How to Vacuum Seal Almost Any Jar in Your Kitchen


Glass jars holding pasta and flour in various sizes.

How would you like to reuse empty jars to store your dry goods such as rice and pasta? Here's how to vacuum seal jars for longer storage life, so you can stock up your food storage. 


You'll also find methods to vacuum seal Mason jars, both with and without a Foodsaver appliance, as well as empty jars such as jelly jars and spaghetti sauce jars.


How to vacuum seal empty jars


Table of Contents


Introduction


I have a hard time throwing out jars.


They are the perfect container for dry goods, for leftovers in the refrigerator, and of course for liquids. I'll buy a product in a glass jar before buying a similar product in a can or plastic jar.


Glass jars can be reused. Cans cannot, and I prefer not to reuse plastic, so cans and plastic are both "garbage" that need to be disposed of.


And when your homestead doesn't come with curbside garbage pickup every week and recycling is pretty much unheard of in your neck of the woods, disposing of things is difficult.


So my kitchen is filled with jars: Mason jars as well as reused jars from spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise jars, salsa jars and more.


But they don't sit empty for long. If they're going to take up space in my kitchen, they have to have a purpose.


Gallon-sized jars make great canisters for various flours and sugar. Half-gallon jars and smaller hold pasta and rice and other dry goods in my kitchen.


Reused jars from pasta sauce, salsa and so on are great for storing dehydrated foods such as chopped onions, peppers and sliced mushrooms, and dry goods such as pasta, rice and flour.


There are several methods of vacuum sealing jars included in this post, so keep reading to find one that works best for you!


This post was updated in June 2024.


Pasta and macaroni vacuum sealed in recycled glass jars, with a Foodsaver appliance in the background.


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For longer-term storage of dehydrated foods and dry goods such as pasta, popcorn kernels and rice, you can vacuum-seal reused jars to ensure freshness. 


Vacuum-sealing prolongs your foods' storage life by eliminating the oxygen that breaks down food over time.


Is this the same as dry-canning? Is it safe?


Vacuum sealing is not dry-canning or oven canning. Dry canning uses canning jars filled with rice, beans, flour or another "dry" food, and heating them in the oven. Dry canning is not a safe or approved method of preserving or storing food.


Jar manufacturers have stated that their jars are not made to withstand the dry heat of an oven. The heat can cause micro-fractures in the glass, making them prone to breaking. [Source]


You should not use the dry canning or oven canning method, but you can safely use these vacuum sealing methods to preserve your shelf-stable foods.


Vacuum sealing is a safe method of preserving food such as rice, beans, flour, and other shelf-stable foods. The jars are not exposed to heat. Instead, the air is vacuumed out of the jars, leaving food in an optimum condition without oxygen. 


Vacuum sealing preserves your dry foods in a safe manner.


If you have other questions, see the FAQs section at the end of this post.


What foods can safely be stored in vacuum-sealed jars?


Dry goods, dehydrated foods, freeze-dried foods, spices and so on can be vacuumed sealed and stored on your pantry shelves.


For instance:


  • Dry goods such as rice, flour, pasta and dry beans
  • Dehydrated foods, such as onion slices, peppers, mushrooms, and so on
  • Nuts such as pecans, walnuts and almonds
  • Freeze dried foods - when you open a #10 can, put the bulk of the product in large jars and vacuum-seal, and put a smaller amount in a jar for daily use
  • Bulk spices
  • Rolled oats for oatmeal
  • Powdered milk
  • Wheat berries
  • Candy - buy candy on clearance after the holidays and vacuum seal for later use


    Two canning jars on a shelf holding dry macaroni and pasta, with a blue and white trivet and a silver tea infuser in the background.
    Vacuum sealing is an easy way to extend the storage life of dry foods such as pasta, popcorn, rice and dehydrated foods.


    What NOT to vacuum seal


    Don't vacuum seal (or use an oxygen absorber) to preserve sugar or brown sugar. You'll end up with a solid brick of sugar that will never come out of the jar.


    Don't vacuum seal fresh or cooked foods. In other words, vacuum sealing a canning jar of sliced peaches or homemade soup is not safe unless you are planning to keep that jar in the refrigerator for a few days before eating. 


    Those fresh or cooked foods must be water bathed or pressure canned in order to store them on a shelf in your pantry. 


    Vacuum sealing dry goods such as pasta, rice, dehydrated foods and so on will extend the food's shelf life and is safe.


    Vacuum sealing will keep cereals, crackers, cookies and other foods from going stale in your pantry as well. (I hate stale food, so vacuum sealing them saves me money!)


    Store your labeled, vacuum-sealed jars in a cool, dark place for maximum storage life.


    How to vacuum seal jars with a Foodsaver


    While using a Foodsaver appliance is my favorite way to vacuum-seal jars, I realize that not everyone has a Foodsaver. I'll discuss other ways to vacuum-seal jars without a Foodsaver, as well as some alternatives to the Foodsaver brand below, so keep reading!


    You can easily vacuum seal canning (Mason) jars, but you can also re-use those spaghetti sauce and salsa jars too.


    Note: The FoodSaver model that I have in my own kitchen (and is in these photos) has been discontinued. Evidently you now have to purchase the accessory hose separately now, so please make sure that your model has an "accessory port" like this FoodSaver model has. Not all of them do nowadays!


    A FoodSaver appliance, canning jar and canning jar sealing accessory.


    How to vacuum seal canning jars


    Canning jars are easy to seal with the FoodSaver vacuum sealer jar attachment.


    To use it, just place the flat lid on top of the jar - you don't need the ring to hold the lid on - then set the canning jar vacuum sealer attachment on top, connect it to the hose attachment port and press the "Start" button on the vacuum sealer appliance.


    By the way, the hose attachment used to come with the FoodSaver unit. If yours has been misplaced or one wasn't included with your FoodSaver, you can order a new hose attachment here. Just be sure that your FoodSaver has a "hose port" or "accessory port."


    There are two different vacuum sealer jar attachments, one for regular mouth jars and one for the wide mouth jars, so be sure to get the one that fits the jar size you use most. Or get both.


    Troubleshooting tips to vacuum seal Mason jars


    If you're vacuum sealing a jar and the lid you're using just won't seal, try these trouble-shooting tips:


    • Use two lids. I know, that sounds crazy. But it often works. Place the two lids, one on top of the other, on top of the jar and use the canning jar vacuum seal attachment as directed. When it's finished sucking out the air, remove the attachment. The top canning lid will come off, but the other lid will have sealed to the jar.
    • Or try a different lid, especially if you're re-using a lid. Sometimes they have a small bend that's hard to see.
    • If you still have problems, use a different canning jar. There might be an imperceptible flaw in the rim of the jar.
    • When vacuum sealing a jar of flour or other powder, the food can be vacuumed up into the mouth of the jar and into the hose, which can clog up the inside of your Foodsaver appliance. Try cutting a coffee filter to fit on top of the flour in the jar, and just set it inside your filled jar. Add the jar lid and vacuum seal as usual.



    A small, empty brown glass jar that once held yeast, and its lid. The lid has a white rubber strip around the inside edge.


    How to vacuum seal glass jars (that aren't canning jars)


    But did you know you can even vacuum seal most reused jars, that aren't canning jars? You know, those spaghetti sauce jars, salsa jars and so on. 


    It requires a different method but it's just as simple. As long as the jar lid has a "rubber" ring inside, it can be vacuum-sealed. In the photo above, you can see the white ring inside the lid from this empty jar of yeast.


    That rubber ring is the secret!


    Some jar lids have a green ring, or a red ring, or a white ring. The color doesn't matter, as long as it has this rubber-like substance inside the lid.


    A recycled brown glass jar with metal lid, inside a FoodSaver canister, attached to a FoodSaver appliance with an accessory hose, ready to be vacuum-sealed.


    To seal this kind of jar, you'll need a FoodSaver vacuum canister set. The canisters come in a set of three, in various sizes.


    You'll even find an instructional video from the manufacturer at that link above on how to use the FoodSaver canisters to keep dry good fresh - but keep reading below to learn how to use the canisters to vacuum-seal glass jars too!


    Also, the Avid Armor brand has a vacuum sealer with accessory hose and canisters. I haven't used this product but it looks promising.


    How to vacuum seal non-canning jars


    To vacuum seal a non-canning jar in a Foodsaver canister: set the lid on the jar, screw it on lightly (not tightened all the way) and place it inside one of the canisters. I choose the canister closest in size to the jar so there is less air to remove.


    Attach the hose attachment to your FoodSaver and to the top of the canister. (This hose attachment is no longer included with a new FoodSaver appliance. A hose attachment can be ordered separately - be sure you order the one that will fit your machine, and that your machine has an "accessory port"). 


    Then push the "Start" button. The vacuum sealer removes the air from inside the jar and from inside the canister too.


    When it's finished the unit will turn off. Just remove the hose attachment, press the button on top of the canister and open it. The jar inside is now sealed.


    The last step is to label your jars; don't depend on your memory. Hot peppers can look identical to sweet peppers, and chopped red peppers look amazingly like chopped carrots. Trust me on that.


    How to vacuum-seal bottles and jars with plastic lids


    You can't vacuum-seal a jar with a plastic lid. I'm sorry. Plastic lids don't have that rubber seal inside that is the secret to vacuum-sealing.


    Instead, use jars with plastic lids to hold leftovers in the refrigerator. Soy sauce bottles with long necks and plastic caps make nice bud vases for flowers from your garden, or you can use them to hold vinegar, which is shelf-stable and doesn't need to be canned or preserved.


    If you'd like to try making your own vinegar for just pennies, get a free copy of my ebook by subscribing to The Acorn, my weekly-ish newsletter.


    Alternative methods of creating a vacuum seal in jars (without a Foodsaver)


    • If you don't have a FoodSaver unit, you can use a Pump N Seal hand pump to manually remove the air from your jars. (You'll find other similar brands here.)
    • Use the Masonking M1 Electric Mason Jar Sealer to vacuum seal canning jars. This unit is less expensive than a FoodSaver appliance.
    • Or you can add oxygen absorbers to your jar instead. These will absorb the oxygen inside the jar. Please note that this won't really create a vacuum seal - it will absorb the oxygen but not the "air." However, removing the oxygen is a well-recommended way of extending the shelf life of your dry food.

      Purchase oxygen absorbers in small packages. For instance, some packages of 100 will have smaller bags of ten absorbers inside. This is important unless you are sealing 100 jars or bags at a time! As soon as you open that package, the absorbers will begin working, whether they are in jars or not. 

      So assemble your dry goods in their jars and have the lids ready to go, then open the packaging of the oxygen absorbers, drop the absorbers in the jars and seal them up right away.

    A package of oxygen absorbers inside a clear plastic bag.


    A short FAQ about vacuum sealing


    • Vacuum-sealing is not meant to preserve fresh or cooked foods. It isn't a substitute for canning food in jars. However, it's a great way to extend the shelf life of dry foods (pasta, rice, nuts, dehydrated foods, etc.).
      ... Check out my tutorials for both water bath canning and pressure canning to learn about preserving fresh and cooked foods in the safest and recommended way.
    • Can you vacuum seal gallon-sized jars? You'd need a canister that's large enough to hold a gallon-sized jar in order to use this method, and unfortunately I don't know of one that big. You might want to check YouTube for DIY vacuum chamber that are large enough.
    • Clean and sterilize your jars before using them for storage. I sterilize mine by running them through the dishwasher and a heated dry cycle. The jars must be completely dry inside before placing your dry goods inside.
    • Vacuum sealing dry foods such as rice, beans and flour is safe, and is not the same as dry canning or oven canning. Dry canning is not a safe or approved method of preserving food.


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    Text: Long-term storage of dry goods using almost any jar in your kitchen."

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