in fat. Thanks
Didn't know about the brn sugar or the bear. I need-want the bear😊
The bear works well. It’s cute too. Lol
@@JustDoSomethingHomesteadwhere did you get the bear? 😊
I was taught that you can put a few mini- marshmallows (or a big one) in the jar on top of the food before vacuum sealing. You'll be able to see the difference if the seal breaks and air gets inside.
@@OurWeeTennesseeHomestead well that’s cool. Does the marshmallow add moisture to the jar?
@JustDoSomethingHomestead , no, but it gives you a gauge to see if the vacuum is still strong.
I've had nuts a year past the due date and they are still good; vacuumed sealed with oxygen absorbers: walnuts and mixed nuts.
I have too. But unfortunately they won’t stay fresh much longer than that. If we’re talking long term storage (10 years+), nuts will have become stale long before even the halfway point. I have better luck freezing them.
Thanks so much for sharing your success with vacuum sealing!
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead Rotate
@@KoiPondPeppy absolutely
I’ve watched other channels that say don’t put your rings back on once the jar is sealed. If it loses its seal you won’t know until it’s too late. Have you ever had a problem like that? Thanks for sharing with us
I have not. I look at it from the opposite direction. If a seal pops, I can save the product if the ring is there. It won’t immediately go bad like canning would. But if the ring is not there, insects can get in or if bumped it could spill and attract mice. This way, it’s more protected.
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead sounds good to me!😁
I think that's more an issue for pressure canned wet foods that spoil quickly with exposure. Vacuum sealed jars are going to be dry ingredients only.
Nuts need to be stored in the freezer put the bag inside the freezer bag or if you have a vacuum sealer dump them in the vacuum sealer bag and seal
Yep. I store most of mine in the freezer. This was my list of mistakes.
Freezing them extends their life BIG TIME. I have pecans in there from 2022 and I just tested one when I made cookies a couple weeks ago. Fresh as the day I bought them.
I keep mine in the freezer as well@@ArtistCreek
Just had to dump a jar of walnuts (they go fastest) in the garbage that I vacuum sealed. Now they live in the freezer.
Thank you for sharing this information 😊🙏
You’re very welcome. Thank you for watching.
Great tips! Thank you!
You are very welcome. Thanks for watching.
Things like raisins, prunes and brown sugar I put them in my dehydrator until they’re completely dry for long-term Storage, when it comes to the brown sugar eventually when I use it, it’s not hard to add that moisture back to it.
That’s a neat idea! Thanks so much for sharing.
Do you need to sterialize jars like you do canning? Or just wash and dry?
@@desiraejenks2608 wash and dry
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead That was a great question! For years I've washed, dried, and "cooked" jars in the oven at 220F for 20 minutes to sterilize. Glad that's overkill - will still "cook" them for a few minutes just to ensure there's NO moisture. It's probably OCD, but I still add a desiccant and oxygen absorber before vacuum sealing.
Ive had numerous vacuum seal machines ant they've never lasted for more than a week.
Is there a brand that actuall works for monts or years?
@@keithkimsten5111 I’ve had my FoodSaver 5200 series for over 11 years of hard labor. Sometimes it was used daily. It’s still going strong.
We have vacuum sealed white rice, beans, packages of flour, sugar, in the Food Saver bags. Are their issues with this practice? We can keep the packages small enough to fit in a bin and store under the bed. We have canning jars, but not a lot of room for them for Long term storage…
Great question. The only issue is that insects and rodents can chew into the bags. Watch the video I just posted on Thursday. We somehow got infiltrated with pantry moths in my pantry. If I hadn’t stored all my food in jars, I could have lost it all. Pantry moths can definitely get into plastic bags.
Thanks so much for watching!
I've had critters chew through my seal-a-meal bags so use them for freezer meals.
This is great for storing but as was said, not critter proof. What I’ve seen on other sites to help prevent this is putting the sealed packets in a large food safe bucket with lid.
I’ve heard that you shouldn’t vacuum seal sugar. It becomes a “sugar brick!” Please someone correct me if I’m wrong!
@@rhondastillwell1542 I always vacuum seal mine and have for over a decade. Moisture is what causes sugar to clump, not sealing it. But the benefits outweigh the chance that it may clump. Vacuum sealing it guarantees no insects or critters can get in it. Most of my sugar stayed free flowing. Some clumped a little. I just smashed it with a wooden spoon.
I have the VP05 sealer. I have about 30 to 35 jars (half gallon mostly) that have pasta, beans, rice, etc in them. No rings on them to hold the lid down. They have been sealed well over a year. NOT 1 FAILURE. You must be doing something wrong, or you have bad lids.
@@shaneisom8350 It’s not always a matter of something or someone being wrong. I store my items for far longer than a year. And truly, you are blessed to have one that works well for you. But my FoodSaver is proven to hold seals for 10+ years. Some seals are 14 years and that included bouncing on a moving truck for 5 hours. You simply don’t have the data from both to compare it at this point and neither do I. My VO05 is only 2 years old. I’ve had dozens of those seals pop. Not only that but I’ve had just as many subscribers agree that their seals also popped. Thanks for watching and thanks for your comment.
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead Its only been that time for me because thats the first day I started sealing food in jars ever.
I do vacuum seal nuts & raisins BUT I go through them so quickly that they will never reach the actual expiration dates. Sometimes I just freeze my nuts as well. My reason for vacuum sealing those particular foods is also to keep bugs out as my food storage area is in my basement. I wish I had a specific room without windows, that I could keep darkened and perfectly climate controlled but that is just not the case for me as with most people. I did at however turn off the air vents in the direct area of my food storage. For me, just doing something was better than nothing.
It took me nearly 60 years to get my pantry. And with the 6 kids grown and gone we could focus on what was important for us when we went house shopping. Any spare bedroom could work. I started with an 800 square foot house and the only space I had was under my bed. I progressed to a 3 foot space under the stairs. And eventually a shelf in the basement. Now I work 2 jobs and never ever take a vacation. It’s all about priorities and what is important to you. My pantry is important.
I don’t vacuum seal raisins because they are too moist and can collect bacteria. That’s why raisins are bought in cardboard boxes and not in vacuum sealed bags.
Have a blessed day.
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead Oh I didn't realize that about the raisins. Really appreciate knowing it now. Thank you!!
what is the safest way to open a sealed jar. I could use a knife but isn't that bad for the seal?
I use several different items. Most common I use a basic hand jar opener and place a cloth on top so it doesn’t damage the lid.
Just subscribed! Love the way you present!
Awww. You made my day! Thank you and welcome.
By the way, I saw that you had sealed some Oreo cookies. Do they stay pretty long that way or were they eventually get rancid because of the oil and the cream? I also really want to vacuum seal some home bake cookies, but again I’m concerned about the butter.what’s your opinion?
Oreos will go rancid. Like nuts, they literally do have an expiration date where most foods have a Best Buy date. I have not been able to vacuum seal cookies to get them to last longer because of the high fat content. So I freeze mine.
I vacumme seal oreos!!! Ive had them on the shelf for a year at a time. Hubby loves them especially the Golden ones. Ive never had them go rancid. Saltines go bad after a year for me..and I made some Kansas City Firecracker Crackers and sealed those not considering the oil in them..didnt go rancid but gave us a horrible case of D!
Where do you get the brown bear for brown sugar seems awsome
Amazon. Since our options are limited in West Virginia I order a lot online.
Thank you I will try 🥰
Question? If you should not store foods with fat how can you vacuum seal chocolate. There some form of fat in chocolate right?
Great question! That’s because chocolate has some fat. But it does not have as much fat as nuts. The more fat, the quicker it goes rancid. That is also why chocolate chips typically have a short shelf life. You can’t store them for 5 years or more. You have to continually go through your stock and rotate. I try to keep the separate ingredients and make my own. Cocoa lasts far longer than mixed ingredient items.
Thanks for watching!
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead Thank you for the help. I subscribed and will now watch your past videos. Good luck on your channel
@@jennifershephard4708 aww. Thank you so much!
food saver is awesome I have the big game 1 had it for years I've only replaced the hot strip great brand
It’s my favorite and I’ve tried many. I believe in investing more to get a quality product and FoodSaver has never let me down. Thanks for watching!!!
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead I agree 💯
The only chocolate that I stockpile is Baking Cocoa.
Yep! Homemade desserts are better making your own chocolate!
I use the bags food comes in and either put them in the jar or over the top of the jar like a condom. Then yu know exactly what is in the jar and if slipped on keeps the jar clean. In case of say a food recall you know whats in the jar with all the info!
Thanks for your suggestions.
Love that tip esp for all the recalls! I mentioned that to my sister recently about once food is put up most ppl throw away the label. I used to clip they'd get mixed up sometimes so this way is great for inside facing out or as you described🌟
I vacuum seal my pecans. I just opened a 2 year jar. They were delicious.
I wish mine had stored as well!
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead peanuts are really oily and prone to carrying mold. Maybe that is what turned the flavor. I haven’t tried peanuts. Only pecans and walnuts
Thank you!
I have a food saver as well, I have problems sealing some jars 🫙
I try now to leave a larger headspace at the top of the jar. That’s helped tremendously.
Good info Thanks
I learned my lesson with that VP05 for sure. Didn't work work a darn and I returned it and got my money back.
@@dianalindenmeyer4847 yep. I learned the hard way too.
Love the cupcake liner idea❤
Awesome! They’re inexpensive and work real well. Thanks for watching.
Can you place oxygen absorbers in your mason jars?
You definitely can. Some people want that extra assurance that all the air is removed. I personally don’t add them because I feel it’s redundant and an added expense. But there’s definitely no reason why you can’t.
Brake bleeder at 30% works great for me and put dry pack in jar once I open it.
Great point! Thanks so much for sharing.
No need for the brown sugar bear. Try a couple large marshmallows.
Oh yum! That’s a neat idea. I never heard of that. Thanks for sharing!
I know about the apple and bread but not the marshmallow will be trying this tip
Are all brown sugar bears created equal, or some better than others.
@@susandrwiega4342 it works used them for years.
I put a few marshmellows in my brown sugar
Someone else suggested that. Cool!
@@ArtistCreek
Great idea!
Thank you so very helpful
Thank you!
I like your video...
I like your comment!
Thank you for making this video 😅
Welcome 😊
Do you need to use oxygen absorbers?
It’s a personal choice. I never have but I’ve decided to start using them for my long term storage for foods like rice and beans. Technically your vacuum sealer should remove nearly all the air.
Great tips!!
Thanks for your comment!
Do you vacuum seal flours? I used some vacuum seal bags and my flour is hard as a brick. What did I do wrong or how do I soften the flour back up to where it is useable?
Wow. I’ve never heard of flour getting hard. I don’t vacuum seal in bags. I only use jars. And even if I shake the jars, the flour isn’t hard in there. I wonder if you could sift it?
I vacuum seal all my different flours. When I open a bag and transfer to my flour bin it comes out very dense and heavy, or hard, as you say. The solution is to sift it and then weigh it for your recipe. Don't use cup measurements. I have been doing this for years.
Ball/Kerr lids are notoriously bad. Not just the many many users who complain about them on TH-cam, but my own experience has been I can always count on part or most of the batch not sealing in the canner. Unfortunately, I have many Ball lids, so I use them just for sealing dried foods where the seal isn’t as critical. I finally broke down and bought some good reputation lids, like ForJars, and haven’t had a failure since with my home canning.
Thanks for sharing! I hope to try those lids as well.
ForJars lids are made in China. I saw people suggesting they were made in the USA, so I called ForJars and I asked them where the lids are manufactured. The woman I spoke with said China after trying to skirt the issue.
@@DebbieNewlanders oh noooo. I thought they were US made. Nope. I will keep searching. If anyone knows a U.S. company that sells quality lids please share!
Never had a issue with Ball lids sealing. Used for both water-bath and vacuum sealing.
Biggest improvement I've had with Ball lids was heading them first. For pressure canning you have the lids in simmering water but for dry goods I've been leaving them in the oven at ~180°F and have only had the rare one fail instead of a quarter to a third.
I’ve done dry roasted walnut. They seemed to keep well but I neglected to write expiration date on them so I may have eaten them before the date but I vacuumed sealed them in a jar.
I have forgotten to write dates on items many times. Sometimes I just figure I’ll remember. And of course, I don’t. It’s all on how you store them. If it’s dark and cool, they’ll store longer.
I have bought several vacume sealers lately including a chamber vac. Cannot get and of the foods average type to vacume.
I’m not sure what you’re saying. I think you’re having trouble vacuum sealing using several different types of sealers. One quick tip that I found is to not fill your jars too high. If mine weren’t sealing I simply removed some of the items and then it would seal. Maybe that will help. Thanks for watching!
Do you not use oxygen obsorbers with vac sealer in jars? I saw one u-tuber that did. Maybe over kill?.
Some people do. Some don’t. I didn’t really notice a difference when I used them and it was an added cost. I have a good quality vacuum sealer so they’re rather redundant.
Thanks for watching!
@@JustDoSomethingHomestead
THSNK YOU. GOD BLESS . LOVE YOUR CHANNEL
What marker do you use and how to you reuse them with it? Is there a special marker to use?
I use a sharpie. It seems to last well. To remove it, I use a magic eraser. It comes right off.
I also use a sharpie but I use a little rubbing alcohol on a rag or cotton ball to remove all traces of the ink-you barely even have to wipe and it comes right off.
thank you. I am new to all of this@@Rose-ht3xc
can not charge my Unerver any idea's why
I’m not sure what you’re asking?
To improve seal using all methods: soak lids in hot water before using.
Doesn’t some of the moisture go into the jar at the inside of the seal?
No, of course you should wipe off the moisture from the lid. The point is just to warm it up to make it softer,
@@gmsoptions thanks for sharing!
Can you vacuum seal hot pickles ?
You can vacuum seal anything. Are pickles safe to vacuum seal and put on a shelf? Absolutely not. Vacuum sealing is not a canning method. I’d cool them and put them in a canning jar with a plastic screw on lid to store in your refrigerator or can them following a canning recipe.
I keep chips nuts and such sealed in glass jars the freezer.
Yep. I also store ice cream cones and single serve Mac and Cheese. Works well.
thanks!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
Love my vac sealer
I know! It’s opened up the door to preserve even more food.
TY
I have not found new Foodsavers with a port. My old ones gave up the ghost so I was in the market.
They sell them at Walmart and Amazon. It’s the FoodSaver FM5200 series.
I love my Food Saver. The small one did not last me more than one year.
I love my big FoodSaver too!
Hi, im new to vacuum sealing but i didn't know you can vs sugary foods, like choc chips and jelly beans. Since you can't vs regular granulated sugar? Is that true?
I vacuum seal all my cane sugar. It’s not like it’s going to go bad. Instead some people claim it gets hard. Sugar gets hard when exposed to moisture. I’d rather it be protected against bugs and critters. If it’s hard I’ll chip it off. You definitely can vacuum seal sugary foods like chocolate.
A simple season puts sugar in plastic containers and shakes container to loosen sugar every now and then. Sugar will last forever if kept dry and cool. 😊