If you live on a homestead or prefer mainly living off-grid, a vacucanner can prove valuable around the house.
A vacucanner does what the name suggests — vacuums the air out of cans, but more specifically, mason jars.
The process is simple, it’s easy to use, and it works remarkably well. Typically, food is stored in cans by using a water bath.
However, this process isn’t always the most reliable and does not provide the long-term results offered by a vacucanner.
I’m always the kind of person where less is better in terms of equipment, but a vacucanner is unquestionably worth the little money it costs in this particular setting.
Why A Vacucanner?
Simple To Use
There are many ways to successfully can food, but many of them are either complicated or messy.
A vacucanner provides a simple way to can food, allowing you to know what to expect each time you preserve your meats or vegetables.
A vacucanner comes with just a few things – a pot, a lid with a few mechanisms, and a pump, which removes the pot and jars’ air.
This is a huge win over many other kinds of canning processes, as many other methods require several pieces of hardware to work while also being untidy and sometimes unreliable.
The fact that just a few pieces are needed for it to work while being able to be stored away easily is a significant victory in my book.
This makes it perfect for transport as well, be it to a shed where food is stored, or to another home to help can food for friends and family.
Long Shelf Life
Anyone who has canned food using steam or water baths knows to expect around a year of shelf life. This isn’t bad, but it can get much better.
A vacucanner uses very simple yet incredibly reliable methods of sealing the jar. This means the shelf life can skyrocket into several years.
The most notable reason is the speed at which the jar seals. After the air is let out of the can, the lid becomes sealed with the jar instantly and with high pressure.
This ensures an exceptionally tight seal that will outlast most other canning methods easily.
Moreover, with water baths, water can splash up and get in between the lid and jar and negatively affect the seal, either that or humidity.
This, however, is not a problem with a vacucanner.
One-Stop-Shop
I have canned foods using several methods, and in some cases, using one method is better than another when canning different foods.
However, this is not a problem with the vacucanner. It’s virtually the only canning equipment you’ll ever need.
If you need to can meats, fruits, vegetables, fish, or any other kind of food like nuts, seeds, or crackers, you are good to go with this vacucanner.
This is an unordinary situation to run into, but a welcomed one. This means that every other method you use will become obsolete and quickly.
The only time you’ll run into trouble is if the can itself is defective, rare, but unrelated to the vacucanners’ reliability, related to our next topic.
Very Reliable
I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it, the vacucanner is incredibly reliable. This is mainly because the parts it uses are simple and aged to know how to build them reliably.
The pump is built in a similar way to a refrigerator pump, and the pot and lid are made using materials that will last for decades.
Plus, the lid has a neat mechanism that displays the pressure. Your best bet is to bring the pressure up to 29, but this depends on the food; follow the instructions.
I should also mention the hose is built using very tough material, and at this high amount of pressure, it has to be.
Saves Time
Years ago, I visited one of the biggest deer expos on the planet – several stories tall.
As I was looking through the aisles, I noticed a product similar to the vacucanner but used for a different purpose.
I learned very quickly that a product like this saves time, which is essential when you have a ton of food and meats and produce that needs to be stored.
Using other methods like water bathing or steaming, you’re taking up much more time than you should be or have to be, though they’re still good options.
Using a vacucanner is as simple as placing the content in the mason jar and putting it in the pot, placing the lid on top, then setting the regulator and activating the pump – that’s basically it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Steam Canning Compare?
Steam canning has been used for years, and it works. However, it can take several minutes to fully seal the jar and lid, as far as 45 minutes.
You presumably do not have that much free time, especially if you have a high amount of volume that needs processing.
This is where the vacucanner shines. You can successfully seal the same food in minutes, less than two, to be exact.
Is Water Bath Canning Better?
Water baths are also a popular way to can food, and most often, they provide excellent results. However, it still takes much more time.
You have to get the water boiling, place the cans in, and hope the seals are on correctly and that steam doesn’t affect the seal.
The only scenario where water bath canning would be better is if you do not have electricity access. It’s still not going to offer as good a seal, nor will it provide the extended shelf life.
What’s Needed For Vacuum Canning?
For those who plan to buy the pre-built vacucanner, you’ll need to connect the included pump, hose, and pot. After this, place the food in and put the lid on top.
If you plan on building your own, you’ll need a strong pot and a hose that can withstand high levels of pressure.
You’ll additionally need a lid that displays pressure while also being able to release pressure – all without buckling under extreme loads. You’ll likewise need a pump to remove air from the pot.
Takeaway
I’ve used several food preservation methods, and overall, the vacucanner is my favorite. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s the best in every situation.
For example, if you plan to use it in SHTF, I’d recommend learning how to use old-school methods, such as water canning.
This is because electricity may not be available in these situations, which brings me to the next point if you do not have electricity, old school I better.
However, since most of us have power, you’ll have a tough time finding a better way to eat food.
The reliability factor, the extended shelf life, and the ease of use make this vacucanner worth every penny.
