Vacuum Sealing Mason Jars.

**Durgan** · 01-26-2012, 11:38 AM

26 January 2012 Vacuum Sealing mason jars using Food Saver. 26 January 2012 Vacuum Sealing mason jars using Food Saver

This is a method of vacuum sealing any jar with a suitable gaskets lid, which will fit into the selected larger container. My requirement is for mason jars one litre of smaller. For larger jars a taller vacuum chamber will be required.

**Spirit Deer** · 01-26-2012, 12:38 PM

I'm not following why you can't just directly seal the jar you want sealed instead of putting it into another jar.

Just for giggles, put a marshmallow into the jar and then seal it up.

BTW, vacuum sealing isn't a replacement for proper canning methods and should only be used for dry foods such as pasta, rice, etc. Things that wouldn't need refrigeration IOW.

I use my FoodSaver to seal half gallon jars as well as smaller sizes.

**low-1** · 01-26-2012, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

I'm not following why you can't just directly seal the jar you want sealed instead of putting it into another jar.

Just for giggles, put a marshmallow into the jar and then seal it up.

BTW, vacuum sealing isn't a replacement for proper canning methods and should only be used for dry foods such as pasta, rice, etc. Things that wouldn't need refrigeration IOW.

I use my FoodSaver to seal half gallon jars as well as smaller sizes.

My assumption is that it's because the jars he is sealing don't have special "vacuum sealer" lids. They are just standard snap rings. I don't know how you would vacuum seal them with a sealer. You could always do the proper canning method, but this would be a good method for those "not-so-important" sealing jobs. I'm pretty sure the "sealed" jars don't stay in the "sealing" jar, it's just a method to get the air out of it.

You're definitely right about this not being a complete food processing method. For some things, though, I would think it would be perfectly fine.

**Spirit Deer** · 01-26-2012, 01:14 PM

I understand the smaller jars don't stay in the larger one. I guess Durgan doesn't have the proper size sealer for standard canning jars. His method would make sense then.

We most recently used our FS to seal up coffee in half-gallon jars. Not liquid coffee, just the ground coffee. I have both the wide mouth and regular vacuum sealers, which seal standard canning lid flats to the jars. It's a pretty slick system!

How's the light show been up there?

**low-1** · 01-26-2012, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

I understand the smaller jars don't stay in the larger one. I guess Durgan doesn't have the proper size sealer for standard canning jars. His method would make sense then.

We most recently used our FS to seal up coffee in half-gallon jars. Not liquid coffee, just the ground coffee. I have both the wide mouth and regular vacuum sealers, which seal standard canning lid flats to the jars. It's a pretty slick system!

How's the light show been up there?

These proper sized sealers, when used, they must stay on the jar as they are part of the seal, do they not? I would imagine that a pack of standard snap rings are much cheaper than the FS sealing rings. To be honest, I don't know as I don't have a food saver. Seems to be that this would be a cheaper way of going about it, but I could be wrong.

It's been cloudy and snowing since early Monday morning, so nothing for us since Sunday night. Posted a link to my updated photo album in the "solar storm" thread in the general chat.

**Spirit Deer** · 01-26-2012, 01:54 PM

There are two kinds of jar sealers for FS, unless they dreamed up some more in the past few years. I can't say I've kept up. One style is just flat and the bottom is a rubber pad. That type fits a variety of sizes and that one does stay on the container. It's about four or five inches in diameter.

The jar sealers come in two sizes, for use with wide mouth canning jars and the regular mouth size. The flat lid is placed on the jar like for canning, but not the ring. Then the jar sealer is placed over the lid and jar, and the FS sucks the air out. Then you remove the sealer and the flat lid stays in place, keeping the vacuum seal intact. You can seal an infinite number of jars using just one jar sealer. Here's a pic. The hose goes in the hole in the top and attaches to the FS at the other end.

**low-1** · 01-26-2012, 01:56 PM

I see. Thanks SD.

**NicJean** · 01-26-2012, 02:07 PM

I was given a FS for Christmas, and both sized jar sealers for my birthday (early January). Haven't tried them, but I originally thought they stayed on the jar.

I need to sucky-jar some things to play with (I've already sucky-bagged some stuff for the freezer and cupboard.)
Yes, I know, my capacity for technical terminology has everyone astounded, does it not?

**Spirit Deer** · 01-26-2012, 03:02 PM

Try a marshmallow in a jar. Seriously! But then I'm easily amused.

**Durgan** · 01-26-2012, 06:19 PM

Of course, it is necessary to use some caution when vacuum sealing products. Depending upon the material, if full of suspended air, particles will be driven towards the pump.

Some liquids will almost explode and froth up. Flour would be a misery without some type of filter. All fine powders must be vacuum packed with caution.

What I described is a method of using the common mason jar, without buying special adaptors. A universal system, as was pointed out by several posters.

I received one canister and the adaptor and decided to use one of my many mason jars. Using the universal method depicted, all jars below the litre size with gasket top can be sealed, which I would consider a plus.

**annymoll** · 01-29-2012, 01:09 PM

I use regular and wide mouth Mason jars. I put chocolate chips, make soup mixes, make chili mix ( I use freeze dried meat as a base for DH, beans as my base). I have several soup and stew meals that I put up this way, using freeze dried meats and veggies and grains.Add water , simmer, you have a warm meal. I put up dehydrated fruits and veggies from the garden and spices.I love my food saver. I do not use it for meats or frozen items, because without electricity these items will go to waste. I use mine as a means to plan for food storage in a situation without electricity.I can also pop the seal and pour out what I want to use, then seal it right back up.It has been great to help with our food storage plan.

**bent** · 01-29-2012, 09:52 PM

a testament to FS vacuum seal on mason jar:
in 1999 I purchased said FS from ebay along with the regular sized jar sealer of course I did the marshmallow trick was wicked cool bwt, then I put a box of dark brown sugar in a qt jar marked the date aug 1999 last yr I found it sitting on my pantry shelf (somehow it survived a move from TN to AL) and for chuckles and grins I opened it- the seal was still intact and the brown sugar soft. used it for chocolate chip cookies. now I have a excalibur dehydrator and I've started 'storing' my rice, beans, flour, meal, sugar in half gallon jugs i get from a local eatery, pasta in qt jars-

**pat in east texas** · 01-30-2012, 08:14 AM

I never thought of doing it that way! It makes so much sense. Now all I have to do is find the FS canister and sealer (hope I didn't get rid of them). Thanks, Durgan; you've done it again!!