Vacuum-Seal Mason Jars with a Hand Pump—No Machine Needed
Sneak Preview: Learn how to vacuum-seal Mason jars with a simple hand pump, keeping chopped lettuce, nuts, and dry goods fresh longer without an expensive machine!

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Why Vacuum-Seal in Mason Jars?
Looking for a way to store food in glass jars instead of plastic bags? Many people love vacuum-sealing chopped lettuce but don’t want to invest in a bulky vacuum sealer. That’s where this budget-friendly hand pump method comes in!
Important: This is not a heat-processing method. Perishable foods like lettuce and fresh vegetables must be refrigerated. Dry goods like nuts, flour, and cereal can be stored in the pantry.
What You’ll Need
- Hand pump: Ziplock sells a hand pump(paid link) Find it near plastic wrap at store or on Amazon.
- Glass jar with lid: Use a Mason jar or repurpose jars from pasta sauce or jelly. Screw-on lids work best.
- Thumbtack & electrical tape: Creates and seals the vacuum hole.
How to Vacuum-Seal a Mason Jar with a Hand Pump
1. Create the Vacuum Seal
- Poke a tiny hole in the metal lid using a thumbtack.
- Cover the hole with a small piece of electrical tape.
- Place the hand pump over the lid and pump vigorously.



2. How to Open a Sealed Jar
- Peel off the tape to break the vacuum instantly.
- Twist the lid (if you have strong hands).
3. How Long Does the Seal Last?
- Check the seal regularly by pressing on the lid. If it moves or clicks, re-seal with fresh tape.
- Vacuum-sealed jars keep lettuce crisp for over a week and extend the shelf life of dry goods.
4. Troubleshooting Tips
- Use less tape—too much can prevent proper suction.
- Ensure your hand pump isn’t cracked—a small break can ruin suction. (This actually happened to me when I first tried this technique, leading me to believe it wouldn’t work. I’m glad my reader, Vicki, encouraged me to give it another try.)
- Twist-on lids may not hold a seal as well as traditional canning lids.
Alternative Method: Wide-Mouth Jar Adapter
If you have a FoodSaver wide-mouth attachment, you can skip the thumbtack method!
- Place the flat Mason jar lid on the jar.
- Cover with the wide-mouth attachment.
- Use the hand pump over the adapter’s hole.
- Pump out the air, then remove the attachment and screw on the collar.


Does This Really Work?
Yes! I vacuum-sealed chopped romaine in a repurposed spaghetti sauce jar. Eight days later, it was still crisp with no brown edges!

Parting Thoughts: The blue lettering on the hand pump may rub off on your hands. To remove it, rub a little vegetable oil on the pump and wipe with a paper towel.
Questions? Email me: Paula at saladinajar.com. Hope to see you again soon!
Paula Rhodes, owner
As a retired home economist, I created Saladinajar.com to share my belief that you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Bread machines (used in an unconventional way), homemade yogurt, and quick microwave recipes are my specialty.