If you have been thinking about how to store dehydrated food in mason jars, this article is going to provide a deep insight into it.
Dehydrating food is a fun and sustainable food preservation method. But that’s not the fate of it. You need to store the dehydrated food properly to benefit from it later, or else all your hassle could go in vain. Of all the storage methods available for storing the dehydrated food, our favorite way is storing in “Mason Jars .” It’s easy and cheap, and the best part is the jars are reusable.
Dehydrated foods tend to crumble very quickly; Moreover, if they are not stored correctly, the dehydrated foods can re-absorb moisture from the air. So, gather all your mason jars. It’s time for your dehydrated produce to get home.
How To Store Dehydrated Food in Mason Jar?
Getting your hands on fresh produce from the supermarket and dehydrating it later using a great practice that is good for your pocket as well as your health. Mason jars provide a great storage option only when done correctly. Follow the instructions below on how to seal dehydrated food in a mason jar:
(Pro Tip: Make sure the jar and food are equal in volume. Do not use an oversized jar for a small-sized or smaller volume of foods.)
Step No 1: Pick Your Food
Often fruits, vegetables, and even dried items are at a greater risk of rotting when stored improperly. So, you need to be watchful of what you will store in the mason jars. The rule is the lesser the moisture, the lesser the chance of food spoilage. Dried foods like flour, cereals, jerky, dried beans, and grains are among the most popular foods stored in mason jars.
Step No 2: Prepare Your Mason Jars
This is a critical step. You cannot just toss food right into the mason jars. Instead, they need a thorough cleaning and drying before storage. Even a tinge of moisture or a single mold spore can ruin the whole jar. Firstly, wash the jars with hot water and soap and leave them for drying. You can also pat dry the mason jars with a washcloth or kitchen towel. Or, if you want to speed up the drying process or sanitize the jar, you can wipe them inside with food-grade alcohol. The alcohol evaporates quickly and also kills the micro-organisms, if any.
Do not forget the lids as you clean and sterilize the jars. Put all the lids into a pot of hot water. This will soften the sealing rings. Remove them from the hot water using sterilized tongs after 10 -12 minutes. Pat dry them thoroughly with a clean paper towel before using.
Step No 3: Time to Fill Up
Once the jars are cleaned and dried, it’s time for the primary step. Fill up the mason jars with food, leaving about ½ inch of space on top. Use an oxygen absorber to preserve the flavor of the food. Press the jar onto the lid and screw it tightly. Once the lid sucks down on the jar, the jar is ready to store. If you own a vacuum sealer, you can use it to remove excess air from the jar.
Step no 4: Shelf Check
You wouldn’t want sunlight to ruin all of your hard work. You must store the mason jars in your pantry where there is no light. Not only this, temperature plays a significant role too. Try to store your mason jars at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Put labels on the jars along with the date as a reference. Moreover, ensure the pantry is in a cool and dry place, not humid.
How Long does Dehydrated Food last in a Mason Jar?
As per the National Centre of Home Food Preservation, dried foods can be stored for 4 to 12 months at 60 F, whereas rice and grains can easily be stored in a mason jar for up to two years. If you use vacuum sealing techniques, you can increase the shelf life of your dehydrated foods in mason jars for up to 5 years. However, certain foods lose their texture after some time such as tomatoes.
Vegetables, when dried, can last up to 1o years, and so can rice. When stored in mason jars, meat lasts between 6 months to 1 year before turning rancid.
What is the Best Way to Store Dehydrated Food?
The success of dehydrated foods depends entirely on their storage. Luckily there are several ways you can store dehydrated foods. Here is a short list:
Mason Jars
Mylar Bags
Zipper Top Bags
Air-Tight Containers
Vacuum Sealing Bags
All of these ways are effective and store the foods properly. However, we think the best way to store dehydrated foods is in “Mason Jars .” They are super convenient, easy to use, and pocket-friendly. The best part is that you can re-use the mason jar for as long as possible.
How Do You Store Dehydrated Foods for Long-term Storage?
Storing foods in the mason jars is one way to store dehydrated foods. When stored, the shelf life is between 6 months to 2 years. However, you can always enhance dehydrated products’ freshness and shelf life by making use of the following add-ons:
Oxygen Absorbers
Desiccant Packs
Moisture Absorbers
Vacuum Sealing
Can Freeze-Dried Foods be Stored in Mason Jars?
Yes, freeze-dried foods can be stored in mason jars. Be watchful of the size of the jar that you are using. It is better to use a mason jar having a wide mouth. Freeze-dried foods shrink in size upon storage. This can be a hassle for you if you are using a narrow-mouth mason jar, as you will end up trying to fiddle out the frozen foods out of the jar. On the contrary, when you use a wide-mouth mason jar, it will be a breeze to pour foods in and out of the jar, especially when you are using grains or powders.
Conclusions:
There are many methods to store dehydrated foods, but we recommend using mason jars. Mason jars are a trouble-free way to store dehydrated foods and are readily available too. Make sure the jars are clean and sterilized before putting the foods in a jar. Be watchful of the size of the mason jar you are using. You can store dehydrated foods in a mason jar for up to 2 years. But you can always increase the shelf life up to 5 years by using add-ons like vacuum sealing, oxygen absorbers, etc.
