They are the perfect treat to store in a mason jar! Wide-mouth mason jars are the easiest to use. 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. Freeze-dried food can last up to 25 years in a mason jar that is properly sealed. All Rights Reserved. Im Kimberly Starr. Heres a YouTube video that shows how to use the Harvest Right freeze dryer to vacuum seal the jars. 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. Its worth measuring the shelves and referring to the jar dimensions before purchasing, especially when ordering online. Just make sure that the jars are clean and free from bacteria to create the safest container possible for food. If youd like to shop Nesco products on Amazon, click here. Freeze-dried food can last for decades in a correctly sealed mason jar if its stored in the right conditions. Its important to learn from your own experience, but its also smart to learn from others. Whether its a natural event or just a very heavily slammed the door, vibrations through walls can cause mason jars to shift. You should even be able to hold the jar upside down and it will stay in place purely from suction (have your hand in place just in case, so that freeze-dried food doesnt go all over the floor). As mason jars are transparent, they need to be kept away from the light. My family has always loved being outside and gardening. 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. Since they are made of metal, these are the most durable option, and they block light from the food. Its an excellent way to make food last longer and to keep the storage area organized and tidy. Great fpr sealing my Harvest Right bags. Its possible to buy mason jars with clips, but these are not suitable for long-term food storage. When we ordered, it was out of stock on Amazon, so we found a good sale at Target. Now we are building a backyard homestead and immersing ourselves in this wonderful new lifestyle. The process of freeze-drying extends the life of the food. 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. 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). Please refer to my disclaimer in the terms and conditions for additional details. It will be sealed properly if there is no movement of the lid. 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. So, be sure to shop around. Mason jars containing freeze-dried foods should be stored in a dark, cool area. There is the band, this is the ring that you use to twist onto the jar. When prepared correctly they provide a safe and reusable place to keep food that can be easily organized and identified. Your email address will not be published. As an Amazon Associate, I can earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Ready to dive into the details? Want to know How Do Home Freeze Dryers Work? They also come in a variety of sizes which makes them easy to stack and fit into your storage space. This website is where were sharing everything weve learned. 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. 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 also a good idea to keep mason jars in the right environment, such as a cool and dark place to prevent food from spoiling. These can be found at the local supermarket or online. Alternatively, if you happen to have a Harvest Right freeze dryer you can use the vacuum function to seal the mason jar. The best mason jars to use for freeze-dried food depends on how much is being stored, and how much space there is. This also makes them ideal for taking on camping trips and outdoor adventures. Below, we will outline how to safely store freeze-dried food. 6589 S 1300 E Suite 120, Murray, UT 84121, MID-SUMMER SALE! The downside is it does require pulling the shelving unit out of your unit. 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. Lets say you want to open a jar, try a few things, and then seal it back up. FoodSaver vacuum sealer has a special attachment that can be directly attached to a mason jar. Howard, Robin. If the food has not been exposed to moisture it can be sealed again if the same precautions are followed. 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. SAVE 10% WITH COUPON CODE: SUMMER, Harvest Right 12 Impulse Sealer (SHIPS IN 3-6 WEEKS). Simply start the process and it will begin extracting any excess oxygen from the jar and create a secure seal. It is important to prepare jars properly to maintain the quality of food for a long time. Remember moisture will compromise the longevity of dried food. The downside is once a can has been opened it cannot be resealed, and you will also need to purchase a can sealer. Mason jars can be used along with other products such as mylar bags and cans. To safely store freeze-dried food in mason jars, make sure to extract as much excess air as possible from the jar. 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. Your email address will not be published. This is where its fun to have the vacuum sealer. 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. Just know that opening and re-sealing mason jars will cut into the shelf-life some. I only promote products I like, use, and recommend. Backyard Homestead HQ is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Mason jars can be used as a simple solution to safely store freeze-dried food for a long time. You can shop for the Food Saver vacuum sealer with jar kit on Amazon here. If you already have a vacuum sealer and you just need the kit so you can vacuum seal jars, you can get it from Amazon here (click to see best prices). Important note: make sure your vacuum sealer model has a port and is compatible first! Since I already have it, anyway! They are food safe and have a laminated foil layer, which protects the contents from light. These are the sources used in this article and in our personal research to be more informed as homesteaders. This sealable lid makes mason jars perfect for long-term food storage. Science and Process Made Easy in this article I wrote, so give that a read. Its possible to separate different foods into mylar bags, label them and then seal them into large cans for extra protection. Food-safe oxygen absorbers are small bags that can be placed in a mason jar to remove excess oxygen through absorption. The Food Saver kit tends to be the better budget option, especially if you dont already have the kit for mason jars. Elements such as light and temperature can impact this time, but when managed properly the food will be edible for decades. Purchase mason jars with screw top lids since these are compatible with vacuum sealers. If you add a tick mark to the label each time its opened, though, you can keep better track of which jars have been opened and re-sealed, so that you can use it first. We used to have an off-brand vacuum sealer because it was far easier and cheaper to find bags and parts. The best vacuum sealer to use with mason jars is the Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer or the FoodSaver Sealer with Wide-Mouth Jar Kit. A pantry or cupboard is an excellent place to keep any freeze-dried foods. 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. Clean even wide seal. Backyard Homestead HQ also participates in other affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, Harvest Right, Etsy, ShareASale, and other sites. This site uses paid referral links from carefully selected advertising partners. When sealed properly mylar bags do not allow external odorsor moisture in. That being said, we opted for the Nesco brand, because we needed something heavier duty (after already frying one vacuum sealer), we already have the jar kit, and it got a higher recommendation from Americas Test Kitchen. Mylar bags are safer for decades-long storage as they block more light, while mason jars are more convenient to see whats stored. __ez.scxr.getDW(document).write(new Date().getFullYear())Copyright Backyard Homestead HQ. Required fields are marked *, About Us Affiliate Program Blog Current Lead Times, Contact Us Returns/Refunds Shipping Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy, 2022 PrepSOS.com. A cool environment is best for freeze-dried foods stored in mason jars. 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. How Do Home Freeze Dryers Work? Cans are another option for storing freeze-dried food, especially in large batches. Its easy to identify the foods being stored as they are made of transparent glass. When choosing the size of jars, its a simple process of figuring out how much food to store and what storage space there is. This can be achieved using a vacuum sealer and oxygen absorbers. My neighbor has it and it works great for her. If mason jars are left at too warm of a temperature the shelf life of the food reduces quickly. Personally, Ill stick to one can at a time via the countertop vacuum sealer. Placing a packet in a sealed container is a great way to guarantee the food is safely stored. Some mason jars also feature measurement lines on the glass. 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. Mason jars are great for storing freeze-dried food. The sealing process is quick and easy. This can be a great way of quickly identifying how much food each jar contains. It is very easy to store freeze-dried food in mason jars. Important: If you open your jar after its been sealed then you will need to consume the food within a week. You can purchase attachments created exclusively for this purpose. Jealeta Spears (verified owner) May 14, 2022. They are a popular and easily accessible storage option. Its possible to purchase bags of mason jar lids if you are frequently refilling jars. Whats great is this will allow a person to seal multiple mason jars at one time. This can also make storage easier if you are not planning on using the food for a long time. 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. Mason jars differ from other jars as the lid comes in two separate pieces. They are very suitable when it comes to freeze-dried food. Mason jars are a popular choice for safely storing freeze-dried food at home. To guarantee that freeze-dried food lives up to its long-life potential, make sure each mason jar is properly sealed and oxygen-free. 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. Vacuum sealers and oxygen absorbers are perfect for this and have many other options for storage around the home. 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. The process is simple, and products are easily accessible. Purchasing equipment such as a vacuum sealer will guarantee the quality of the food and there are special machines available for this purpose. Its in the mail, so Ill have to let you know how it does. The best way to store freeze-dried foods is in an airtight container, like a Mylar bag or a mason jar. After the contents are empty you can wash and reuse them. Were learning as we go what works and what doesnt. 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. All Rights Reserved. Mylar bags are made from polyester resin. 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/. You can totally do it! Its even possible to store them in the fridge, but this isnt necessary especially if they have been sealed correctly. Mason jars are a great barrier from insects and pests, once sealed properly no creatures are going to sneak their way in. Unfortunately, as they are made from the glass if they fall from a shelf they will shatter. Mason jars are a great way of storing food safely.