Vacuum Sealing Canning Jars by hand

(please forgive if this write up is a bit disjointed)

Over on HT there was a thread that referenced using a automotive brake vacuum pump to vacuum seal canning jars. What with the cost of oxygen absorbers rising MissKitty and I thought we should experiment with this and I feel led to post our results here.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Alvin-Vacuum-Sealer/

Bought the following from foodsaver.com

Description Price
FoodSaver® Jar Sealer (regular mouth size) $8.99
FoodSaver® Jar Sealer (wide mouth size) $9.99
FoodSaver® Accessory Hose $3.00

and the Manual Vacuum Pump from Harbor Freight in Ft. Smith

http://www.harborfreight.com/brake-bleeder-and-vacuum-pump-kit-92474.html

The results:

So far have sealed close to 80 jars with his setup. Some pints, a few quarts but mostly half gallon jars. I've been reusing flats previously used for dry storage and all have sealed but one. I sit a few jars by my chair in the evening and work them while watching TV or the fire in the evening. Typically pull the vacuum down to between -24 / -25 on the gauge. Since we don't have a electric vacuum sealer I can't confirm but it was reported that the electric bag & jar sealers draw the vacuum down to below -20. The thoughts on how far down the Oxygen Absorbers pull the vacuum down were varied so I can't give that comparison but... the center of the flats sealed with the hand pump are far more indented than the ones where the oxygen absorbers where used.

It can get a bit tiring, LOL!

Yesterday I demonstrated this to our weekly Proverbs Meetin' group. Every family there wanted one so a group buy was placed last night for the foodsaver.com items and one of the couples is going to Harbor Freight to get the Hand Pumps.

hope this helps!

--Dwight

I'll have to make a visit to Harbor Freight. Although I love our food saver, I'm thinking of what would happen if we could no longer afford electricity, so am trying to find ways to preserve food without it. I know you can dehydrate using the sun, and I know how to can, but didn't really understand the method used with the oxygen absorbers. This sounds like something I could probably do.

BTW, how is your weekly Proverbs Meeting Group going? I miss reading what you were discussing in there and the things you have tried.

This week we talked about a lot of items, gardening, catching rain water, how it works and what is needed for the manual vacuum sealing of dry food stores in canning jars and the Scripture was Ecclesiastes chapter 4. Also a more detailed talk about the "Lesson" given at last Sunday's Meetin' on the Tabernacle.

Started before noon and we talked fast and furious until after 4 PM.

--Dwight

WOW!! Sounds like you are having some awesome meetings. Hope you get a chance to post some of the details. I don't think anyone has discussed catching rain water yet here. That would be an interesting topic.

Here is a food grade opperated vacuum pump. I own two and they do a great job.

Pump-N-Seal

It can also be used to seal any jar that has a built in rubber gasket. This enables you to reuse/recycle all of your old store bought pickle, spaghetti sauce, etc jars.

Another add-on fixture, enables you to vacuum marinade using just about any smooth lipped pan or bowl.

They are as handy as a pocket on a shirt.

We got the pump and seal and LOVE it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Sorry for the delay......

I'm glad you are liking it. For the money it's a pretty good little unit.

The fact that with it you can re-use jars scratches that frugality itch.