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3. Mason Jars for Storing Dehydrated Food

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by: Susan Gast / Author, Blogger at Beesville Books, Bored Boomers, and a Food Dehydrating Fanatic!

I use Mason jars for storing dehydrated food because they're ideal for foods that I use on a regular basis.

It's a great way to store dehydrated fruit and vegetables for a couple of reasons:

1. They are airtight!
2. Store store easily on your pantry shelves in the kitchen behind closed doors. This keeps direct light off them - which is a good thing!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are a Few of My Filled and Ready-to-Use Mason Jars!

Two rows of my Mason jars inside a kitchen cupboard - filled with dehydrated food!

I keep a stash of dehydrated goodies in Mason jars in a kitchen cupboard! :-)

Plus, they look great on our shelves. Impress your friends and family!

You can use smaller air-tight jars (half-pint) for items that you don't use a lot of—such as garlic, and spices.

I use air-tight Mason jars for storing dehydrated food for everyday use.

When I'm ready to make a quick soup or need to add some dehydrated vegetables to a recipe, I can quickly add some dehydrated vegetables without having to mess around preparing fresh vegetables.

Now don't get me wrong, I'll take fresh vegetables over dehydrated any day, but we're all about doing this for long-term storage and to speed up prep time during the week.

Use Different Sized Mason Jars for Storing Dehydrated Food: Handy for Daily/Weekly Use

Keeping dehydrated vegetables in different-sized Mason jars means I'm not opening up my Mylar bags all the time to retrieve a vacuumed packet and having to re-seal the Mylar bag afterward.

This way, I can quickly grab a jar, pour out what I need, and make a quick vegetable soup.

Shown in the photo are dried carrots, celery, and sliced garlic in the front.

Clear Glass Mason Jars are Great...
You Can Easily See What's in Them!

I like the fact they're made of glass; not only can you see the contents in the jar, but you can see at a glance how much of the contents remain!

But when you ARE ready to refill your jars from your stock, just go pick out one from your stash of stored Mylar bags. Cut off the Mylar bag's top seal, take out a packet (or two), reseal the Mylar bag, and refill your jar!

Important: Do not forget to sterilize your jars before use.

Why It's Important to Sterilize Mason Jars Before Use

If you're planning on canning or preserving food at home, it's important to sterilize your Mason jars before use. This will help to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold and will keep your food fresh for longer.

There are a few methods to sterilize Mason jars.

Method 1: Wash the jars in hot, soapy water, and then rinse them well. Next, place the jars upside down on a clean towel and let them air dry.

Once the jars are dry, you can sterilize them by placing them in a preheated oven (200°F) for 10 minutes.

Method 2: Sterilize the jars in a dishwasher. Use the dishwasher as an effective method to sterilize Mason jars as part of the dehydration preparation process - but don't mix the jars along with other dirty dishes!

Running washed/clean Mason jars and lids through a full dishwasher cycle on the hottest wash and dry setting helps achieve sterilization as long as jars come out piping hot from the dishwasher and are used immediately. Don't have them hanging around the kitchen!

Method 3: Boil the jars in a large pot of water for 10 minutes.

Once you've sterilized your Mason jars, they're ready to use. Be sure to fill them with food while they're still hot to help prevent bacteria from growing.

Mason Jars at Amazon

Ball Reg Mouth Quart (32oz) Jar, 12-pk

Mason Jars Regular Mouth Quart Jars

• Ball brand regular mouth Glass Mason Jars. Quart size (32oz)
• Package of 12

Ball Mason Jar Pint size, Wide Mouth, 12-pk

Mason Jars Wide Mouth Pint Jars

• Ball brand wide mouth Glass Mason Jars. Pint size (16oz)
• Package of 12

Jarden Kerr Wide Mouth 8oz jar, 12-pk

Mason Jars Wide Mouth Half Pint Jars

• Ball brand wide mouth Glass Mason Jars. Half-Pint (8oz)
• Package of 12

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

Where Did the Name 'Mason Jar' Originate?

The Mason jar was named after its inventor, John Landis Mason. He patented the jar in 1858, and it quickly became a popular choice for canning and preserving food.

As you know, Mason jars are made of glass, and they have a screw-on lid that creates an airtight seal. This makes them ideal for storing food for long-term storage.

Re-Use Oxygen Absorbers in Your Mason Jars

Add a 100cc oxygen absorber in the jar before vacuuming.

Later on, an easy way to tell if the oxygen absorber is 'worn out' is when you take the lid off. If the lid opens without a popping sound, that means you need to replace the old absorber with a new one.

NOTE: I'll keep the 'old/used' 100cc oxygen absorber and put that in the smaller jars (the jars I use for the elephant garlic and spices).

Even though it may not have much 'life' left in the old oxygen absorber, there's usually enough life left in it for a small jar. Change out the old absorber for a new one when you cannot feel any air pop resistance at all when you remove the lid!

Thanks for stopping by to read why Mason jars for storing dehydrated food are ideal for everyday use. Take a moment to check out my review on a great Mason jar sealer by Pawcute here.

Don't forget to get your free "Six Simple Steps" eBook where I share how to dehydrate food safely!

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