Food Storage in Small Containers

[Ron Mauer Sr]

Food Storage in Small Containers (http://ronmauer.net/blog/?page_id=2705)

After opening a large container of dehydrated or freeze dried food, the remaining food should be stored in an oxygen depleted environment. The enemies of food storage are oxygen, moisture, heat (above room temperature) and sunlight. Some foods can be stored for 30 years or more.

Suitable containers for dehydrated food include


Mason jars,
P.E.T.E jars (video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaYvTBUsKvc), and
other glass jars such as jelly jars that have a metal lid with gasket, (plastic lids are slightly porous)
Mylar bags if properly sealed (requires some skill and technique).

Plastic bags are not suitable for long term storage because plastic allows some oxygen to enter the bag over time. Mylar bags are metalized and do not leak.

If the normal oxygen level is left in the container, the food will soon spoil.

Some techniques for removing oxygen and moisture from small containers. include:


oxygen absorber packages, (video1) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaYvTBUsKvc), (video2) (https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/packing_your_own_food_storage/oxygen_absorbers_and_long_term_food_storage.htm)
vacuum packing using a FoodSaver (video1) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsUl8WJ9ztI), (video2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76QxXgokWjg)
vacuum packing using a Pump-N-Seal (http://www.pump-n-seal.com/) (manual, no electricity or batteries needed)
vacuum packing using a ZipLock bag vacuum pump (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ziploc-Vacuum-Starter-Kit-1-kt/12443047) (manual, no electricity or batteries needed)

The FoodSaver (electricity required) will remove oxygen from Mason jars when used with a separately purchased jar lid accessory (two sizes, regular (http://www.amazon.com/FoodSaver-T03-0006-01-Regular-Mouth-Jar-Sealer/dp/B0000CFFS6) and widemouth (https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/packing_your_own_food_storage/oxygen_absorbers_and_long_term_food_storage.htm)). Make sure the lid and jar top are free of food dust before vacuuming. (video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsUl8WJ9ztI)

Another vacuum sealing method that does not require electricity can be used with Mason jars, P.E.T.E. jars or other glass jars with gasketed lids. This method uses a manual vacuum pump such as the Pump-N-Seal or ZipLock bag pump. Use a thumb tack to put a small hole in the lid. Cover the hole with a Pump-N-Seal tab chek (http://www.pump-n-seal.com/), or the homemade version as described by Judy Of The Woods (http://www.judyofthewoods.net/diy/pump.html). Cover the tab chek with the vacuum Pump-N-Seal (or ZipLock bag pump) and work the handle.

Mason jars have the advantage of providing verification of vacuum. Push down on the lid. If the lid moves and clicks the vacuum has been lost and needs to be established again.

Use caution when using oxygen absorbers. When oxygen absorbers are removed from their original packaging they need to be repackaged as soon as possible by putting them into a small airtight container such as a Mason jar or P.E.T.E. jar. If carelessly left unpackaged they will soon lose their oxygen absorbing capability. After 4 hours of exposure they are expired (reference) (https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/packing_your_own_food_storage/oxygen_absorbers_and_long_term_food_storage.htm).

[Arrowwind]

Have you used the Pump n Seal system? what do you think of it?
I have the Food Saver machine. Its sealing often fails. I have to seal the bags twice to make sure the seal is tight. All in all not too impressed with it.

[ThePythonicCow]

I have the Food Saver machine. Its sealing often fails. I have to seal the bags twice to make sure the seal is tight. All in all not too impressed with it.
I've got a Food Saver, but only used it a few times so far. Do you notice these failures in sealing right away, within minutes of closing the seal, or is it something that can show up much later? In other words, should I be periodically inspecting my sealed inventory, looking for lost sealing?

[Ron Mauer Sr]

Have you used the Pump n Seal system? what do you think of it?
I have the Food Saver machine. Its sealing often fails. I have to seal the bags twice to make sure the seal is tight. All in all not too impressed with it.

Yes I have used both the FoodSaver and the PumpNSeal to seal Mason jars, P.E.T.E. jars and jelly jars.

My FoodSaver is rarely used to seal bags, but putting a second seal on a FoodSaver bag is not difficult or very time consuming.

FoodSaver bags are not as impervious as Mylar, but special techniques (http://www.dehydrate2store.com/videos/?id=58) are needed to create a vacuum in a Mylar bag using the FoodSaver. I do not have a quantitative answer as to how much better Mylar is compared to the FoodSaver bag.

The PumpNSeal appears to be a quality product, with a 10 year warranty. If I did not have one I would purchase one (or two). In fact I may order another for a spare.

[Dennis Leahy]

Anyone tried oxygen displacement via nitrogen?


My preferred method is to just rent a cylinder of nitrogen from a welding supply house and flush the bucket with nitrogen. This is generally done with a “wand” that is attached to the hose coming off the nitrogen cylinder. You poke the wand all the way to the bottom of the bucket and turn on the gas. You also will have the lid open just enough to get the wand into the bucket. To see that all the oxygen has been displaced from the bucket, you can light a match and hold it over the open area of the bucket. When the match goes out the oxygen has been displayed. You will need to poke the wand down into the bucket at three different places. At the 2:00, 6:00, and 10:00 positions. That way you will be flushing the majority of the oxygen from the bucket. If you wish, you can place an oxygen absorber packet in the bucket before pounding on the lid.
Source: http://www.freezedriedsurvivalfood.com/3133/long-term-food-storage-techniques-and-container-types/


Dennis

[Cjay]

Great information. Thanks to all.

[Hervé]

A quick and not so dirty way of removing oxygen and creating a vacuum can be derived from "Fire Cupping" and using a cotton ball lightly soaked with a flammable material, set it alight and throw it into the jar, close the lid. When the flame dies out... no more oxygen and the jar is vacuum sealed. May not work for large dry food jar but definitively for small ones and/or liquid/gel filled ones (like jam).

[Arrowwind]

I've got a Food Saver, but only used it a few times so far. Do you notice these failures in sealing right away, within minutes of closing the seal, or is it something that can show up much later? In other words, should I be periodically inspecting my sealed inventory, looking for lost sealing?

I notice it within minutes, say 10 or 15 I guess. Haven't noticed a problem after it being in the freezer but that is not to say that it doesnt' happen. After everything is frozen all compressed I guess a leak could happen and you wouldnt notice. I havent kept any of this frozen food longer than a year. It all has looked good when I opened it.

I may have to look into the pump and seal. I worry about what happens if the electric is off... Still, canning is the most assured way for long term storage of garden foods. You guys are aware of the Tattler canning lids? They are fully reusable. I have some but haven't tried them out yet. Maybe this week when I can zucchini pickles.
they are more like what our grandmothers use to use with the large rubber rings that are reusable.
http://www.reusablecanninglids.com/