How to Vacuum Seal in Glass Mason Jars with a Foodsaver

I try to go with reusable  over disposables options as much as I can with the exception of my freezer. After trying and failing - often spectacularly! -  every method I could think of to stop freezer burn, I finally gave in and bought this Foodsaver vacuum sealer. The Foodsaver quickly paid for itself in the amount of food I didn’t have to toss or try to salvage due to freezer burn or spoilage.  In fact, I like and rely on it so much I have no problem recommend it to you (and using my affiliate link) as a way to keep frozen and dry good fresh. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)

Yes, I said dry goods. You can vacuum seal grains, spices, coffee, and such in mason and recycled glass jars you might already have at home. I particularly like to vacuum seal the garden vegetables and herbs I dry in my dehydrator (this is the exact dehydrator I have and I love it!) to keep the flavor from expiring until I remember I have them in the back of my cupboard.

Yes, I tried sucking the air out of the bag with a straw. It didn't work.

 

How to Vacuum Seal Mason Jars with a Foodsaver

 

Mason jars are easy to vacuum seal but you will need to buy a Foodsaver wide mouth or regular mouth mason jar attachment here. You will also need a mason jar and metal lid. You don’t need a mason jar canning ring but I usually screw it onto my jars after I seal them to hold a paper jar label in place.  Without jar labels I would be lost.

It’s super easy to seal a mason jar with a Foodsaver:

1. Put the food item in the mason jar. You may want to cover find powders and grains with a clean coffee filter or piece of paper towel to keep the vacuum hose from clogging.


2. Put the metal lid on the jar without the metal canning ring.

3. Attach the mason jar attachment to the hose on your Foodsaver.


4. Put the jar sealer firmly over the top of the mason jar.

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5. Press the locking lever on the side of the Foodsaver.


6. Press the Canister button on the Foodsaver. It will automatically shut off when the jar is completely sealed.

That’s it!

Why Didn’t My Mason Jar Vacuum Seal in my Foodsaver?

If your mason jar didn’t seal the first time, here’s a quick troubleshooting guide

1. Check to see if the rubber gasket inside the jar sealer attachment is flat or bend. Remove the gasket, fluff it wit your fingers and try again.

Sometimes this guy folds or bends when you are putting on top of your jars

2. You may have too much empty space inside your glass jar. Either pour the contents into a smaller mason jar or you can add a clean paper towel to the jar to fill the large head space.


3. Check to see if the lid is correctly lined up on the top of the jar.


4. There might be a small bend in the metal jar lid. Put a second metal canning lid on top of the first canning lid and try vacuuming sealing the jar  again.

If you don't have extra lids you can buy metal Mason jar canning lids here

5. The jar sealer attachment may not be firmly seated on the jar before you tried vacuum sealing.

How to Vacuum Seal Recycled Glass Jars with a Foodsaver

You can also vacuum seal your own empty glass jars for food storage as long as you have the original undamaged lid for the repurposed jar and one Foodsaver canister like this one.

How to Vacuum Seal a glass jar with a Foodsaver:

1. Put your food items in the empty glass jar and screw the metal lid onto the jar.

2. Put the glass jar inside the appropriate size Food Saver vacuum consider and attach the lid.

3. Attach the vacuum sealer hose to the canister and Foodsaver port.

Recycled food storage!

4. Press the locking lever on the side of the Foodsaver.


5. Press the Canister button on the Foodsaver. It will automatically shut off when the jar seals with a pop!

If you want more low waste vacuum sealing and food storage ideas check out the options - and more! - below!


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