One of the most popular accessories that you are going to see in kitchens, both personal and professional, is a vacuum sealer, which is a device commonly known as food savers. Vacuum sealers are mostly used for sealing foods in bags, canisters, and for marinating.
Using a vacuum sealer for canning jars, however, is becoming just as popular as its other uses. There are many models of vacuum sealers that consist of attachments designed to work specifically with jars. To seal your jar appropriately, let’s take a look at how you can do it successfully.
A Guide to Sealing Jars
The most critical aspect of canning your jars with a vacuum sealer is to ensure that you have all of the necessary equipment and all attachments that are required to complete the job. Once you have everything you need, then you can begin the process.
Step 1: Preparation
As you prepare your jars for vacuum sealing, you need to first fill them with the contents you wish to store. While doing so, it’s essential that you leave approximately an inch of space at the top.
The area that you leave is going to keep your ingredients from getting sucked into the hose attachment that comes with your vacuum sealer. It also helps to make sure that your machine doesn’t get worn out.
If you are storing any liquid products in your jar, then leaving that one inch of space is going to help the jar expand or contract depending on the temperature. Once your jar is filled, simply cover the mouth with the flat lid and leave the metal ring to the side.
Step 2: Connecting a Jar Sealing Attachment
Attaching your jar sealing attachment to your vacuum sealer is easier than you might think. You just need to be sure that you’re using an attachment that is made for the jar and hose tube you are using.
The correct way to fit or connect your vacuum sealing attachment is to press it down until it covers the jar’s mouth. Once the mouth is covered, you can then push the attachment until the jar’s neck is no longer visible. The enclosure needs to stay in place once you’ve completed that step.
Step 3: Adding the Air Extraction Hose
As soon as you have your vacuum sealing attachment connected to the mouth of your jar, you can begin connecting the air extraction hose. The hose needs to be attached in a way that one end is attached to the sealing enclosure itself, and the other needs to be connected to the vacuum sealer. Doing this makes a connection between the jar and the sealer.
It’s essential that the hose is fitted correctly so that you can ensure that no air can escape. If the attachment isn’t installed the right way, or there is even a slight chance that there is a leak in it, you need to replace it because it can cause pressure to escape and leave behind air.
If there is air left in your jar after the vacuum sealing process is complete, then there is a big chance for your food to spoil, rendering everything you’ve just done useless.
Step 4: Sealing the Jar
The final step to using a vacuum sealer for canning jars is to turn on the sealer and allowing it to seal the jar. The majority of modern sealers that you find on the market are great for automatically sealing jars. However, if you have an older model, you might need to seal the jar manually.
If this is the case, it’s suggested that you consult with the user’s manual that the device came with in order to make sure that you complete the process correctly.
When you are sealing your jar, you need to pay close attention to the signature popping sound. It’s important to act quickly once you hear the sound because that’s the clear indication that your jar has been properly sealed.
Sealing your jars at home can actually be a lot of fun once you’ve mastered the task, and it can save you a lot of money from hiring a company that specializes in the task to do it for you.
Is Sealing Atypical Jars Different?
There is a small difference when sealing atypical jars as there is to sealing other jars. The vacuum sealer itself is different, and you are going to need a larger sealer that features a sealer on the lid.
Similar to other jars such as the Mason jar, your vacuum sealer is going to have an inlet for the attachment needed to seal the atypical jar. Additionally, the attachment requires a depressurized button on the lid of the canister to make sure that the pressure gets removed.
Conclusion
While there might be a small difference between sealing multiple types of jars, the process is generally easy. Using a vacuum sealer for canning jars offers many benefits for those of you who want to store a variety of items for a long time.
What’s more, vacuum sealers can be used for more than just sealing liquids; you can use them to seal powders, dry food, pickles, and more. It’s recommended that you thoroughly look into your vacuum sealer before making your purchase. Also, make sure that you’re getting what you need.
