In 2010, our family became aware of the need to become more prepared in the event of disaster or financial collapse. Having not lived this lifestyle, learning about what it takes to do this was quite overwhelming. I began to scour the internet for food storage ideas. I even took a small food storage introductory class held by a local Mormon woman who has a passion to teach on this subject. I started learning skills like bread baking, dehydrating, Dutch oven cooking, etc.
I learned that a Foodsaver machine could vacuum mason jar lids and effectively preserve foods. Although pricey, I bought the Foodsaver and the special lid adapters. I frequently pick up used canning jars at garage sales and thrift stores and I have also found that many stores mark down their canning supplies after canning season is over. However, two thoughts about vacuum sealing jars bothered me. Some people thought the Foodsaver was too expensive. They would rather spend their prepping dollars on actual food. The second thought was what if we didn’t have power to operate it? I was hoping for other solutions.
On You Tube, there is a video that describes using the Pump-N-Seal. I had not previously heard of this device. The same day that I found out about it, I walked into a thrift store and found one for $2. One benefit that it offers is that you can also use glass jars such as jelly, spaghetti, pickle, etc. I discovered you could just punch a small hole with a push pin in a mason jar lid or used jar lid, cover with electrical tape, pump, and it would seal. It would also work with the Foodsaver jar adapters to seal mason jars. It works either way and it doesn’t require electricity. However, it’s $40. Could it be done less expensively?
There is a blog called Salad in a Jar. She has a video that describes using the $20 pump that is electric/rechargeable that I recommend watching to see how you use the jar adapters. The price was getting better. I’ve also seen the brake bleeder pump, but you really have a hand workout for it to seal. But after experimentation, I found a $4.25 solution that I am very excited about.
Ziploc has a manual pump that is supposed to seal freezer bags. For $4.25 the kit comes with a pump and three bags. I found the bags to leak and were not effective like the Foodsaver machine and bags are. However, the manual pump works great to seal both mason jars (with either the small or wide mouth adapters) or the pin prick/electrical tape method. Either method will vacuum seal jars. You can reuse pickle, olive, spaghetti jars, etc. or canning jars with the pin hole/electrical tape - and Ziploc pump. Or with the jar adapter, you can seal regular or wide mouth canning jars with Ball or Kerr jar lids without punching a hole.
I have been vacuum sealing and demonstrating and have really given this little pump a real workout, and it keeps on going. I have shown family and friends, Mennonite ladies, and even demonstrated it for the Amish women who worked at an Amish bulk store. Everyone is impressed that has seen and tried it.
What benefit would there be for us preppers? You can start saving your grocery dollars by not throwing stale, expired food away and you would have a convenient way to re-pack food after you open those #10 cans. You can use this the day you bring it home (not wait for some “disaster” to put it to use). If you get a great deal on cake mixes like 10 for $10, you can pack them in mason jars and they will last for several years – well past the “expiration” date.
What about nuts? You get a killer deal on a bulk buy – but they go rancid fairly quickly. Not if they’re vacuumed sealed. What about brown sugar? It will stay moist and flowing if vacuumed sealed in a jar. How about chocolate chips, dried fruit, dehydrated vegetables, tea, coffee, herbs, and spices? Yes, yes, yes! This is not a substitution for heat canning. It is for keeping things fresh such as wheat berries, beans, flour, chocolate chips, etc. in longer term storage, which is several years.................
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