I have started vacuum packing dry goods (beans, flour, sugar, rice, oatmeal, etc.) in quart or half gallon glass Mason Jars. I am just getting started and decided to pause to ask for guidance. I AM leaving a small amount of space at the top of each filled jar (1/2” to 3/4”) before vacuum sealing the top. I screw the ring on after the vacuum sealing is complete.

Should I start over and place a desiccant package each jar or am I good to go without one? All sealed containers will be stored in our in home HVAC return area because it is about 5 feet by 5 feet and is in total darkness.

Thanks for any feedback on this new project for me.

I wouldn't worry about commercially dried products. They should be fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
I wouldn't worry about commercially dried products. They should be fine.

Thanks Gustofer for your feedback. My plan is to only put up dry goods at this time.

Is there a reason that the jars are preferable to heat seal bags commonly used with vac sealers?

All else equal I would prefer to use glass instead of plastic for food contact, but the cost is prohibitive in the short term, plus plastic stacks nicer...

I've been thinking about doing the same and recently started canning foods that we use often (such as crushed tomato and beans)

Don’t use an oxygen absorber in the sugar. Turns the sugar into a big hard rock.
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quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Is there a reason that the jars are preferable to heat seal bags commonly used with vac sealers?

All else equal I would prefer to use glass instead of plastic for food contact, but the cost is prohibitive in the short term, plus plastic stacks nicer...

I've been thinking about doing the same and recently started canning foods that we use often (such as crushed tomato and beans)

Great question - I have available 24 - half gallon Mason brand glass jars and 31 quart Mason brand glass jars (some are large mouth and some are small mouth) from where my parents used to put up a variety of items. They never threw anything away, just put it in dad’s shed. I purchased new lids and some screw on rims so thought I would take advantage of the free containers.

I did buy this very handy and easy to use $30.00 vacuum machine that will do both small and large mouth jars. It takes 40-50 seconds to seal each jar and when it has cycled and you remove the vacuum unit, you cannot remove the Mason jar top with your thumb pushing as hard as possible on the lid rim.

https://www.amazon.com/Everjar...13126274&sr=8-4&th=1

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Don’t use an oxygen absorber in the sugar. Turns the sugar into a big hard rock.
.

Thanks OKCGene - this is something I had not thought about.

I don't know that I'd worry too much about the sugar. Like salt, it doesn't go bad...unless it gets wet of course. Being in MS, humidity might be an issue for you though.

We're bone dry up here. I buy sugar in the 25# plastic bags and just leave it in those. Never an issue.