Using a Jar Vacuum Sealer

Vacuum sealing isn't always done in plastic bags. While not as versatile as a regular vacuum sealer, a jar vacuum sealer can be used for many items and as a bonus, you get to store your food in glass!

Note: This article contains affiliate links. Purchasing through these links helps support our website and blog at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Many homesteaders, preppers, and homemakers have a vacuum sealer. The most common type of vacuum sealer uses plastic bags and removes the oxygen from them to help the food inside store longer. These can be used for all kinds of things from fresh and dried meats, to vegetables, to fruits to pasta, soups, and more. They increase the length of time your goods will stay viable in the freezer and help prevent freezer burn. They are also used to store a variety of dried items .

The second type is a jar vacuum sealer. This kind uses a canning jar and lid. It removes the oxygen from the jar and seals the lid. Glass jars are a great storage option because they are reusable, they are free of plastics, and they keep insects and rodents out of your food. An added benefit of using a jar sealer is that the lids can also be re-used; unlike the plastic bags for regular vacuum sealers. With a rechargeable battery, these can easily be carried to another room, used outside, or taken to a friend's house to use.

It is important to know that this type of vacuum sealer can only be used for dried goods. Another important item to note is that if using it with powdered items, which is not recommended, you need to cover the item to keep the powder from being sucked into the vacuum sealer's motor and destroying it. We have used a folded paper towel tucked around the edges of the jar for this purpose. Others use cupcake papers. Just be sure that the powder is well covered so that only the air gets vacuumed out and not the powder.

Using a jar vacuum sealer is easy. Simply fill your jar (you can add in a moisture absorbing packet or an oxygen absorber to help it store longer, but it is not necessary) to the bottom thread of the mason jar mouth. Place a lid on top of the jar. Place the jar sealer over the lid and press the button. Allow it run until finished, turn it off, and remove from the jar. The lid will be sealed and the jar ready to put on the shelf. You can test the seal by gently pressing on the center of the lid. If it moves, it is not sealed and you will want to try again. If you are experiencing issues, be sure the rim of the jar is free of debris and nicks in the glass, which will prevent the jar from sealing properly.

What can you store in vacuum sealed jars? You can store quite a large variety of dry goods. Here is a list of ideas to get you started:

Items You Can Store  (in dried form)

Pasta

Rice

Oatmeal

Other Grains - Barley, Millet, Quinoa, etc.

Beans

Split Peas

Lentils

Herbs and Spices

Tea (tea bags and tea leaves)

Nuts

Dry Soup Starters

Dehydrated Items

Freeze Dried Items

Jerky

Popcorn

Nutritional Yeast

Candies

Is it worth purchasing a jar vacuum sealer? That all depends on whether you will use it enough to justify the cost. The model we bought cost just under $20 in 2024. It was well worth it for us. We vacuum sealed our dried fruit, culinary herbs, and tea herbs right after we purchased it. Below is a summary of the benefits and limitations we found that might help you decide if this is a device you want to add to your kitchen:

Benefits

Adds Longevity to Storage Life

Keeps Insects Out of Your Products

Re-use Lids and Containers - save money

Store your items in glass (avoid plastic packaging)

Has a Rechargeable Battery

Is Portable

Limitations

Only Used for Dry Items (it does not work for wet or moist items)

Only Seals Jars (it does not seal bags)