Thank you for this. A lot of the other homesteaders are giving the instruction that you can’t seal them in jars because this will make them rancid. I have been sealing mine for a couple years now. I was starting to second guess myself. Thank you for the information! 😊
Yes, some people simply do nothing more than parrot information they heard from someone else, who heard it from someone else, and so on, rather than looking into it for themselves. Most commonly I hear or read people going back to the old tired "Botulism Boogyman" argument that gets used for pretty much anything food related.
Just took a bucket out of my shed that was packed with food over 10 years ago, it had a large peter pan peanut butter in it with the cardboard sides, opened it and it was still great!
NOTE: The above video was shot before Patrick started making the vacuum chambers. I now also like to store my nuts in recycled green olive jars using the vacuum chamber and it works great! ua-cam.com/video/RFxNTnBzpzM/v-deo.html EDIT TO ADD: We just sold out of chambers, again, and are awaiting a shipment on lids that has been held up due to the stupid virus. Hoping to get them in next week but they could not give us an estimated arrival time.
Thank you so much. I have learned so much from you. Learning how to store and not waste food, especially with rising cost of everything is our priortity right now. We try not to waste and learn to store just about everything we can. Also, learning the timeline of storage is so important to us. I've had so many products go bad and rancid that I have had to create a food calendar and have lables on jars with use by dates, etc. Us newbees still learning, it can be overwhelming. Again, thank you.
I recommend freezing liquids without the lid. The contents can expand as they want without busting the jar. Once frozen, add lid. Done. Bonus tip: use non-canning jars, like the ones from store bought pickles etc. Saves precious canning jars.
@@RainCountryHomestead You really have a video on everything 😂 I very recently found your channel and am still working my way through. How recently? My first vinegar still needs a week. ☺
How would you recommend that I store walnuts that I got in bulk? Can I vac seal in jars and store at room temperature or should I just screw lid on and freeze? I think they are a bit fatty too but not as bad as Brazil or macadamia nuts. The bulk bags just list as “shelled walnuts”. One bag recommended to keep in fridge or freeze for freshness.
@@marymiller4155 Haven't found any options for true long term storage. I'd recommend finding a way to use them up as quickly as reasonably possible. Nut bread, nut butters, granola bars, sprinkle on salad and stir fry, bulk up minced meat... Midterm storage should be in a cool and dark place, like potatoes. Just keep in mind that when they go rancid, they'll smell like Play-Doh.
@@478cookies I really wanted to know about granola because I eat a lot due to intestinal problems…….. I’m not sure how that works because there’s different things like cranberries, blueberries, nuts….etc.
Yes, I got an “Amazon Basics” food saver system to vacuum seal dry goods. It does seal okay, but Now I understand why you use a brake bleeder. You have more control and can pump out more air with the brake bleeder. If and when the food saver system goes kaput, I will switch over. Thanks for all the great videos you do. 😀
Yeh! I just got your last container sealer in your Etsy site. I’ve always wondered if one could seal regular jars, (like spaghetti jars) but I assumed you couldn’t. I’m so glad Mr Rain came up with this solution...thanks Patrick!!!! Looking forward to receiving it and trying it out😊. PS I will be using a break bleeder....I love that method!
I’m new to having nut trees. We started out just roasting them all in the shell. It was ok, but they took up too much room. I will try this next because I don’t have freezer room
Give the sunflower seeds to the chickens. They LOVE them! If they are not crispy to begin with, use in pumpkin bread and muffins in Fall. Roast the fresh ones. Dont store seeds in a way that u wont use them, as with everything. Nuts are best fresh or frozen.
Yes, that is exactly what I have been doing with them, giving them to the chickens here and there. Also, years ago I was storing the RAW organic seeds because I was trying to go with a healthier option for Patrick's work snacks. When I opened a new jar, I would drizzle a little oil over them and sprinkle some salt and he would keep a pint jar like this in his work truck. They mostly got forgotten when he stopped working outside the home. He did eat them, he just did not care for them as much as roasted ones
As always, this a WONDERFULY informative video. Our property has enormous old oats that produce mountains of acorns and this year I decided to research if the acorns are edible. Oh, YAH, they are and I am almost finished the days long soaking and water changes. The containers of soaked acorn powder smells like caramel and I can't wait to taste the acorn butter that I plan on making. Since acorns have only 10% fat, as opposed to almonds at 14%, I think they are a great option for long term storage and they a loaded with beneficial nutrients. We are surrounded by food that our culture knowns little about and should learn about, as I did, from childhood. God Bless and Keep you and your loved ones safe.
I do not actually think it is the fat amount that matters, it is if the fats are stable that matters. Think coconut oil or other stable oils. We keep those in food storage in their original containers with no worry of them going rancid. Walnut is a fairly stable oil and almond and coconut surely are
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you so much for this explanation. Away I go to once again change the acorn water. It is so weird how every year we rake up wheel barrels full of food and compost them because we either don't know their nutritional benefits, or have no time. Your channel has tuned me into this reality and I thank you.
I have just started vacuum sealing those too and I feel pretty certain they will be just fine. Keep in mind, people store many kinds of oils long term in their original packages, even less stable oils like olive. There is really no reason why walnut would be any different than pecans when it comes to storage
Hello. Do you recommend dry roasting pecans or nuts in an oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes, and cooling them before vacuum sealing them? Do you think they might last longer? Thank you for all you great tips and ideas.
You can but I have not found a difference between roasted or raw when it comes to preserving them this way. I have even gone back to vacuum sealing the Brazil nuts since I am sure it was just a bad batch I got that one time
Good afternoon Heidi!!! Thank You So Much for this video!!! I love pecans, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts. I have lost pecans and walnuts due to them going rancid, (I had too many stored). This is a great video that will help ensure keeping nuts fresh!!! P.S. where do you purchase your nuts from?? Thanks and God Bless you and your family!!! 🍁
@ Rain Country - I’m glad she asked this question about where to get nuts. Ty for the link. I know was walnuts & Brazil nuts are high in omega 3’s, and I have osteoarthritis in both knees so badly that sometimes I can’t even bend them. Also, do you know how to make horse chestnut extract? I took a capsule of powder form as a diuretic and it worked great! A Dr I saw said he & his wife vacayed in China and wife saw a Dr there for lower leg edema and was prescribed the same!
Im in Canada 🇨🇦 and it is difficult too find jars. But luckily my local Home Hardware was back ordered, so I was fortunate too purchase at $16.96 for regular mouth and $17.96 for wide mouth. Prices are up!
Thank you again for reminding me the importance of food preservation. Though, I wanted to follow up and tell you mason jars are now $19.00 a year later. God Bless you and your family.
I pulled my machine back out of the garbage and found the pump still worked....for a short time anyway. Now it is going back in the trash. So frustrated with those things
I got a brake bleeder after watching another one of your videos!!! Thank you for the suggestion I love it! And which method, )freezing or vacuum sealing,) do you suggest most for almonds?
@@RainCountryHomestead ...and for almonds, after vacuum sealing in mason jars using the Foodsaver, instead of storing the jar in the freezer, will it be fine/safe if storing in my pantry on a shelf at room temp? Thx for all your great vids!
with my hairy, bowlegged, knobby kneed self, i dont think i would look good in one of your skirts! could you also do the dry roasted salted nuts? GREAT TIPs and GREAT VIDEO!!
Heidi, you bypassed the pecans. I have a lot of pecans in my yard from 100 yo trees that produce about every 4 to 5 years. Well, this is pecan year so instead of stocking my freezer full, I am going to vacuum seal them in half-gallon jars. How long have you kept pecans vacuum sealed in jars?
I bypassed them? Did I forget to mention them? I have kept pecans in jars for a couple of years now. I am sure they will last as long as the almonds and other nuts
Great timing on this tutorial Heidi; I just harvested a large Qty of Walnuts. I figure to shell them before putting them in storage but given that they tend to go rancid over time I have been concerned about how exactly to preserve them. I am however still unsure whether to vac or freeze? But at least this narrows the field so thank you.
I just started storing walnuts this way since this video published (using Patrick's vacuum chamber and a recycled green olive jar). I feel pretty confident they will be just fine as they are similar to pecans and my mom used to just keep them in the bags they came in for a long time
I cannot tell you for how long but yes, it is good for LONG past that just like any canned goods. As long as they have maintained their seal, there should be no issue
Thank you, Heidi! I am excited to have just received my food saver tops and brake bleeder. Ready to go! I appreciate ALL your videos as well as the products on ETSY. I do have a question though. Another UA-camr said not to use the oxygen absorbers with oily foods like nuts, etc. to prevent the risk of botulism. Still a risk or no? I hope not because I was unaware and had them in with nuts and dried fruit, etc. and had just begun throwing them out. 😩
I just do not use oxygen absorbers anyway but had not heard that before. A lot of people talk about not vacuum sealing nuts because of their high fat content but people store oils and fats in their original containers long term so there should be no issue.
@@RainCountryHomestead Heidi, can you address storing shredded coconut long term. I got a 25# bag from Azure and although I will use some of it I want to package some for long term. I had put it in 5 gal buckets with o2 obsorber but I'm not feeling confident about it. Maybe I have to experiment?
@@RainCountryHomestead thanks! Just watched your video on storing things with high fat and the one on O2 obsorbers. Very helpful! Thank you for all you teach I am learning a lot!
Thank you very much for the video. One question: if you vacuum seal each jar before storing nuts in it, would that create an environment for Botulism ??
Rain Country i bought a set of two vacuum sealer lids years ago and went to use the smaller one, found i couldn't fit a regular lid into the gasket (gasket physically too small) so i assumed it was for pint jars and went looking for a regular one...it took till recently to get a regular lid vacuum sealer attachment and it is the same...doesn't fit any of my 800 jars (so i am making a cannister to hold 2 quart jars and a vacuum pump the size of a large meat grinder) ...i wouldn't mind but it cost me $35 this time for the second lid that didn't fit (can't even force a metal lid-brand new into the gasket)... thanks you two , i just love your videos...doug...central kanada
Did you see the videos on the vacuum chamber Patrick is making? He uses 4" pipe, and caps and plug. If you go up to 6" (which is more expensive) you can make it to also hold half gallon jars. I am wondering if your Canadian jars also have different size of mouth than our Ball or Kerr jars do of the similar size
@@RainCountryHomestead i am pretty sure my ball and kerr jars and lids are the same...i picked up a brake bleeder just for this purpose yesterday and tried the small jar attachment on a pint jar (it worked ) so i think the problem is my confusion about what a regular jar is...the pint jar takes a tiny lid 68mm-2.68 inches (bernardin calls it a "standard"), i now think that may be 'regular'...the bulk of my jars in pint, quart, and half gallon take a 75mm-2.9 inch lid (which i assumed would be 'regluar' as that is what by far what most of my jars take=4 out of 5 and the wide mouth are 84mm-3.3 inches...so it would seen to me that food saver's regular attachment fits the less useful to me (jam etc?) and there needs to be an intermediate size?...i am looking for a 6 inch test plug for the chamber lid, home depot etc has 3 and 4 inch so i will try a plumbing supplier tomorrow...Thanks very much! for your thoughts your knowledge is gold...Yah bless...doug
@@doughunter3967 On mason jars, you only have two mouth sizes, regular and wide. 1/2 pints, pints and quarts all come in either regular or wide so the size of the jar will not change the size of the mouth. 1/4 pints only come in regular mouth and half and whole gallons only come in wide mouth
Whoever "they" are, there is no need for that waste of time and energy. Vacuum sealing them raw will preserve their fresh taste. If you prefer t hem roasted, then yes, roast them first but you are never going to roast all of the fat out of them and that would take out a lot of great health benefits and flavor even if you could. However, you MUST make sure they are fully cooled before vacuum sealing them our then you will surely make sure they mold in the jar if put in there still hot or even just warm.
I put up anywhere from 50-90 lbs of edible shelled black walnuts every year that I collect and process every Autumn. Up to now I have been freezing them in ziplock freezer bags, but they do take up a lot of space in my freezer. Do you think this method would work well for black walnuts?
Hello I’m just wondering how long nuts will stay fresh this way? I bought a ton of nuts on my last haul and can’t possibly get through them for at least 18 months. I called food saver and they said only 6 months. They said I have to use their vacuum bags or canisters if I want to get 2 yrs. I also want to store dried fruit this way. Is it safe to vacuum seal organic mango and goji berries this way? They are dried but not dehydrated so I’m terribly confused and unsure. I appreciate any advice or knowledge you are willing to share. Thank you!
I have had nuts vacuum sealed in jars for several years without issue and yes, I vacuum seal dried fruits, vegetables and herbs of all kinds this way. As long as whatever you are putting in the jars are dry, it will be fine. Dried can mean either dehydrated or freeze dried and either is good for using this method
So far I've dehydrated Calendula pedals and turn the dehydrated kale into powder. I had a bounty of both from my garden, and I have them in glass jars with the glass lids, rubber ring and metal locking system. No mold, but I just looked at my jar of dehydrated mushrooms, and there was mold. So I dumped it out. :( Can only certain items be in these glass jars with the glass lids, and others like mushrooms, need to be in canning jars and vacuumed sealed? This is my first time at dehydrating.
Yes, many herbs can do just fine without the need of vacuum sealing but any fruit, vegetable, meat, or other that stays pliable once dried needs to be vacuum sealed as do any freeze dried items.
Whoa! Where the heck did you come from! haha! No, I do not, I only soak nuts that I am going to turn into milk. Hope you are doing well dear lady. Have missed seeing your comments. Hard to believe it has already been three years since we both had to say goodbye to our moms.
@@RainCountryHomestead He had another name for me too, that I can't remember right now. SOMEthing to do with being a *bulldog for information*. LOLOL!!! Thanks in advance for your prayers. I pray for you & Pat daily. Love ya!!!
what would be longest of time period that nuts or any drieds would stay good after this method, I heard in the video mentioned months. would a year or even two go well with nuts in this method too?
I just (one minute ago) watched another video on storing nuts and she said to never use oxygen absorbers with nuts as they have oils and shouldn't be exposed to them. I trust you more though as you have been doing a lot of this. Is it okay to do nuts in mylar with absorbers? Do they still need to be frozen? I also have a stack of nuts in the freezer that are taking up a lot of room and want to either move them into jars or mylar or vacuum seal or something for long term. Can I do that? I have a cool dry dark pantry in our basement. Oh and thank you for forwarding the dairy free playlist. was very helpful.
Hi, I was all ready to vacuum seal nuts in jars when I saw 2 videos warning about botulism in vacuumed sealed nuts. Ugh, now I'm afraid. Is this an issue that I should worry about? Thank you so much. God bless you and all your viewers.
Let me ask you this, how are nuts packed that you buy in jars and cans from the store? I have been doing this for years without fear and without problem. Botulism is the common boogey man used to scare people away from food preservation but if you are worried, just do not bother vacuum sealing, they should still be fine
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you for responding. I think I just wanted to hear from an experienced person to reassure me. I do appreciate you taking time to answer me. God is good, ALL the time!
Hi Heidi. I just received my 12 grain cereal and put it up for storage in Mylar bags. I did add a oxygen absorber to the bags. I just realized that the mixture has sunflower seeds in it. I have heard over and over again to not use absorbers with a food that is more than 10% oil/ moisture. I’m not sure if I should take the absorbers out and reseal the bags without them. I know you don’t use them but now I don’t know what to do😢
I am sure it will be fine. I am not sure who started all this business about not using oxygen absorbers with nuts but I am thinking it is a modern wives' tale. I just gathered this from and article on studies of oxygen absorbers and food from the NIH.gov/pmc: " It appears that oxygen absorbers are crucial for packaging of nuts and seeds to protect against degradation of fatty acid composition, an important nutritional characteristic and determinant of market value."
I have a bunch of walnuts almonds and hazelnuts. I was given them and I put them in my freezer. How can I make them shelf stable. Some have been in the freezer for a year. Do I have to dry them in the oven and then cool and then vacuum seal. Can you vacuum seal different types of nuts that have been in your freezer for a year without them getting bad
Should store good for several years. I still have flax seed that I bought about 10 years ago in a bucket, not sealed in any special way that I dip into as I need it and they are still good
Since shooting this video, I have started vacuum sealing walnuts. Since walnut oil is pretty stable, I am going to assume they will do just as well as the pecans and almonds I have stored
We are still selling products, just not on Etsy. Please email me at raincountryhomestead@gmail.com and I will send you the product list and ordering information
Hi I vacuum-sealed some trail mix I could get the bag at Walmart about two years ago in a mason jar I dated it that the expiration date on the packet was 2021 anyhow always worried about the dried fruits that don't really seem to be dry you know what I mean that doesn't feel dry and crunchy like other stuff but how long can I keep it in a mason jar vacuum sealed?
Dried fruits are always flexible because of the sugar content, which actually also helps to preserve them. It is doubtful the date on the bag was actually an expiration date but more likely a Best By date. Shelf stable food does not suddenly expire by some preset date. I would say that what you vacuum sealed would be good for many years if not forever as long as it stays sealed. Please watch this video on dates on shelf stable food and what they really mean: ua-cam.com/video/BIwnNKJQTko/v-deo.html
No, they are separate and not at all related to each other. The white tops are jar sealers and can be found at Foodsaver.com. The brake bleeder kit should be linked in the description box but should be found at any auto supply store
@@RainCountryHomestead thank you! I've been researching if/how this can be done and was so happy to see your video. I'm thankful to those of you who spread your knowledge and help others. You're very appreciated!
I am not exactly sure what you are asking. How much do you get just using the silver or how pure is it? I cannot actually answer either of those questions but if you are thinking of using it to make your own colloidal silver, I would not recommend it unless you know for certain it is 9999 pure
I have not tried storing them no, but how are they usually found in the store, this is something to think about. I have also started thinking this way: Is peanut oil a stable oil? If so, then the peanuts should be stable on the shelf.
Heidi, any suggestions as to why my hair is coming out so much? I know there's always some hair in brush/comb; however, it has become noticeably increasing for the past month. Any advice as to what I can do to slow it down?
There are many reasons this could be happening such as vitamin D deficiency, onset of menopause or just giving birth, high stress, thyroid issues, and much more. So without knowing you and whatever situation you are in or health issues you may be having, I cannot tell you why. Here is an OLD video I did on a special scalp oil I made that helped me get most of my hair back after losing a good amount some years ago: ua-cam.com/video/oOCEXxWRqA0/v-deo.html
Thanks for the info. I was just wondering, I put raw almonds and sesame seeds in air tight jars and put them in the fridge is that okay to do? Will it harm the contents at all?thanks 🤗
They will keep fine that way and if you live in a not climate with no cool room to store them in, storing in the fridge will prevent them from going rancid. I store a lot of nuts so do not have the kind of space in my fridge so thankfully we are cool enough I do not need to do that
All nuts are mostly fat so I would assume they would do fine but also know that peanut butter is more likely to rancid than other things even in a sealed jar. This could be the fact that they are crushed though. I really am not sure
Whether you vacuum seal or not, that will not prevent breakage, but cover with old socks a couple of layers of cloth will help with that. I really do not freeze the nuts, only the brazil and macadamia but I am still not entirely certain that is necessary
You will know because they will taste terrible. Many can last quite awhile without sealing but for longer storage time and to prevent rancidity, vacuum sealing is best
What's your thoughts on cashews and Brazil nuts? Oh and walnuts, and they are not raw..not sure on walnuts. Also chocolate covers peanuts, and malt balls.. if it's to much can you tell me where to go to look up..
The only nuts I am freezing right now are Brazil nuts but I am vacuum sealing everything else, including walnuts. I vacuum seal chocolate chips as well so I see no problem doing the same with chocolate covered nuts
@@RainCountryHomestead good , how long of a time line,.. two yrs. ? Gotta have snacks once in a while...lol we usually don't eat alot of sweets.. but I saw those, and thought would be a nice treat..
Yes, but you will want to spread them out on a towel and allow them to fully dry from any moisture collected while being frozen before vacuum sealing into jars
I store mine in buckets. For those I want to keep long term, I put in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, seal up and put in a bucket. For those I am working through immediately, I just drop the whole back into a large bucket and work out of it from there
Thanks! I have been so leary to vacuum seal and not keep in the freezer. So excited that you mentioned that the almonds were in the freezer first. Should I toast nut meats first? Or would it be okay if I did toast before storing?
Thank you for this. A lot of the other homesteaders are giving the instruction that you can’t seal them in jars because this will make them rancid. I have been sealing mine for a couple years now. I was starting to second guess myself. Thank you for the information! 😊
Yes, some people simply do nothing more than parrot information they heard from someone else, who heard it from someone else, and so on, rather than looking into it for themselves. Most commonly I hear or read people going back to the old tired "Botulism Boogyman" argument that gets used for pretty much anything food related.
Just took a bucket out of my shed that was packed with food over 10 years ago, it had a large peter pan peanut butter in it with the cardboard sides, opened it and it was still great!
Cardboard sides?? On peanut butter, have not seen that anywhere. Where do you buy it? TIA
@@liberty8424 I think she meant the box was cardboard she kept it all in
Panty liners will work to cushion jars, the sticky side will stick to clean jars.
They are cheap and thin
NOTE: The above video was shot before Patrick started making the vacuum chambers. I now also like to store my nuts in recycled green olive jars using the vacuum chamber and it works great!
ua-cam.com/video/RFxNTnBzpzM/v-deo.html
EDIT TO ADD: We just sold out of chambers, again, and are awaiting a shipment on lids that has been held up due to the stupid virus. Hoping to get them in next week but they could not give us an estimated arrival time.
I will try that when I get my vacuum canister!!!
Another Great video 🥰 God Bless you and your family from middle GA 🙏
Looking forward to vacuum sealing All my herbs and dried fruits!
Thank you Heidi for another great instructional video.💜
So much great information on your videos all the time, you are a real blessing.
Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge!! Thankfully I have a lot of jars from my grandma!
Thank you so much. I have learned so much from you. Learning how to store and not waste food, especially with rising cost of everything is our priortity right now. We try not to waste and learn to store just about everything we can. Also, learning the timeline of storage is so important to us. I've had so many products go bad and rancid that I have had to create a food calendar and have lables on jars with use by dates, etc. Us newbees still learning, it can be overwhelming. Again, thank you.
This is the perfect video! I was just thinking about this topic and there you are my sister. Thank you and have a blessed day🙏
Hey, I really love your videos...very informative, and you have such a pleasing personality!
Wow! You have eternal youth💜 Thanks for sharing your advice🙏🏾
Great info Heidi !!!
I recommend freezing liquids without the lid. The contents can expand as they want without busting the jar. Once frozen, add lid. Done.
Bonus tip: use non-canning jars, like the ones from store bought pickles etc. Saves precious canning jars.
How to Freeze in Mason Jars: ua-cam.com/video/vRM8G4QbNtM/v-deo.html
@@RainCountryHomestead You really have a video on everything 😂
I very recently found your channel and am still working my way through.
How recently? My first vinegar still needs a week. ☺
How would you recommend that I store walnuts that I got in bulk? Can I vac seal in jars and store at room temperature or should I just screw lid on and freeze? I think they are a bit fatty too but not as bad as Brazil or macadamia nuts.
The bulk bags just list as “shelled walnuts”. One bag recommended to keep in fridge or freeze for freshness.
@@marymiller4155
Haven't found any options for true long term storage. I'd recommend finding a way to use them up as quickly as reasonably possible. Nut bread, nut butters, granola bars, sprinkle on salad and stir fry, bulk up minced meat...
Midterm storage should be in a cool and dark place, like potatoes.
Just keep in mind that when they go rancid, they'll smell like Play-Doh.
@@478cookies I really wanted to know about granola because I eat a lot due to intestinal problems…….. I’m not sure how that works because there’s different things like cranberries, blueberries, nuts….etc.
I freeze broth in ice cube trays and then transfer to ziplock bags. Saves space and reduces breakage
👍 Danke fürs Hochladen!
👍 Thanks for uploading!
Yes, I got an “Amazon Basics” food saver system to vacuum seal dry goods. It does seal okay, but Now I understand why you use a brake bleeder. You have more control and can pump out more air with the brake bleeder.
If and when the food saver system goes kaput, I will switch over.
Thanks for all the great videos you do. 😀
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge I've learned so much from your videos
Thank you, Heidi. We tend to go through the nuts we buy so fast they don’t have a chance to go bad. 😂
Yes, some of mine are like that too! haha
I would be getting use to not eating so much
@@vickiehat1074 facts 💯
Yeh! I just got your last container sealer in your Etsy site. I’ve always wondered if one could seal regular jars, (like spaghetti jars) but I assumed you couldn’t. I’m so glad Mr Rain came up with this solution...thanks Patrick!!!! Looking forward to receiving it and trying it out😊. PS I will be using a break bleeder....I love that method!
Haven't seen you on U tube tv in a while, finally got you on my likes list now , been following on wifi tv about a year,
I made a vacuum chamber from a pressure pot and used a vacuum pump from a air conditioner servicerepairman.
Works great.
I've done the same and love it.
Great information , thanks for sharing , stay safe , God bless !
I’m new to having nut trees. We started out just roasting them all in the shell. It was ok, but they took up too much room. I will try this next because I don’t have freezer room
Excellent video.
Love your videos. Just an FYI I use tops of old socks around my jars to keep from bumping against each other.
Yep, a lot of people do this, I do not because mine are too small and because I usually darn our old ones. I prefer using flannel strips
What about putting rubber bands around jars?
I'd love to figure out how to create a step pump. I'm too weak to do the hand pump. Maybe your husband come up with one. :)
Great tips Heidi, Thank You for your time and expertise. Always learn something new. 🥰✝️💟
Give the sunflower seeds to the chickens. They LOVE them! If they are not crispy to begin with, use in pumpkin bread and muffins in Fall. Roast the fresh ones. Dont store seeds in a way that u wont use them, as with everything. Nuts are best fresh or frozen.
Yes, that is exactly what I have been doing with them, giving them to the chickens here and there. Also, years ago I was storing the RAW organic seeds because I was trying to go with a healthier option for Patrick's work snacks. When I opened a new jar, I would drizzle a little oil over them and sprinkle some salt and he would keep a pint jar like this in his work truck. They mostly got forgotten when he stopped working outside the home. He did eat them, he just did not care for them as much as roasted ones
As always, this a WONDERFULY informative video. Our property has enormous old oats that produce mountains of acorns and this year I decided to research if the acorns are edible. Oh, YAH, they are and I am almost finished the days long soaking and water changes. The containers of soaked acorn powder smells like caramel and I can't wait to taste the acorn butter that I plan on making.
Since acorns have only 10% fat, as opposed to almonds at 14%, I think they are a great option for long term storage and they a loaded with beneficial nutrients. We are surrounded by food that our culture knowns little about and should learn about, as I did, from childhood.
God Bless and Keep you and your loved ones safe.
I do not actually think it is the fat amount that matters, it is if the fats are stable that matters. Think coconut oil or other stable oils. We keep those in food storage in their original containers with no worry of them going rancid. Walnut is a fairly stable oil and almond and coconut surely are
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you so much for this explanation. Away I go to once again change the acorn water. It is so weird how every year we rake up wheel barrels full of food and compost them because we either don't know their nutritional benefits, or have no time. Your channel has tuned me into this reality and I thank you.
God bless you. Thank you for sharing such great information!!
Thank you Heidi for your valuable info. I'm assuming walnuts would have too much oil to put in a jar?
I have just started vacuum sealing those too and I feel pretty certain they will be just fine. Keep in mind, people store many kinds of oils long term in their original packages, even less stable oils like olive. There is really no reason why walnut would be any different than pecans when it comes to storage
Very good to know. Ty Heidi ☺️
Hello. Do you recommend dry roasting pecans or nuts in an oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes, and cooling them before vacuum sealing them? Do you think they might last longer? Thank you for all you great tips and ideas.
You can but I have not found a difference between roasted or raw when it comes to preserving them this way. I have even gone back to vacuum sealing the Brazil nuts since I am sure it was just a bad batch I got that one time
Good afternoon Heidi!!!
Thank You So Much for this video!!! I love pecans, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts. I have lost pecans and walnuts due to them going rancid, (I had too many stored). This is a great video that will help ensure keeping nuts fresh!!!
P.S. where do you purchase your nuts from?? Thanks and God Bless you and your family!!! 🍁
Mostly Costco now but have also purchased some good organic ones that Costco does not carry (like the Brazil nuts) from Amazon: amzn.to/3dG2LlG
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank You So Much!!!
@ Rain Country - I’m glad she asked this question about where to get nuts. Ty for the link. I know was walnuts & Brazil nuts are high in omega 3’s, and I have osteoarthritis in both knees so badly that sometimes I can’t even bend them. Also, do you know how to make horse chestnut extract? I took a capsule of powder form as a diuretic and it worked great! A Dr I saw said he & his wife vacayed in China and wife saw a Dr there for lower leg edema and was prescribed the same!
Im in Canada 🇨🇦 and it is difficult too find jars. But luckily my local Home Hardware was back ordered, so I was fortunate too purchase at $16.96 for regular mouth and $17.96 for wide mouth. Prices are up!
While that is high, you are right you were fortunate to find them for that low. It is insane how much they are now.
Thank you again for reminding me the importance of food preservation. Though, I wanted to follow up and tell you mason jars are now $19.00 a year later. God Bless you and your family.
Thanks 4 sharing! 👏👏👏🥰
The brake bleeder is the way to go for me. I just can't get any jar to vacuum seal with my machine.
I pulled my machine back out of the garbage and found the pump still worked....for a short time anyway. Now it is going back in the trash. So frustrated with those things
Had the same thing happen 👍
Using oxygen absorbers for nuts works for long term storage also?
Thank you! Great tips 😃
I got a brake bleeder after watching another one of your videos!!! Thank you for the suggestion I love it!
And which method, )freezing or vacuum sealing,) do you suggest most for almonds?
I prefer to vacuum seal them
@@RainCountryHomestead ...and for almonds, after vacuum sealing in mason jars using the Foodsaver, instead of storing the jar in the freezer, will it be fine/safe if storing in my pantry on a shelf at room temp? Thx for all your great vids!
Thanks
with my hairy, bowlegged, knobby kneed self, i dont think i would look good in one of your skirts! could you also do the dry roasted salted nuts? GREAT TIPs and GREAT VIDEO!!
Haha!
Yes, dry roasted should be fine. Most are bought vacuum sealed into cans and jars anyway.
Heidi, you bypassed the pecans. I have a lot of pecans in my yard from 100 yo trees that produce about every 4 to 5 years. Well, this is pecan year so instead of stocking my freezer full, I am going to vacuum seal them in half-gallon jars. How long have you kept pecans vacuum sealed in jars?
I bypassed them? Did I forget to mention them? I have kept pecans in jars for a couple of years now. I am sure they will last as long as the almonds and other nuts
Great timing on this tutorial Heidi; I just harvested a large Qty of Walnuts. I figure to shell them before putting them in storage but given that they tend to go rancid over time I have been concerned about how exactly to preserve them.
I am however still unsure whether to vac or freeze? But at least this narrows the field so thank you.
I just started storing walnuts this way since this video published (using Patrick's vacuum chamber and a recycled green olive jar). I feel pretty confident they will be just fine as they are similar to pecans and my mom used to just keep them in the bags they came in for a long time
@@RainCountryHomestead
Thanks Heidi; I'll give it a shot.
Off topic but do you know if evaporated milk is good past its expiration date? And for how long. Reorganizing and came across some out of date.
I cannot tell you for how long but yes, it is good for LONG past that just like any canned goods. As long as they have maintained their seal, there should be no issue
Thank you, Heidi! I am excited to have just received my food saver tops and brake bleeder. Ready to go! I appreciate ALL your videos as well as the products on ETSY.
I do have a question though. Another UA-camr said not to use the oxygen absorbers with oily foods like nuts, etc. to prevent the risk of botulism. Still a risk or no?
I hope not because I was unaware and had them in with nuts and dried fruit, etc. and had just begun throwing them out. 😩
I just do not use oxygen absorbers anyway but had not heard that before. A lot of people talk about not vacuum sealing nuts because of their high fat content but people store oils and fats in their original containers long term so there should be no issue.
@@RainCountryHomestead Heidi, can you address storing shredded coconut long term. I got a 25# bag from Azure and although I will use some of it I want to package some for long term. I had put it in 5 gal buckets with o2 obsorber but I'm not feeling confident about it. Maybe I have to experiment?
@@mahabiru I vacuum seal into jars exactly as shown with the nuts and have had some in jars for several years with no problem
@@RainCountryHomestead thanks! Just watched your video on storing things with high fat and the one on O2 obsorbers. Very helpful! Thank you for all you teach I am learning a lot!
Alaskan Prepper puts oxy absorbers in both jars & vacume sealed bags. He tastes them on his videos, all were fine after 5 or more years.
Thank you very much for the video.
One question: if you vacuum seal each jar before storing nuts in it, would that create an environment for Botulism ??
Some would say that but I personally disagree. Nuts are often bought in vacuum sealed jars or cans from the store without fear
Rain Country i bought a set of two vacuum sealer lids years ago and went to use the smaller one, found i couldn't fit a regular lid into the gasket (gasket physically too small) so i assumed it was for pint jars and went looking for a regular one...it took till recently to get a regular lid vacuum sealer attachment and it is the same...doesn't fit any of my 800 jars (so i am making a cannister to hold 2 quart jars and a vacuum pump the size of a large meat grinder) ...i wouldn't mind but it cost me $35 this time for the second lid that didn't fit (can't even force a metal lid-brand new into the gasket)... thanks you two , i just love your videos...doug...central kanada
Did you see the videos on the vacuum chamber Patrick is making? He uses 4" pipe, and caps and plug. If you go up to 6" (which is more expensive) you can make it to also hold half gallon jars. I am wondering if your Canadian jars also have different size of mouth than our Ball or Kerr jars do of the similar size
@@RainCountryHomestead i am pretty sure my ball and kerr jars and lids are the same...i picked up a brake bleeder just for this purpose yesterday and tried the small jar attachment on a pint jar (it worked ) so i think the problem is my confusion about what a regular jar is...the pint jar takes a tiny lid 68mm-2.68 inches (bernardin calls it a "standard"), i now think that may be 'regular'...the bulk of my jars in pint, quart, and half gallon take a 75mm-2.9 inch lid (which i assumed would be 'regluar' as that is what by far what most of my jars take=4 out of 5 and the wide mouth are 84mm-3.3 inches...so it would seen to me that food saver's regular attachment fits the less useful to me (jam etc?) and there needs to be an intermediate size?...i am looking for a 6 inch test plug for the chamber lid, home depot etc has 3 and 4 inch so i will try a plumbing supplier tomorrow...Thanks very much! for your thoughts your knowledge is gold...Yah bless...doug
@@doughunter3967 On mason jars, you only have two mouth sizes, regular and wide. 1/2 pints, pints and quarts all come in either regular or wide so the size of the jar will not change the size of the mouth. 1/4 pints only come in regular mouth and half and whole gallons only come in wide mouth
must have been a knock off from China!
Curious about soaking and dehydrating the nuts first, then vacuum sealing.
Yes, some people choose to do that and you can, just make sure they are FULLY dry
Thanks. ❤️
More good information for your followers Heidi
They say if you put them in the oven on 190° until all the oils are out, then dry canning them, they will not get old and taste green
Whoever "they" are, there is no need for that waste of time and energy. Vacuum sealing them raw will preserve their fresh taste. If you prefer t hem roasted, then yes, roast them first but you are never going to roast all of the fat out of them and that would take out a lot of great health benefits and flavor even if you could. However, you MUST make sure they are fully cooled before vacuum sealing them our then you will surely make sure they mold in the jar if put in there still hot or even just warm.
I put up anywhere from 50-90 lbs of edible shelled black walnuts every year that I collect and process every Autumn. Up to now I have been freezing them in ziplock freezer bags, but they do take up a lot of space in my freezer. Do you think this method would work well for black walnuts?
I do this same with walnuts I buy from Costco so I would think it should work just as well for you
Hello I’m just wondering how long nuts will stay fresh this way? I bought a ton of nuts on my last haul and can’t possibly get through them for at least 18 months. I called food saver and they said only 6 months. They said I have to use their vacuum bags or canisters if I want to get 2 yrs. I also want to store dried fruit this way. Is it safe to vacuum seal organic mango and goji berries this way? They are dried but not dehydrated so I’m terribly confused and unsure. I appreciate any advice or knowledge you are willing to share. Thank you!
I have had nuts vacuum sealed in jars for several years without issue and yes, I vacuum seal dried fruits, vegetables and herbs of all kinds this way. As long as whatever you are putting in the jars are dry, it will be fine. Dried can mean either dehydrated or freeze dried and either is good for using this method
Which flour mill are you using for stored whole grains? @Rain Country
ua-cam.com/video/dMCTJK0HvOs/v-deo.html
So far I've dehydrated Calendula pedals and turn the dehydrated kale into powder. I had a bounty of both from my garden, and I have them in glass jars with the glass lids, rubber ring and metal locking system. No mold, but I just looked at my jar of dehydrated mushrooms, and there was mold. So I dumped it out. :( Can only certain items be in these glass jars with the glass lids, and others like mushrooms, need to be in canning jars and vacuumed sealed? This is my first time at dehydrating.
Yes, many herbs can do just fine without the need of vacuum sealing but any fruit, vegetable, meat, or other that stays pliable once dried needs to be vacuum sealed as do any freeze dried items.
@@RainCountryHomestead Thanks
Can i store in the shell pistachio nuts using this method?
yes, I have shelled pistachios stored this same way but in recycled olive jars that I vacuum sealed with a chamber rather than foodsaver tops
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you for this answer. I shall seal mine the same way.
Ty
If only someone would invent the Stasis Field Generator.
I got couple bowls full of chestnuts ,how can I save them other than freezing them??
HIYA HEIDI!!! (And Pat, TOO!!!)
Just wondering if you soak and/or sprout your nuts & seeds before storing?
Love & prayers
Whoa! Where the heck did you come from! haha! No, I do not, I only soak nuts that I am going to turn into milk. Hope you are doing well dear lady. Have missed seeing your comments. Hard to believe it has already been three years since we both had to say goodbye to our moms.
@@RainCountryHomestead LOL! It's nice to be missed! :-D
@@kathleenzimmerman8227 I was trying to remember what it was that Patrick called you and then you said it! HAHAHA! Prayers for sure dear lady!
@@RainCountryHomestead He had another name for me too, that I can't remember right now. SOMEthing to do with being a *bulldog for information*. LOLOL!!! Thanks in advance for your prayers. I pray for you & Pat daily. Love ya!!!
Do you have any recipes for making eggnog from nut milks?
Not yet but that is a good idea! I am thinking the pecan cashew would be a great option for that
Hi Heidi, what about turning nuts, fermenting then pressure or water bath canning after its turned into a butter?
I would not know about water bath canning butters. I recommend looking into that before you do it
what would be longest of time period that nuts or any drieds would stay good after this method, I heard in the video mentioned months. would a year or even two go well with nuts in this method too?
Please see this more updated video: ua-cam.com/video/AV-cIcmmhd4/v-deo.html
What is best way to put away dried apples and pears? Vacuum seal or mylar bag with oxygen absorber?
I never use oxygen absorbers in anything so that will be a matter of choice. Here is a video I did on apples: ua-cam.com/video/TDLZa4r5Mzc/v-deo.html
@@RainCountryHomestead thank you.
I just (one minute ago) watched another video on storing nuts and she said to never use oxygen absorbers with nuts as they have oils and shouldn't be exposed to them. I trust you more though as you have been doing a lot of this. Is it okay to do nuts in mylar with absorbers? Do they still need to be frozen? I also have a stack of nuts in the freezer that are taking up a lot of room and want to either move them into jars or mylar or vacuum seal or something for long term. Can I do that? I have a cool dry dark pantry in our basement. Oh and thank you for forwarding the dairy free playlist. was very helpful.
I never do use oxygen absorbers, ever. I did try once in mylar with O2 absorbers and even showed it in a video but it was a waste of time and money.
Where do you buy your jars from?
Hi, I was all ready to vacuum seal nuts in jars when I saw 2 videos warning about botulism in vacuumed sealed nuts. Ugh, now I'm afraid. Is this an issue that I should worry about? Thank you so much. God bless you and all your viewers.
Let me ask you this, how are nuts packed that you buy in jars and cans from the store? I have been doing this for years without fear and without problem. Botulism is the common boogey man used to scare people away from food preservation but if you are worried, just do not bother vacuum sealing, they should still be fine
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you for responding. I think I just wanted to hear from an experienced person to reassure me. I do appreciate you taking time to answer me. God is good, ALL the time!
All the time God is good
Hi Heidi. I just received my 12 grain cereal and put it up for storage in Mylar bags. I did add a oxygen absorber to the bags. I just realized that the mixture has sunflower seeds in it. I have heard over and over again to not use absorbers with a food that is more than 10% oil/ moisture. I’m not sure if I should take the absorbers out and reseal the bags without them. I know you don’t use them but now I don’t know what to do😢
I am sure it will be fine. I am not sure who started all this business about not using oxygen absorbers with nuts but I am thinking it is a modern wives' tale. I just gathered this from and article on studies of oxygen absorbers and food from the NIH.gov/pmc: " It appears that oxygen absorbers are crucial for packaging of nuts and seeds to protect against degradation of fatty acid composition, an important nutritional characteristic and determinant of market value."
I have a bunch of walnuts almonds and hazelnuts. I was given them and I put them in my freezer. How can I make them shelf stable. Some have been in the freezer for a year. Do I have to dry them in the oven and then cool and then vacuum seal. Can you vacuum seal different types of nuts that have been in your freezer for a year without them getting bad
You should be able to do that, yes, as long as they are fully dry before sealing up.
And all the time God is good
Do you need to roast nuts before dry canning? Also can a nut/raisin mix be canned?
No, you do not need to roast them and yes, you can vacuum seal nuts and raisins, separately or together
How long can you vacuum seal store Flax Seeds? Thank you
Should store good for several years. I still have flax seed that I bought about 10 years ago in a bucket, not sealed in any special way that I dip into as I need it and they are still good
@@RainCountryHomestead thank you for the info.
How should black walnuts be stored? Freezer or vacuum sealed ? Im about ready to crack bushels!!
Since shooting this video, I have started vacuum sealing walnuts. Since walnut oil is pretty stable, I am going to assume they will do just as well as the pecans and almonds I have stored
Can you vacuum seal in jars or bag's Jiffy mix or biscuit mix that contain shortening in the mix.
Yes
How long do you think Brazil nuts or hazelnuts would keep in vacuum sealed jars or unsealed in pantry if you absolutely had no freezer room, thanks
They should keep for years as long as they are stored in a cool area of your home
I'm bummed you aren't doing your Etsy store. 😢
We are still selling products, just not on Etsy. Please email me at raincountryhomestead@gmail.com and I will send you the product list and ordering information
Hi I vacuum-sealed some trail mix I could get the bag at Walmart about two years ago in a mason jar I dated it that the expiration date on the packet was 2021 anyhow always worried about the dried fruits that don't really seem to be dry you know what I mean that doesn't feel dry and crunchy like other stuff but how long can I keep it in a mason jar vacuum sealed?
Dried fruits are always flexible because of the sugar content, which actually also helps to preserve them. It is doubtful the date on the bag was actually an expiration date but more likely a Best By date. Shelf stable food does not suddenly expire by some preset date. I would say that what you vacuum sealed would be good for many years if not forever as long as it stays sealed. Please watch this video on dates on shelf stable food and what they really mean: ua-cam.com/video/BIwnNKJQTko/v-deo.html
Do you keep your rings on while storing?
For all vacuum sealed goods, yes, I do
Thank you for this info! Does the white piece that you put in your jar come with the brake bleeder pump?
My apologies if that's a repeated question. New to this method.
No, they are separate and not at all related to each other. The white tops are jar sealers and can be found at Foodsaver.com. The brake bleeder kit should be linked in the description box but should be found at any auto supply store
@@RainCountryHomestead thank you! I've been researching if/how this can be done and was so happy to see your video. I'm thankful to those of you who spread your knowledge and help others. You're very appreciated!
Good morning Heidi. I have been buying my colloidal silver on Amazon. I have some old silver ware. How much do you get from silverware?
I am not exactly sure what you are asking. How much do you get just using the silver or how pure is it? I cannot actually answer either of those questions but if you are thinking of using it to make your own colloidal silver, I would not recommend it unless you know for certain it is 9999 pure
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you I do not think that silverware is that pure.
Do you have experience with peanuts? Would they be good vacuum sealed or more of a freezer nut?
I have not tried storing them no, but how are they usually found in the store, this is something to think about. I have also started thinking this way: Is peanut oil a stable oil? If so, then the peanuts should be stable on the shelf.
@@RainCountryHomestead thank you so much for your response! Love all your videos 🥰
Heidi, any suggestions as to why my hair is coming out so much? I know there's always some hair in brush/comb; however, it has become noticeably increasing for the past month. Any advice as to what I can do to slow it down?
There are many reasons this could be happening such as vitamin D deficiency, onset of menopause or just giving birth, high stress, thyroid issues, and much more. So without knowing you and whatever situation you are in or health issues you may be having, I cannot tell you why.
Here is an OLD video I did on a special scalp oil I made that helped me get most of my hair back after losing a good amount some years ago:
ua-cam.com/video/oOCEXxWRqA0/v-deo.html
Thanks for the info. I was just wondering, I put raw almonds and sesame seeds in air tight jars and put them in the fridge is that okay to do? Will it harm the contents at all?thanks 🤗
They will keep fine that way and if you live in a not climate with no cool room to store them in, storing in the fridge will prevent them from going rancid. I store a lot of nuts so do not have the kind of space in my fridge so thankfully we are cool enough I do not need to do that
Will roasted salted peanuts in the shell go rancid when you vacuume seal or does peanuts have too much oil?
All nuts are mostly fat so I would assume they would do fine but also know that peanut butter is more likely to rancid than other things even in a sealed jar. This could be the fact that they are crushed though. I really am not sure
Make sure your blue casket is in right I stressed over it not working correctly for ever. I figured it out
Yep, I cover that in another video as the regular mouth slips out easily and it is important to make sure it is put back in properly
What about flax seeds? I have several bags in freezer and would love to vac seal for more freezer space!
Yes, I have flax seeds in a bucket in fact that I have never vacuum sealed and they have been in there for years. Still good.
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you! I love your channel!
What are flax seeds used and good for? I’ve never messed with them before. M
So we should vacuum seal the jars of nuts before freezing and they won't break , want to try this after I have freezer room
Whether you vacuum seal or not, that will not prevent breakage, but cover with old socks a couple of layers of cloth will help with that. I really do not freeze the nuts, only the brazil and macadamia but I am still not entirely certain that is necessary
@@RainCountryHomestead thank you,
How long do they last not vacuum seal ? And how do you know there bad.
You will know because they will taste terrible. Many can last quite awhile without sealing but for longer storage time and to prevent rancidity, vacuum sealing is best
Can you roast the sunflower seeds yourself to make them more tasty? Would it be worth it?
Yep, you can. I am just feeding these old ones to my chickens for now, they love them and are good for them. I am making them a special treat
What's your thoughts on cashews and Brazil nuts? Oh and walnuts, and they are not raw..not sure on walnuts. Also chocolate covers peanuts, and malt balls.. if it's to much can you tell me where to go to look up..
The only nuts I am freezing right now are Brazil nuts but I am vacuum sealing everything else, including walnuts. I vacuum seal chocolate chips as well so I see no problem doing the same with chocolate covered nuts
@@RainCountryHomestead good , how long of a time line,.. two yrs. ? Gotta have snacks once in a while...lol we usually don't eat alot of sweets.. but I saw those, and thought would be a nice treat..
Ooh, heavy cream? Have to find that video.
ua-cam.com/video/NjxtNL0LdbY/v-deo.html
@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you. Guess I missed on how to store vacuum sealed nuts. Freezer or dark place?
Where do you find bulk nuts to vacuum seal?
I get most of them at Costco but some I get on Amazon such as the Brazil nuts and Hazelnuts :
amzn.to/3456bLs
can i do this dry canning with choc chips, & white choc?
see this video: ua-cam.com/video/z-J6ljtzCz0/v-deo.html
Do you have to store them in the freezer?
Not if you vacuum seal them
Can I do this with nuts taken out of the freezer? I could use the room.
Yes, but you will want to spread them out on a towel and allow them to fully dry from any moisture collected while being frozen before vacuum sealing into jars
@@RainCountryHomestead thank you Heidi!! Your advice & wisdom are greatly appreciated!!
What is the best way to store flours ? . Some say wheat flour should not be stored in vacuum sealed containers
I store mine in buckets. For those I want to keep long term, I put in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, seal up and put in a bucket. For those I am working through immediately, I just drop the whole back into a large bucket and work out of it from there
Thanks! I have been so leary to vacuum seal and not keep in the freezer. So excited that you mentioned that the almonds were in the freezer first. Should I toast nut meats first? Or would it be okay if I did toast before storing?
I just allowed them to fully come to room temperature and to dry naturally before vacuum sealing. However, you can bake or toast them if you prefer
Can brown rice be vacuum sealed in jars?
Yes, but I have personally found it unnecessary. Mine has been in the same non vacuum sealed bucket for years and is still good