Required fields are marked *, About Us Affiliate Program Blog Current Lead Times, Contact Us Returns/Refunds Shipping Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy, 2022 PrepSOS.com. Since I already have it, anyway! Purchase mason jars with screw top lids since these are compatible with vacuum sealers. Mason jars are a popular choice for safely storing freeze-dried food at home. The best way to store freeze-dried foods is in an airtight container, like a Mylar bag or a mason jar. How to Package Freeze-Dried Food So It Keeps For 25 Years. Harvest Right| Home Freeze Dryers | Freeze Dried Food Storage, 16 Nov. 2019, harvestright.com/blog/2016/how-to-package-freeze-dried-food-so-it-keeps-for-25-years/. This website is where were sharing everything weve learned. Mason jars are a great way of storing food safely. If there is a basement or windowless garage, these are also great places for mason jar storage, if the temperature is consistently cool throughout the summer. Vacuum sealers and oxygen absorbers are perfect for this and have many other options for storage around the home. Placing a packet in a sealed container is a great way to guarantee the food is safely stored. Wide-mouth mason jars are the easiest to use. Cans are another option for storing freeze-dried food, especially in large batches. There is the band, this is the ring that you use to twist onto the jar. The best vacuum sealer to use with mason jars is the Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer or the FoodSaver Sealer with Wide-Mouth Jar Kit. Im Kimberly Starr. A wide-mouth jar means you can easily pour foods into the jar without requiring a funnel, although its still a good idea to use. They also come in a variety of sizes which makes them easy to stack and fit into your storage space. Note: if youre going to store freeze-dried food in a mason jar, the shelf-life will be shorter than 25 years if you do any of the following: In these kinds of cases, the foods could still last several years (think 5 to 10), but I wouldnt count on 25. It also ensures that any potential bacteria from the previous food will not make their way into the next batch being stored. It might be tempting to display freeze-dried foods for everyone to see but keeping the goods in the dark will discourage any microorganisms from developing. Its an excellent way to make food last longer and to keep the storage area organized and tidy. So, be sure to shop around. Were learning as we go what works and what doesnt. After the contents are empty you can wash and reuse them. The downside is it does require pulling the shelving unit out of your unit. The sealing process is quick and easy. FoodSaver vacuum sealer has a special attachment that can be directly attached to a mason jar. We used to have an off-brand vacuum sealer because it was far easier and cheaper to find bags and parts. Mylar bags are particularly suitable for food storage as they are lightweight and with the use of a vacuum sealer can become very compact and space-saving. Personally, Ill stick to one can at a time via the countertop vacuum sealer. To safely store freeze-dried food in mason jars, make sure to extract as much excess air as possible from the jar. Freeze-dried food can last up to 25 years in a mason jar that is properly sealed. How Do Home Freeze Dryers Work? Ready to dive into the details? Whats great is this will allow a person to seal multiple mason jars at one time. A cool environment is best for freeze-dried foods stored in mason jars. Its also a good idea to keep mason jars in the right environment, such as a cool and dark place to prevent food from spoiling. This site uses paid referral links from carefully selected advertising partners. Remember moisture will compromise the longevity of dried food. Now that you know more about using the vacuum sealer with mason jars, make sure youre ready to store some of your favorite freeze-dried candies read this next: How to Freeze Dry Candy and Sweets at Home. Food-safe oxygen absorbers are small bags that can be placed in a mason jar to remove excess oxygen through absorption. All Rights Reserved. As mason jars are transparent, they need to be kept away from the light. Its even possible to store them in the fridge, but this isnt necessary especially if they have been sealed correctly. You can purchase attachments created exclusively for this purpose. Science and Process Made Easy, shop for the Food Saver vacuum sealer with jar kit on Amazon here, shop Nesco products on Amazon, click here, get it from Amazon here (click to see best prices), a YouTube video that shows how to use the Harvest Right freeze dryer to vacuum seal the jars, How to Freeze Dry Candy and Sweets at Home, fail to remove the air (via vacuum and/or oxygen absorber), use foods that wont freeze-dry well for 25 years. __ez.scxr.getDW(document).write(new Date().getFullYear())Copyright Backyard Homestead HQ. Below, we will outline how to safely store freeze-dried food. Mason jars can be used along with other products such as mylar bags and cans. Even so, Id guestimate that opening and re-sealing does shorten the overall shelf-life by at least a few months, if not a few years. Its in the mail, so Ill have to let you know how it does. Want to know How Do Home Freeze Dryers Work? Its important to learn from your own experience, but its also smart to learn from others. Since they are made of metal, these are the most durable option, and they block light from the food. Important note: make sure your vacuum sealer model has a port and is compatible first! As an Amazon Associate, I can earn from qualifying purchases. The process is simple, and products are easily accessible. For regular use, the ring keeps the disc in place, and when vacuum sealing, the suction from the seal will keep the lid in place. This also makes them ideal for taking on camping trips and outdoor adventures. The process of freeze-drying extends the life of the food. Unfortunately, as they are made from the glass if they fall from a shelf they will shatter. The downside is once a can has been opened it cannot be resealed, and you will also need to purchase a can sealer. Backyard Homestead HQ also participates in other affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, Harvest Right, Etsy, ShareASale, and other sites. Now we are building a backyard homestead and immersing ourselves in this wonderful new lifestyle. It will be sealed properly if there is no movement of the lid. If mason jars are left at too warm of a temperature the shelf life of the food reduces quickly. I dont have an exact number, because so far any tested foods have continued to be good (I stick to fruits and other foods that can last 25 years in mason jars) even after re-sealing and opening them again later. When we ordered, it was out of stock on Amazon, so we found a good sale at Target. Vacuum sealers are a great tool that sucks out the oxygen from a mason jar (or other food storage container) and creates a secure seal to preserve the quality of the food. Its easy to identify the foods being stored as they are made of transparent glass. Some mason jars also feature measurement lines on the glass. This can also make storage easier if you are not planning on using the food for a long time. While freeze-dried foods do reduce in size when dehydrated, nobody wants to waste time fiddling around trying to funnel them into a narrow mason jar opening. Science and Process Made Easy in this article I wrote, so give that a read. Its worth measuring the shelves and referring to the jar dimensions before purchasing, especially when ordering online. My neighbor has it and it works great for her. Please refer to my disclaimer in the terms and conditions for additional details. This is where its fun to have the vacuum sealer. This can be achieved using a vacuum sealer and oxygen absorbers. The Food Saver kit tends to be the better budget option, especially if you dont already have the kit for mason jars. If the food has not been exposed to moisture it can be sealed again if the same precautions are followed. Great fpr sealing my Harvest Right bags. If youd like to shop Nesco products on Amazon, click here. 6589 S 1300 E Suite 120, Murray, UT 84121, MID-SUMMER SALE! Your email address will not be published. Elements such as light and temperature can impact this time, but when managed properly the food will be edible for decades. Important: If you open your jar after its been sealed then you will need to consume the food within a week. This sealable lid makes mason jars perfect for long-term food storage. Simply start the process and it will begin extracting any excess oxygen from the jar and create a secure seal. Mason jars have been a staple of food storage for decades and the use of new technology will continue to be used in our homes for years to come. It is very easy to store freeze-dried food in mason jars. A pantry or cupboard is an excellent place to keep any freeze-dried foods. Its possible to separate different foods into mylar bags, label them and then seal them into large cans for extra protection. Mason jars are a great barrier from insects and pests, once sealed properly no creatures are going to sneak their way in. Mason jars differ from other jars as the lid comes in two separate pieces. Mylar bags are made from polyester resin. Whether its a natural event or just a very heavily slammed the door, vibrations through walls can cause mason jars to shift. Your email address will not be published. Mylar bags are safer for decades-long storage as they block more light, while mason jars are more convenient to see whats stored. All Rights Reserved. Purchasing equipment such as a vacuum sealer will guarantee the quality of the food and there are special machines available for this purpose. This can be a great way of quickly identifying how much food each jar contains. When sealed properly mylar bags do not allow external odorsor moisture in. Heres a YouTube video that shows how to use the Harvest Right freeze dryer to vacuum seal the jars. However, lately, its become easier and cheaper to find knock-off bags for the name-brand Food Saver, so it really is a great go-to model, as it has all the options while. Both are the markets top vacuum sealers for home use and are the best for mason jars due to their specially designed attachment made to fit over the jar. You can totally do it! Mason jars containing freeze-dried foods should be stored in a dark, cool area. To guarantee that freeze-dried food lives up to its long-life potential, make sure each mason jar is properly sealed and oxygen-free. They are a popular and easily accessible storage option. You can shop for the Food Saver vacuum sealer with jar kit on Amazon here. Then there is the lid, which is a metal disk with a seal-rimed underside, and this will perfectly cover the mouth of the jar. Just make sure that the jars are clean and free from bacteria to create the safest container possible for food. Backyard Homestead HQ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Jealeta Spears (verified owner) May 14, 2022. Its possible to purchase bags of mason jar lids if you are frequently refilling jars. Mason jars can be used as a simple solution to safely store freeze-dried food for a long time. My family has always loved being outside and gardening. It is important to prepare jars properly to maintain the quality of food for a long time. There are a few key steps to this process that should be followed: In addition, wipe the mason jars with food-safe alcohol to kill any bacteria remaining. Freeze-dried food can last for decades in a correctly sealed mason jar if its stored in the right conditions. The best mason jars to use for freeze-dried food depends on how much is being stored, and how much space there is. They are very suitable when it comes to freeze-dried food. Its a good idea to store mason jars toward the back of shelves or on a shelf with rails, especially if living in an area that experiences seismic tremors (aka earthquakes, or as my kids call them, earth shakes). Clean even wide seal. I only promote products I like, use, and recommend. They are food safe and have a laminated foil layer, which protects the contents from light. Backyard Homestead HQ is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Howard, Robin. Just know that opening and re-sealing mason jars will cut into the shelf-life some. You can clean and reuse the jars many times over but its a good idea to replace the lid after each use as the seal wont remain secure for multiple uses. Its possible to buy mason jars with clips, but these are not suitable for long-term food storage.