The time for canning and storing is almost upon us. If you are growing a garden and are planning to “put back” some of your yield, you obviously know the importance of vacuum sealers. For those who are just starting out with their self-sustaining homestead garden, let’s take a moment to discuss the importance of vacuum sealers.
A vacuum sealer is probably one of the greatest food saver inventions of all time. Any type of food (except extreme liquid foods) can be sealed. You want to make sure that you don’t waste any of your precious food supply and this is one way to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Storing food in containers is a great way to store food and along with that, you can use a vacuum sealer to store individual packets of food and then place them in the container.
Get More Homesteading and Self-Reliance Tips. Subscribe!
There are two types of sealers: one is hand-held and one will sit on a countertop or bench. Look for a hand-held sealer that can seal large and/or Mylar bags. The countertop version uses rolls of plastic that you can cut to individual sizes.
Food Storage Resources
The clear plastic food sealer bags are great for short-term but you want to use the Mylar bags for long-term storage. The bags are air permeable which means they are prone to leak and will eventually deteriorate. If this happens, your food will become compromised.
Mylar bags are the preferred method for long-term storage. Along with the Mylar bags, you will also want to use oxygen or moisture absorbers. Moisture can do a great deal of damage to your stored food. If this happens, it will become tainted and unfit for consumption.
Mylar bags are much more durable than the plastic bags. Don’t take this wrong. The plastic bags are great for short-term! But if you are thinking about long-term, Mylar is definitely the way to go. The Mylar bags don’t puncture and they won’t let light seep through like the plastic bags. You can double-seal if you so choose.
If you use the Mylar bag to seal beans, for instance, place your beans in the bag and add an oxygen absorber. If you can’t find one or don’t want to pay the expense of buying the hand-held Mylar bag sealer, a flat iron will work just fine.
When you are sealing the bag, leave enough of an opening to stick a durable straw through the hole.
Take a straw and stick the straw in the hole. Attach a clear hose (usually comes with the sealer) to the end of the straw and insert the other end of the hose back into the appropriate spot on the vacuum sealer.
The sealer will suck out as much of the air as it can. Remove the straw and then seal with your flat iron. It is ok if there is a small amount of air left in the bag. If you have inserted an oxygen absorber in the bag, it will absorb any of the left over air.
Free Subscription to PREPARE Magazine
One really good idea is to double-seal your meals! Take an entire meal and place the individual plastic bags inside a larger Mylar bag with an oxygen absorber. Seal with an oxygen absorber as before with a straw.
This process can be started by doing small amounts at a time. If you buy the large rice bags and divide it into individual Mylar bags, it might take a while to accomplish. It is a little time consuming and your sealer may overheat. Not to worry! You will be well-prepared when the time comes.
Don’t reuse bags if you have put raw meat into the bag. Raw meat can leave bacteria on the surface of the bag.
Using a vacuum sealer is extremely easy and once you learn how to use it, you will be sealing everything in sight!
