No food storage would be complete without CHOCOLATE! And of course Hostess and other types of candy we enjoy. (rolo mini's for me) Here is a really easy way you can bottle your favorite candy and have it last for years and years! The chocolate wont turn white, Twinkies wont go stale or hard, it's the best way to add a little luxury to your food storage.
I found these 2 quart bottles at my local Ace Hardware store. They were normally $11.99 for a case of 6, but were on sale for $10.99, adding a coupon from the paper I was able to get them for $9.99. These are better than the typical quart size jars because you can fill so much more in them and it doesn't seem like a waste of a jar. (I was able to fit 10+ candy bars in them, where as a regular quart jar I would have been lucky to get 5 in)
The grocery stores here had candy bars on sale 2/$1- which lately is a GREAT deal! So I stocked up knowing I was going to be canning them. Hostess snacks also went on sale for $1.80 a box so I stocked up. Let me just say we rarely buy candy bars or Hostess, rarely like maybe once a year. But when they are on sale it gives me a reason to buy them and put them in the food storage. So on top of adding some luxuries to our food storage, I saved money doing it!
Chocolate is a great thing to vacuum pack and store this way so it wont turn white and will literally last for years and years. Some other great things to use the vacuum sealing and canning for is nuts. Since air doesn't get to the nuts the natural oils on them don't spoil and they will last for years. This can only be done in glass canning jars since glass is the only thing proven to not let air in over time.
Here's what you'll need:
- Candy/Hostess items of choice
- jars- I use the 2 quart for this type of stuff, but if you're canning chocolate chips, nuts or a smaller item a pint or quart size jar would be fine.
- Food Saver vacuum sealer with jar sealing attachments
Just fill the jars, place the seal on but NOT the ring. Place the jar attachment over the seal & jar as shown, make sure the tube is connected from the jar attachment to the food saver machine. Start your food saver vacuum sealer and let it run until the jar is sealed. (on mine it takes about 20 seconds and a green light will come on telling me it's done)
Then place the ring on to the jar and you're good to go! Easy cheesy right? Even better- these seals on the jars can be reused! Unlike normal canning in a water bath or pressure canner/cooker- once you open those jars up the seal cannot be used again to seal and process. You literally could have a vacuum sealed jar in your cupboard and use it once a week, then reseal it using the food saver after each time you use it.
So I went candy canning happy and filled 6 of the 2 quart jars!
Enjoy! Living off food storage CAN be fun! Especially at my house!
With all the preservatives in most of that, it's an interesting idea...
ReplyDeleteAh! So that's how you use that thingie! WOW! Thanks for telling me! Could you also use the vacuum sealer attachment for flours,rices,etc. instead of the oven canning method?
ReplyDeleteFlour of anything that is like a powder will not seal because the powder gets under the cover. To seal any powder you have to put it in a paper bag first and then in the jar or sealing bag and then seal.
DeleteI've heard that you shouldn't use it with anything that's powder form because it can ruin your machine..... But you can put powder stuff into a ziploc bag and then vacuum seal it in a jar.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine rice, beans etc. would be fine. I get all that kind of stuff from my church cannery though- it comes in the #10 cans (I think they're 1 gallon size) and the prices are pretty reasonable. I believe they'll let anyone purchase things (not just their members) but how it works is you go and help them can things for a hour or so and then you can buy whatever they have available. (by having volunteers do the canning it lowers the cost) You can do a google search for LDS Cannery in your area- or contact a local ward bishop and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
if you do have an item that is powdery, just place a cupcake liner inside the jar after filling and place your lid on and vacuum :o) a cut down coffee filter works too !!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!!! Thanks for sharing! Plus You could use cute cupcake liners and add some style to your canning! :)
ReplyDeleteLove it!
I have trouble getting the lids to seal. I find that if I put a second lid on top of the first, upside down, then run the sealer, it forces the first to seal. The second can then be removed. Or, if I'm not concerned about reusing the lid, I will heat it first in HOT water, then proceed. I've gone thru 2 meal sealers, I use them so much ! :)
ReplyDeleteI've never had a problem Laurie- I'll keep your idea in mind though if I ever do :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! Any idea how long it could last if you just kept it on the shelf and didn't open it?
ReplyDeleteJewelrygirl- Wendy Dewitt sealed chocolate chips this way and they lasted 20 years! I haven't had mine sealed anywhere near that long but they look fine from the outsides of the jar.
DeleteThe great thing about this type of canning/sealing is you can use the same seal over and over. So take a bit out of the jar and seal it again. Great idea for nuts and things that you may not use all of the jar up at once.
Does room temperature have an affect on the canned chocolate? My kitchen gets pretty warm in the summer and this would be on a shelf in my closed pantry. Thanks!
Deleteyea it still needs to be kept on the cold side or the chocolate will still melt.
DeleteAwesome idea for extra Halloween candy!
ReplyDeleteDo all FoodSaver Vacumm sealers allow the jar lid attachment, or is only some of them? I have never bought one.
ReplyDeleteI don't think all of them have the option- make sure it has a place to attach a hose and you're good to go!
DeleteWhere did you buy your FoodSaver Vacumm sealer
ReplyDeleteGood old EBAY :)
DeleteFood Savers are available almost everywhere. I buy extra bags at SAMs club. They range in price from $79 up to several hundred. Be sure to buy one with a port and attached hose for sealing jars. Most models require purchasing the lid sealer separately. Check for regular or large mouth attachment. I am a little concerned about the sealed baggies of candy as the air isn't removed from the small packages.
ReplyDeleteI open the bags of candy slightly before sealing so the air can escape..... realized the same thing after my first experiment :)
DeleteI will soon be investing in a food saver, I live by myself and this is gonna be a great product for me....I was wondering how much longer the candy and cupcakes will stay good for, beyond the original experacation date
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure... I know chocolate can be good for 20+ years. When in doubt stay on the safe side :)
Deletestore candy that does not have nuts. nuts have oil and will go rancid.
Deletecrackers store really well and stay fresh for years. I have stored saltines, Ritz, fish. They all keep really well.
ReplyDeleteWhen I use this method I do not put my product into storage for several days to make sure they will stay sealed.
ReplyDeleteSo how long would something like this last in storage?
ReplyDelete