How a Handheld Vacuum Sealer and Mason Jars Can Save You Money

Last updatedJanuary 31, 2025

Sneak Preview: Using a handheld vacuum sealer with Mason jars helps extend the freshness of food, reducing waste and saving money. This method is ideal for small households, bulk shoppers, and those with limited freezer space.

vacuum-sealed food in Mason jars pictured with a handheld vacuum sealer and widemouth sealer.

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Are you tempted to buy bulk food but worry it will spoil before you can use it? Do fresh veggies on sale call your name, but you hesitate because they won’t last long? If you live far from town or have limited refrigerator space, a handheld vacuum sealer can be a game-changer.

I first discovered vacuum sealing when I started packing chopped romaine lettuce into Mason jars. My method keeps chopped lettuce fresh for 7–10 days without browning. Since publishing that trick in 2009, I’ve learned even more about the benefits of vacuum sealing, especially for small kitchens and households. A portable handheld sealer makes food storage easier, saving both money and space.

Mason jars full of vacuum-sealed cut lettuce.

Why Skip a Countertop Vacuum Sealer?

a countertop vacuum seal machine next to a handheld vacuum sealer to compare the size.

Downsides of Large Units:

Takes up valuable counter space
Noisy operation
Higher cost than a handheld model
Short lifespan with frequent use

When a Countertop Model Might Be Worth It:
If you regularly vacuum-seal meats for freezing or sous vide cooking, a larger unit may be more efficient. It’s also better suited for sealing irregularly shaped foods in vacuum bags rather than jars.

Benefits of a Handheld Vacuum Sealer

Affordable
Compact and lightweight
Battery-powered (no cords except for charging) (paid link)
Manual hand pumps available—no electricity needed

Why Use Mason Jars for Vacuum-Sealed Storage?

empty Mason jars of different sizes and the metal 2-part lids.

Easy to find in multiple sizes
Reusable and dishwasher-safe
Protects delicate foods from crushing
Uses flat lids that can be resealed multiple times

Note: Flat lids are reusable for vacuum sealing but not for pressure canning.

What Is a Mason Jar Lid Sealer?

two sizes of the glass jar adapters need to seal Mason jars.

A lid sealer (also called an adapter) allows you to vacuum-seal Mason jars. They come in two sizes: wide-mouth and regular-mouth. Wide-mouth jars are easier to seal, while regular-mouth jars can be trickier to load and vacuum-seal properly.

How to Vacuum Seal a Mason Jar

Fill the jar with your chosen food. Ensure the rim is clean.
Place a flat metal canning lid on top. Do not screw on the metal collar.
Position the lid adapter on top of the flat lid.
Use the vacuum sealer’s nozzle to cover the hole on the adapter.
Activate the vacuum sealer. The pitch of the sound will change as the air is removed.
Once sealed, remove the adapter and check the seal by pressing the lid’s center. If it moves, reseal and ensure the rim is clean.
Once sealed, screw on the metal collar for extra security during storage.

What Foods Can Be Vacuum-Sealed in a Jar?

Pantry Items: Crackers, cookies, dried beans, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, candy, homemade spice blends, and more.

Refrigerated Foods: Shredded cheese, fresh herbs, chopped veggies, and leftovers (must be kept in the fridge).

Grains & Baking Staples: Flour, cornmeal, pancake mix, rice, instant yeast, and dried milk—helps prevent spoilage and pests.

In case you are wondering about foods that you should not vacuum-pack, check out this post. In the case of lettuce, see this post about why I do not add extra veggies to my lettuce.

How to Get Started with Vacuum Sealing

Choose a reliable handheld vacuum sealer (paid link). They don’t need to be expensive.
Get the right Mason jar adapter (paid link) for wide-mouth or regular jars.
Stock up on Mason jars in various sizes (thrift stores are a great place to look).

FAQ

How is vacuum sealing different from canning?
- Vacuum sealing removes air to extend shelf life, but it does not make food shelf-stable. Refrigeration is required for perishable items.
Can I vacuum-seal leafy greens like spinach?
- I don’t recommend it. They are too fragile and you won’t get more than a day or two of freshness for your trouble.
Why won’t my jars seal?
- Make sure the rim is clean, the flat lid is properly placed, and the adapter is secure. Try resealing if needed. Other reasons can also prevent sealing.
Can I freeze vacuum-sealed jars?
- Yes, but leave room for expansion to prevent breakage.
Can I use my countertop FoodSaver for Mason jars?
- Yes, if you have a jar-sealing adapter.
Do I need the metal screw-on collar after sealing?
- Not for storage, but it adds extra security if jars are moved around frequently.
Can I vacuum-seal a cut avocado?
- Yes, but not much longer than 24-36 hours, in my experience. As with all vacuum-sealed food, the fresher it is going into the jar, the better the results.

screwing on the collar part of the lid to secure the seal.

Final Thoughts: I’ve been vacuum-sealing lettuce and other foods in Mason jars for nearly 20 years. This simple method saves money, reduces waste, and keeps food fresh much longer.

Questions? Email me: Paula at saladinajar.com. Hope to see you again soon!

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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.

87 Comments

Kellie Vanderford says:

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I recently purchased a Mason Genie. Anxious to use. Regarding fruits and veggies, should they be washed first? Can you cut larger fruits and veggies before sealing? Do you have a publication that has instructions?

Thank you
Kellie

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1. Paula says:
  
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  How exciting! The Mason Genie is a great tool for vacuum-sealing.
  
  Yes, you’ll want to wash and dry your fruits and veggies before sealing to keep everything fresh and clean. If you’re sealing something with extra moisture, like berries, letting them air-dry or patting them dry with a towel helps prevent excess moisture inside the jar.
  
  You can definitely cut larger fruits and veggies before sealing—just make sure they’re fully dry before packing them in.
  
  I don’t have a specific publication with instruction–just this post that you’ve probably already read.
  
  Enjoy your new Mason Genie, and happy sealing!
  
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Cindy S says:

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I have vacuum sealed dry pinto beans n the lid popped loose at some point in the past 3-6 months.
Since these are dry are the still good to repackage if the look the same n r bug free like my other jars that are sealed? Help !

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Yes, Cindy. Reseal. but try to use them soon.
  
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MonarchMaid says:

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Paula, you have turned my kitchen life around. I like to use glass not plastic for food storage. Now you have reminded me that my Foodsaver equipment can help me keep food fresh longer. And I will be growing my own Romaine so I can use your idea! Thanks so much!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Growing your own romaine? Lucky you. Thanks for writing.
  
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Daphne says:

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Thanks so much for this information. With the high cost of food these days we have to preserve it! Going to try this.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Well said!!
  
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Caryn Hart says:

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I have a Waring portable vacuum sealer. Would the accessory to use with canning jars work with that?

Also, have you ever tried using it with a peeled avocado? I am wondering if it would keep the avocado from turning brown.

Thanks,
Caryn

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Caryn.
  I looked up the Waring sealer online, and it looks like it would work.
  
  Regarding avocados, that reminds me that I was going to add a comment about that in my post. I’ve tried it, and it did not work–at all. 😟
  What works best for me is to put a half of an avocado in a jar of water that covers the entire avocado. But this is only good for 1-2 days.It makes a slightly mushy top layer but I don’t notice it when eating the avocado.
  
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Ann says:

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I cannot find a new adapter for the mason jars anywhere. Any suggestions?

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Ann,
  
  I looked around and everybody is “out of stock.” Weird. Maybe it’s Covid. I saw some on Ebay for outrageous prices but that’s not very helpful. I can only think of one alternative. If you can find a Foodsaver canister that is larger than your jars, you can put the jar into the canister with the lid on. Vacuum-pack the canister and the jar will also seal. Take the lid off the canister and remove your sealed jar. Good luck!
  
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2. Ann says:
  
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  @Paula, Thanks! I do have those items.
  
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3. Viola Jones says:
  
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  @Ann, there are plenty of them available on eBay hope this helps.
  
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Melanie says:

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Hello! I do not find the video on using the hand held device to vacuum pack lettuce.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Melanie,
  
  I just checked and it’s there. It’s an old You Tube video. It is a great way to vacuum-seal. So much more convenient than a large machine.
  
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Diana says:

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Where can I find a hand held vacuum for my foodsaver jar sealer? TIA

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Here is one from Foodsaver, http://www.foodsaver.com/vacuum-sealers/handheld-vacuum-sealers/the-foodsaver-freshsaver-handheld-vacuum-sealing-system/FSFRSH0051-P00.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwwqXMBRCDARIsAD-AQ2ichh4whGwnVQvYxTdSDihQovel3T1xiokLoGE9MQj_o0l2CXZDuEIaAhZHEALw_wcB&kwid=Productads-adid^150610209503-device^c-plaid^263863296947-sku^FSFRSH0051@ADL4P00-adType^PLA. However, this is my favorite. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P8DZ4XM/ref=asc_df_B00P8DZ4XM5112695/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395009&creativeASIN=B00P8DZ4XM&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198079985682&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18301141802262154547&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027200&hvtargid=pla-318510512293
  
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Margaret Brown says:

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I recommend writing the food item’s name, the date and the cooking instructions either right on the bag or on a freezer bag label, that you stick to the bag to save you from having to find the cooking instructions on the recipe later. Once you’ve done that, just fill and seal your vacuum food bag as you would a regular zipper storage bag. The Reynolds bags have a maximum fill line. With the bag lying flat on the counter, make sure there is no food above the maximum fill line or directly under the air value. Next, press the vacuum sealer tip against the air valve and press the on button to remove air from your bag. When the bag is tight around the food, release the on button. Quick-as-a-wink, your food is vacuum sealed and ready for the freezer.

Freezing Appetizers

I freeze appetizers such as crab melts and pizza bites using the RHV sealer. When I am ready to cook, I take the appetizers right out of the freezer and vacuum sealed bag, and put them directly into the oven for a quick broil time of 8 minutes. I use the RHV sealer when freezing sweet and spicy meatballs, and when I plan to serve these, I thaw, remove from the freezer bag and reheat in the microwave for a quick bite to eat on busy nights.

Freezing Cookie Dough

I use the flash freezing method for freezing cookie dough. (You may refer to my April, newsletter/article, How to Flash Freeze Make Ahead Cookies, by clicking on my website in my resources box. ) The RHV sealer is very handy for freezing cookie dough. If you don’t want to use all of the frozen cookie dough at once, you may take what you need and reseal the bag. For fresh baked cookies every time, that’s convenient.

Freezing Breads

If you’ve tried freezing breads using a plain freezer bag or plastic wrap, you may have found that once thawed, your bread was maybe a little freezer burned and didn’t really taste so great. It’s okay! The RHV will change the way you feel about freezing bread! Whether I bake banana bread, cinnamon bread, blueberry bread or our family favorite, strawberry bread, I have used the RHV sealer to freeze these and many more breads and have had great results. After baking two loaves of bread (many of my bread recipes will yield two loaves) I wait until they are completely cooled. Next, I wrap them in plastic wrap before placing them in a vacuum bag to freeze. This way, when I am ready to take them out of the vacuum sealed bags to thaw, the breads are already wrapped and ready to eat in about 4 hours. Also, by wrapping the bread in saran wrap first, the freezer bag stays clean and may be reused. Even if they do need cleaning, the vacuum bags may be washed and reused. Breads are great, economical, yet thoughtful gifts to give, especially around the holidays. Once you’ve tried the RHV for freezing breads, you’ll be hooked, and thrilled, when you have a loaf of bread handy in your freezer for whatever the occasion.

Freezing Meals

Several of my main dish recipes and soups can be cooked first and then frozen using the vacuum bags and the RHV sealer. These are easily and quickly defrosted and reheated in the microwave for speedy mid-week meals. These main dishes include: pulled pork, sloppy joes, meatballs and gravy, spaghetti sauce with meatballs and sausage and taco meat. Beef stew, chicken and spinach tortellini soup, hearty chili and Italian wedding soup are soups that I freeze using the RHV sealer. For other main dish recipes, I assemble the ingredients ahead and use the RHV sealer to freeze the meal before cooking. These include lasagna, chicken cannelloni, taco lasagna, chicken and spinach stuffed shells and chicken enchiladas. I allow 24 hours for these meals to defrost in the refrigerator and then I bake according to the recipe’s directions. The RHV is perfect for maintaining the freshness of marinated meats like teriyaki chicken, Thai chicken thighs, London Broil Strips and marinated steak. For turkey and hamburger patties, the RHV sealer truly maintains the food’s freshness and appearance. When freezing foods, the RHV sealer is a must-have tool for your kitchen. For make ahead meals, appetizers, soups, breads and cookies, the fresh and delicious taste of my foods comes through every time.

Jane Doiron is a busy working mom of two boys. She is an Elementary School teacher with a passion for cooking and experimenting with recipes. With her busy schedule, Jane has found that make ahead meals (meals prepared in advance) are time-savers, money-savers and are the best alternatives to eating “take-out”, which is not usually a healthy meal choice. Jane’s cookbook is the result of her years of seeking out new recipes, experimenting with family-favorite recipes, and turning them into make ahead meals. Make ahead meals can be frozen ahead, assembled ahead, or cooked ahead and reheated. The recipes in her cookbook are a combination of all three and were specially formulated without compromising the food’s taste and texture. Along with make ahead meals, in her book, Jane also shares her favorite dessert, appetizer and side-dish recipes, as well as helpful tips, like, make ahead tips for the holidays, freezing, must-have items for freezing, and many more useful cooking tips for making recipes ahead.

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harriet says:

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Hi, thanks for sharing experience!

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Dee Garza says:

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The Waring Pro handheld was mentioned. Is there tubing that works with this machine? Would the Foodsaver brand tubing allow me to use the Waring Pro to seal jars? Thanks!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Dee,
  I have only seen this in a picture online, never in person. But it appears to have a small suction cup on the nose that one would only need to be placed on top of the hole of the large mouth jar adapter as seen here. Hope this helps. Let me know if you try this and how it works.
  
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Dottie Sinkler says:

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You just saved me a lot of money and using your method of salad in a jar means that I do not have to throw away wilted lettuce and a jar is ready every day of the week for my salad. It is easy to add veggies and cheese to my salads after removing the tops from the jars of lettuce. Thanks again.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  You’re welcome, Dottie. Thanks for the testimony.
  
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Justin says:

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Thanks, Paula!

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Justin says:

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Thanks for posting this. How do you attach the foodsaver hose to the Freshsaver vacuum?

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Justin,
  The hose is not used with the Freshsaver. Position the rubber end of the Freshsaver over the hole on the jar attachment and apply pressure downward to create a seal, then vacuum. There are pictures on the post and a video if you are still uncertain how it works.
  
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lucyluella says:

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Bought this a couple of years ago and it has been awesome. No more wasted slimey lettuce after 3-4 days. Stays good into 2nd week. Use it every time I buy lettuce. Couldn’t be happier.

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TimC says:

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I want to say a big THANK YOU for your work!

I must mention that it is not necessary to press down on the jar adapter for it to work. Pressing down too much will actually defeat the vacuum adapter. I’m thinking that may be the problem with Lani’s efforts?

Another thing: you can tell if the jar lid will seal or not by feeling the seal area with your finger. If it is smooth and does not “drag” a little, it will probably not seal well. I have taken a little artist brush and painted a little water around the seal area before applying the vacuum…seems to work. (maybe that will help Lani as well?)

It’s so refreshing to see someone who believes in what she is doing and has fun while doing it!

Thanks again!

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Lani says:

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I need help, guys. I bought the Foodsaver handheld sealer and a million mason jars–no luck. Can’t get it to work. So I bought the Reynolds sealer since I’d heard it’s easier to use, but I am apparently so dumb that the easy-to-use venue is still too hard. As a last ditch effort, I tried the tape method. Alas, my last ditch effort was a big, fat fail. Seriously–what am I doing wrong?!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Have you read this post?
  
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Colin says:

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Thanks for the video! Now I can purchase the jar adapter!

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Megan says:

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I’ve been using your method for a few weeks now and really enjoy it! I had an awful time with the Foodsaver handheld vacuum. Maybe I had a defective unit, but I could never get it to seal a jar. It was much too weak. Instead, I invested in a Waring Pro Pistol Vac… about $50 off eBay. Same convenience as the Foodsaver with a more powerful motor.

I also give my lettuce a little vinegar bath (diluted with water) while cleaning. It seems to perk up the lettuce a bit.

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Sheri says:

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Hi Paula,
I am wondering if you can use the handheld vaccuum device and the tape method together if that would work instead of using the jar sealer? I cannot find the Ziploc manual pump or the jar sealer attachment here in Canada except on amazon.ca and the jar sealer would cost $45 with shipping! I can get the handheld foodsaver vaccuum device for $25 at Walmart. Thanks.

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1. Heidi says:
  
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  You can get them at http://www.foodsaver.ca
  
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Jonathan says:

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How does the manual Ziploc pump compare to the Reynolds electronic pump? I mean is the Reynolds one more effective or is just more efficient? I can handle the time/effort of using the Ziploc manual pump if they are both just as effective.

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Marilyn Maroon says:

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Thank you so much!! I just got the attachment and used my handheld
Freshsaver and it worked. I had a small bag of carrots and was just trying it for the first time to see how to do it and am thrilled. There are so many uses now that I can use to save money by keeping food fresher longer. If not for your video and answers I would not have done this.

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Marilyn Maroon says:

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Great video with lots of info. I just purchased the hand-held FoodSaver and am looking to purchase the attachment for the wide-mouth jars, but when searching some come with the cord/hose and some do not. You said ” You absolutely need a hose like you get with a regular FoodSaver machine to seal them–unless they have recently changed them.” Is that for all containers? Should I buy the one with the hose and then I can take the hose out to use on the jars? Am a little confused. Or do I need one attachment with the hose for containers & one attachment without the hose/
Thanks

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Marilyn,
  If you don’t have a full-size FoodSaver machine, you don’t need the hose. The hose detaches so if the hose comes with the attachment, you just take it off when using any kind of handheld device. Does that help?
  
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Kaytie says:

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This may be a silly question but I have the FoodSaver Handheld, and plan on getting the jar attachment, but which do I get? The wide mouth or the regular and what size jars are good to use? I’m planning on sending them to work with my husband. Not sure if that helps out on what size we would need. Any advice would be great.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Kaytie,
  Buy the attachment that fits the size of your jars. Since you are buying both, I highly recommend the widemouth jars for ease of sealing, filling and cleaning. See this post.
  
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Natalia @PrepUtilityVehicle says:

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Hi, Paula, I just found one of the Freshsavers second hand, and was doing some research. One place said you can’t use them with other Foodsaver products so I was delighted to see your blog post and video! Thank you so much! 🙂 I am really excited to start doing this.

I have just spent *2 hours* googling the voltage/amp of these things, because the one I bought is missing the cord, and the specs aren’t shown on the Freshsaver itself. I can’t find this info ANYWHERE and I am exhausted! I hoped you might not mind checking your cord for me to tell me the important specs so I can try to match mine up with a cord adaptor. I know it’s a bit of trouble, but I don’t know anyone with one and can’t seem to find out any other way!

Thank you in advance if you’re able to help. And thank you for the video too. 🙂

Sincerely
Natalia

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1. Natalia @PrepUtilityVehicle says:
  
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  Thank you so much for the picture, Paula. What a help! 🙂
  
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Paula says:

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Hi Tracy,
Yes, yes. Great use of Mason jars. Turns salad into a “fast food”.

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Violet says:

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Was on my way to bed bath and beyond to spend lots of $ (even with the 20% off coupon!) … Now I’m rerouted to Walmart to save lots of dough! Thank you for posting this. Great news!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Violet. Glad to save you some money. The regular FoodSaver machine probably works better and easier but the handheld devices are so much cheaper, it’s a good way to try it and see how you like it.
  
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Marilyn Myers says:

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Thank you so much for this information! You saved me a minimum of $80.00! My seal a meal quit vacuuming. I have the hand held in both glad and food savor. Used both with the jar sealers and worked perfectly! Thanks again!

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Sara says:

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I have been attempting to find ways to seal the jars as well. I bought the handheld foodsaver and the wide mouth mason jar attachment. I tried the two together and could not get them to work. I also tried the the ideas above and still can’t get the seal.

I read the above post about puttung a hole in the top of the lid and putting the electrical tape all the way across the lid and loosely – I finally had such a tight seal it was hard to open;)

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irene says:

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can the vac pack be used to seal hot brine pickles

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1. Paula says:
  
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  No. Although I’m no pickle expert, vacuum-packing is a “cold” process. Anything that needs to be heated is a completely different game.
  
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  1. Kenneth says:
    
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    The jar will naturally vacuum seal itself as the jar and its contents cool, so there is no vacuum sealing to be done. Instead you just need to make sure the lid and collar are on properly.
    
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irene says:

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can the vac pack seler be used for hot brine on pickles

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Cheri says:

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Thanks I will give all your suggestions a try. I thought it was working at one point but when I removed the white attachment it pulled the flat off with it. And I had sealed it for at least 45 to 60 seconds before. I will see what I can get to work. Thanks again.
Cheri
Also when I ordered the attachments from Foodsaver.com, I got a 2 piece small canister set. I can’t get them to seal with the hand held sealer either and didn’t know if anyone else had success with sealing them other than the larger sealer. I tried both the foodsaver and the reynolds sealer. Thanks

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Cheri,
  Two observations:
  
  The wide mouth jars seal much easier than regular jars, in my experience.
  
  The canister sets from FoodSaver are of dubious value. Mine all developed cracks in the bottom within the first month so they would not seal. You absolutely need a hose like you get with a regular FoodSaver machine to seal them–unless they have recently changed them.
  
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Cheri says:

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I don’t know what I am doing wrong. I just got the large and regular sized attachments. I tried using both the Reynolds battery operated unit and the Foodsaver rechargeable unit. Neither would make a seal for me. I tried to make sure that the I had it centered and had pressure on it to form the seal. I held it on there for up to a minute. But every time I pulled the attachment off, it pulled the mason jar flat off with it. I don’t know what I am doing wrong. Thanks for any advice.
Cheri

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Cheri,
  
  Sounds like you are doing everything right. But since it’s not working here are some suggestions to try.
  
  1. Place another flat lid upside down on top of the original flat lid and then the attachment.
  2. Try a different jar. Is it possible there is a nick at the top causing you to lose seal?
  3. Make sure no pieces of lettuce are sabotaging your efforts.
  4. Try a different lid. Maybe the one you tried was flawed.
  5. Make sure there is no obstruction inside the workings of the attachment, like a piece of dried food.
  
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Terah says:

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Checking out the salad in a jar…..you used Romaine lettuce, mentioned spring lettuce ? doesn’t work well – just your standard head of lettuce – can this be done in a jar? Please advise, would love to try this. Thanks.

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Rose says:

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Thanks for the tip!! I bought my Reynolds battery powered handheld JUST before they discontinued them! Now I have a use for it and it sure beats pulling out my vacuum pack machine each time! Oh by the way, it works GREAT, took just a few seconds to seal the jars!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Rose,
  I couldn’t agree more!!
  
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Grace says:

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Thanks so much for this great tip! We just started getting lots of lettuce from our CSA, and this really helps it fit into our small fridge. I’ve pointed my fellow CSA members to your blog, as well.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Thanks so much, Grace. Glad to hear from you.
  
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Petra says:

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I was SO EAGER to do this! I have the hand-held FoodSaver, plus the wide-mouth jars and a garden. I picked about 6 pounds of lettuce, washed, salad-spinned it all, and chopped it up just so. ….and realized that I had mason jars that were too narrow, and no matter what I did, I could not get a seal with the wide-mouth jar attachment. I shook my fist toward the heavens, and cursed my bad luck. Then, I came back here to see if there was any advice, and lo! So here’s what I did: I grabbed some old pasta sauce jars and my mason jars (I had too much salad for just the mason jars), poked a hole in the top of all of them, and covered the hold with a piece of electrical tape (the width of the lid). Popped the hand-held FoodSaver over the tape-covered hole, and viola! Air-tight seal, and a fridge full of salad!
I feel like a MENSA member!

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Tracy says:

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I have the Food Saver brand handheld unit and absolutely love it! I ended up buying both the large and small jar adapters and use them for all sorts of things. So thankful for your posts on this! Just got my chinois strainer, so your homemade greek yogurt is next on my list.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Tracy,
  Sounds like you are addicted to vacuum-packing just like I am.
  
  Good luck with your yogurt. Let me know if you run into difficulty.
  
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karen says:

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Paula, I started reading your blog a couple years ago and have always wanted to try this. FINALLY ordered the Food Saver hand held and jar attachment from amazon, and we just tried it today. Works great! I love eating salads for lunch and this will make it so much easier to have a fresh one each day. Hope you’re doing well, and ‘hi’ to Bonnie!

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Wendy says:

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Looks like that Target deal has disappeared…

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Wendy,
  
  Sorry about that. 🙂 if you live close to a Big Lots, you might check there for a Reynolds sealer–only 3 dollars.
  
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Elaine says:

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Hi Paula,

So glad I found your blog! I read it in the evening on my iPad while my husband is watching the Yankees! Just wanted to let everyone know that you can get the Handheld Foodsaver for free this week at Target! I got mine today. There is a $10 coupon on the Target website for the Foodsaver Handheld and also a coupon for it at Coupons.com. They let you use both and their price is $19.99 so it is entirely free! How cool is that!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Elaine,
  Wow! Free? Doesn’t get any better than that.
  
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Christine says:

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Quick Q that I forgot to ask: is it necessary to purchase a salad spinner in order for this method to effectively work? Or can I just use my regular old colander to rinse my greens?

Many thanks for any help!
Christine

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1. Jeanean says:
  
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  You can find salad spinners for pretty cheap, around $10, at Good Will or thrift stores. I say cheap because I have seen them on Amazon for significantly more.
  
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Vicki Walton says:

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Just found your blog today. Wanted to let you know that I have been doing the same thing for quite some time with a Foodsaver machine and mason jars. I recently discovered that you can also use the $4.25 hand vac by Ziplock that is used for their ziplock bags. I use the pump with the Foodsaver widemouth attachment. It is less expensive, and no batteries or electric needed. (I do not like the bags the pump was designed for because they do not hold a seal for very long).

I further discovered that you can use old pickle and spaghetti glass jars. You simply clean the jar, prick a hole through the top with a push pin, cover with a small piece of electrical tape, place the Ziplock manual pump over the tape, and pump maybe 10 -15 times, and it’s sealed! I have had good success maintaining the seal even through the tape. This way, you can still vacuum seal in jars for only $4.25 (the price of the pump) and you can re-use those old spaghetti and pickle jars. As long as the lid has a rubber seal on the inside (and most grocery jars do) you are good to go. This is much like the Pump-N-Seal method. You can see a demo on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VbnJfs6YUE. You absolutely do not have to have a pricey machine or even a battery operated one for this to work. This brings the cost down so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of vacuum sealing!

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Christine says:

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Ok, I’m so incredibly intrigued by this that I had to do some research as to where I could find the Reynolds Handi-Vac (since it’s d/c and not available at my Big Lots … because I ran out of the house dying to find one LOL) …

Apparently, Reynolds market couldn’t find enough consumers to purchase this product, so they sold the rights/licensing to Debbie Meyer (http://www.debbiemeyer.com/) … not affiliated in any way. Just wanted to share in case anyone is as interested/desperate to find this product as I am 🙂

So glad I stumbled across your blog! Thank you for a brilliant idea!

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Chelee says:

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Works great for me! I’ve been doing it for several months.

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Joanne K-J says:

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I loved this idea the first time I happened upon your blog. I already had the Food Saver jar attachment and had never used it. Upon reading your blog entry I ran over to my local Big Lots and was lucky enough to find a Reynolds Handi-vac for $3.00 (a bargain!). I not only seal my lettuce, I also trim and seal my green onions, leftover slaw mix, homemade granola and less often used grains and legumes. I am tempted to stock pile one or two more Reynolds units since I believe they are discontinued. The first one I bought had to be returned – the batteries had leaked and it no longer worked – so check before you leave the store.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Joanne,
  OK, I’ll admit I bought an extra Handi-vac myself. At $3, how you go wrong–unless somebody comes up with something better soon.
  
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Paula says:

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Good information…great video.

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mimi says:

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Paula,
I love your video! I have a food saver so I really need to give this a try.
Mimi

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Tracy says:

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I’ve been using the Food Saver hand-held device for several months now. I haven’t had any problems, it works easily and perfectly! We love it! My daughter and I have enjoyed having salads for lunch on a much more regular basis thanks to this method. We are having more salads at dinner too, because it’s so easy to throw a salad together when the lettuce is in the frig and ready to go. Because we are a family of 5 and frig space is limited, I use 1/2 gallon sized jars to store our lettuce. We usually get more than one meal out of a jar, I just reseal it when I’ve taken out what we need.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Tracy, I’m so glad you mentioned how you reseal your lettuce. Great idea, especially if you don’t have many jars. PR
  
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jt2702 says:

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I love this site as well! I purchased the Reynold brand at Amazon and I love it I did not want to invest in a big sealing system so was thrilled when you did your post on the Reynolds brand and using it on the jars it works like a charm thank so much for all the great info you share it is very much appreciated

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1. kate says:
  
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  Can you add things to the salad in the jar, like cukes, tomatoes, etc. or do they get all mushy, etc.?
  
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  1. Paula says:
    
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    Kate,
    When vacuum-packed, the vegetables you mention and quite a few others can do weird things, like get mushy and take on a rather strange odor. See this post for my take on the whole subject.
    
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Marilyn says:

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Started following your blog last week when I found Pinterest and pinned your blog. I’m interested in the whole salad preserving idea and am browsing for fairly priced stuff to use. I’ve found a large mason jar lid with Food Saver then I found this: FoodSaver FSFRSH00 FreshSaver Handheld Vacuum Sealing System at a reasonable price. Any reason you’re recommending the handheld Reynolds or other brand over this?

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Lorraine says:

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It worked perfectly! A fresh salad ready for whenever you want to enjoy it 🙂

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thekitchenwitch says:

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For some reason, it always tickles me when you post videos!

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