Written by Lara Yehia. Lara researches home and kitchen products for Cupindy.
Published October 2026 · Last reviewed October 16, 2026
A mason jar vacuum sealer pulls the air out of a jar under a flat lid, so coffee, flour and nuts stay fresh longer in glass. It is not canning: dry food can stay in the pantry, but anything moist goes in the fridge or freezer.
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Our quick pick
LOVE MOMENT Electric Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer (VP05)
A simple electric jar sealer: one button, a twist adapter for regular and wide-mouth jars, a USB-C charging cable and ten metal lids in the box.
See the LOVE MOMENT sealer on AmazonThe drawback: the maker publishes no battery size or seals-per-charge figure.
The short answer
• Does it work? Yes, for dry pantry food. Less air means slower staling and less rancid oil in nuts and coffee.
• Is it canning? No. Nothing is heated, so the food is not shelf-stable. Do not use it to store soups, sauces or salsas on the shelf.
• Moist food? Seal it if you like, but keep it in the fridge or freezer.
| Pick | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| LOVE MOMENT VP05 | Everyday electric sealer for both jar sizes | Amazon |
| RoboSeal, 50 lids | Electric, with 50 lids in the box | Amazon |
| FORJARS manual pump | No battery: a hand pump and two caps | Amazon |
| FoodSaver jar sealers | You already own a FoodSaver machine | Amazon |
| Chef Preserve + glass | Glass containers instead of jars | Amazon |
How we chose: Jar sealers sold on Amazon US on October 16, 2026, checked against each listing's wording and photos, the FoodSaver and NESCO instruction sheets, and the food safety advice of four university Extension services. We dropped one popular kit because its listing sells it for “dry canning”, which Extension experts say is not canning. Many budget kits share the same model code under different brand names, so compare lids, battery and warranty rather than the logo. We have not tested these sealers ourselves.
Does a Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer Replace Canning?
No. A jar sealer removes air; it does not heat the food, so it does not kill what is already inside. University of Minnesota Extension says: “Mason jar vacuum sealers cannot be used to preserve foods that would otherwise be canned and processed using a heat treatment such as boiling water bath, atmospheric steam canning, or pressure canning.” It adds that “vacuum sealing the jar does not result in the same shelf-stable canned food that canning and processing provide.”
The risk with moist food is botulism. UConn Extension explains that “Botulism is most likely to result from low-acid, moist foods canned or vacuum packaged in an air-free environment.” Dr. Elizabeth Andress, former director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation, is quoted by N.C. Cooperative Extension: “vacuum packaging is not a substitution for the heat processing of home canned foods.”
FoodSaver's jar sealer instructions say the same: “Vacuum packaging is not a substitute for canning.” If you want shelf-stable jars of tomatoes or beans, that means heat processing in a canner with a tested recipe; we cover the stovetop side in our guide to canning on a glass-top stove.
What to Seal in a Mason Jar, and What Never to Leave on the Shelf
Minnesota Extension splits jar-sealed food into two groups:
| Pantry is fine | Fridge or freezer only |
|---|---|
| Dried or dehydrated herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables | Cooked sauces, spreads, soups and broths |
| Dry cereals, grains, beans and lentils | Homemade salsas and relishes |
| Dried or roasted nuts and seeds | Quick pickles |
| Cooked or raw cut fruit and vegetables |
FORJARS adds coffee, tea, flour and pasta to its own pantry list, which fits the same rule: dry goes on the shelf.
For the second column the rule is strict: “Once sealed, these foods must be kept in the refrigerator or freezer until use.” UConn gives the numbers: “Perishable foods packed in a vacuum package must be refrigerated between 34 and 38°F or frozen at 0° F.” N.C. Cooperative Extension adds that vacuum-packed perishable food “should not be out of refrigeration longer than 2 hours total time above 40 degrees F.”
Coffee, flour and nuts
Minnesota Extension notes that “Removing the oxygen can minimize the risk of certain pathogen growth and delay oxidation.” Less oxidation means coffee, nuts and whole-wheat flour taste fresh longer. Reseal after every scoop.
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Our pick for the pantry
LOVE MOMENT Electric Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer (VP05)
One button, an adapter that twists to switch between regular and wide-mouth jars, and an LED that shows run time and battery. The maker's photos show ten metal lids in the kit, five of each size. Its listing video calls it “perfect for soups and sauces”; if you seal those, let them cool first, and they still go straight into the fridge or freezer.
Good for: coffee, flour, rice, nuts and snacks you open every day
The drawback: the maker says to run it “40 seconds or more” in one place and “20 seconds or more” in another, and it lists no battery capacity, so you find out how many jars a charge covers by using it.
See the LOVE MOMENT sealer on AmazonWhich Lids Work, and What Touches Your Food
Every jar sealer here (LOVE MOMENT, RoboSeal, FORJARS and the FoodSaver attachment) handles regular-mouth and wide-mouth jars; FORJARS lists its lids as 70 mm and 86 mm. You set the flat lid on the jar without the screw band, seal, and the vacuum holds the lid down.
What touches your food is glass and the sealing ring on the underside of the lid. Ball describes its lids as “BPA-free”, and RoboSeal lists its 50 lids as BPA-free. Minnesota Extension points out one limit of jar sealing: “This seal may not be air-tight because the plastisol band on the lid is not heated.” That is one more reason sealed jars of moist food stay in the fridge, and why you should check that a lid is still held down before you trust a jar. Skip any flat that is rusty, bent or bulging; FORJARS says to “Make sure that the lid is not defective (no bulges, not bent, etc.)”
Reusing lids: makers disagree, so follow the rule for what you are doing.
- FoodSaver says a lid opened with a spoon “can be reused many times.”
- FORJARS says its lids “can be reused up to 10 times” with its hand pump.
- Ball says “When canning, lids are single use only due to the sealing material.”
- An Ask Extension expert adds that for dry storage this is fine: “You can reuse canning lids to store dry items, however.”
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If you want lids in the box
RoboSeal Electric Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer, 50 Lids
An electric sealer with a digital battery display and USB-C charging, sold with 50 lids, 25 of each size, plus a jar opener. Its own listing image says “Not a canning device. Vacuum sealing does not make food shelf-stable.”
Good for: stocking a whole pantry at once without buying extra flats
The drawback: buyers report that it does not always hold a seal and sometimes lifts the jar lid off as you raise the unit, so press each lid after sealing to check it holds.
See the RoboSeal sealer on AmazonElectric, Manual Pump or FoodSaver Attachment?
All three pull air through the same flat lid; they differ in effort and in what you already own.
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| Type | Trade-off | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Electric (LOVE MOMENT, RoboSeal) | One button, 20-40+ seconds a jar; USB-C charging | Amazon |
| Manual pump (FORJARS) | No battery; 5 to 20 pumps per jar | Amazon |
| FoodSaver attachment | Needs a FoodSaver with an accessory port | Amazon |
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If you want no battery
FORJARS Manual Jar Vacuum Sealer Set (FJ-VC)
A hand pump with regular and wide-mouth sealer caps and six lids of each size. FORJARS's site says of its pump kits “After 5–20 pumps, you will feel it is difficult to pump; the sealing process is complete”, and the pump also works with valve bags.
Good for: occasional sealing, power cuts and anyone who would rather not charge one more gadget
The drawback: it is slower and takes some hand strength, and the pump and caps are plastic (the listing says BPA-free ABS).
See the FORJARS pump set on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
If you already own a FoodSaver
FoodSaver Jar Sealer Kit, Regular and Wide Mouth (FCARWJAH-000)
FoodSaver's own regular and wide-mouth jar sealers plus the accessory hose.
Good for: FoodSaver owners who want to seal jars without buying a second gadget
The drawback: it “can only be used with a FoodSaver appliance that has an Accessory Port”. Its listing also says dishwasher safe while the sheet says “Jar Sealers are not dishwasher safe”, so hand-wash it.
See the FoodSaver jar sealers on AmazonJars, Bags or Containers: What Touches the Food
A glass jar is the closest to plastic-free: glass on the sides and a metal lid on top, with only the lid's sealing ring touching the food. Vacuum bags and most vacuum canisters are plastic. If you want flat containers for leftovers, glass vacuum containers sit in between: a glass base with a lid that seals on a silicone ring. Our glass vs plastic containers guide and plastic numbers guide cover the plastic side in detail.
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If you want containers, not jars
Chef Preserve Compact Vacuum Sealer
A handheld sealer that Chef Preserve says does “500-1000 bags on a single charge”, with a 2-year warranty. Its borosilicate glass containers are sold separately.
Good for: leftovers and meal prep in flat glass containers, kept in the fridge
The drawback: it ships with plastic bags, not containers, and Chef Preserve does not say what the container lids are made of.
See the Chef Preserve sealer on AmazonSee the glass containersHow to Vacuum Seal a Mason Jar
- Start with cool food. Minnesota Extension warns that “filling a jar with steaming hot food and then using the vacuum sealer device to seal the jar is not a safe process.”
- Use a clean, dry jar with no chips on the rim.
- Leave headspace. FoodSaver and FORJARS say at least one inch; NESCO's manual says the contents should not go above the bottom thread.
- Wipe the rim so crumbs or powder do not break the seal.
- Set a flat lid on the jar, no band. Check it is not bent.
- Center the sealer, press it down and start it. Run an electric sealer as long as its sheet says; a hand pump gets hard to push when it is done.
- Lift the sealer straight up and press the lid: it should not move.
- Label and store. Dry food can go in the pantry. Anything moist goes in the fridge or freezer.
Makers disagree on details like seal time and headspace, so follow your own sealer's sheet. Ball says “Jars should not be used in the microwave or oven.” Move food to another dish to reheat it; our microwave glass guide covers which glass can go in.
Questions People Ask
Do mason jar vacuum sealers really work?
Yes, for dry food: less air slows staling and rancidity. They do not make food shelf-stable.
How long does food last in a vacuum-sealed mason jar?
None of the makers we checked gives a number of days or months. Dry pantry food keeps its quality longer than in an open jar. Moist food still has to stay in the fridge or freezer, because sealing does not make it safe at room temperature.
How long does it take to vacuum seal a mason jar?
LOVE MOMENT says 20 seconds or more in one place and 40 seconds or more in another. With the FORJARS hand pump it is 5 to 20 pumps. Both electric picks charge over USB-C.
Is “dry canning” safe?
At least one sealer listing uses the term, but it is not canning. University of New Hampshire Extension, writing about the oven method that goes by that name, says: “This is NOT canning”. A jar sealer is not canning either, because it never heats the food. Dry food sealed this way is fine in the pantry; anything moist stays in the fridge or freezer.
Mason Genie, RoboSeal or LOVE MOMENT: which is better?
None is clearly better: they do the same job with the same flat lids, so pick by what is in the box. Mason Genie also fits regular and wide-mouth jars and is cordless; we chose LOVE MOMENT as the everyday pick and RoboSeal for the 50 lids in its box.
Is Chef Preserve a jar sealer?
No. It is a handheld sealer Chef Preserve sells for bags and its own glass containers, not for mason jars. If you want jars, use one of the jar sealers above.
Can you freeze a vacuum-sealed mason jar?
Yes, if the jar is made for it. Ball says “Straight or tapered jars can be used for freezing. Jars with shoulders should not be used for freezing.” Leave headspace so the food can expand.
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension: Vacuum-sealing mason jars: Are they safe for my cottage foods? (April 22, 2024)
- UConn Extension: Is Home Vacuum Packaging a Safe Way to Preserve Food? (October 7, 2015)
- N.C. Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County: Vacuum Packing (January 2024)
- UNH Extension: Simply Put: “Dry Canning” Is Not Canning (May 2025)
- Ask Extension: reusing canning lids after vacuum sealing (May 2024)
- Ball Canning Use & Care (ballmasonjars.com); FoodSaver Jar Sealer Instructions attached to its Amazon listing; NESCO VS-MJ-2N1 Mason Jar Sealer use guide (nesco.com); forjars.co and chefpreserve.com; listing wording and images for LOVE MOMENT, RoboSeal, FORJARS and Chef Preserve, checked October 16, 2026.
Cupindy is not affiliated with LOVE MOMENT, RoboSeal, FORJARS, FoodSaver, Chef Preserve, Mason Genie, NESCO or Ball. Product names are trademarks of their owners.
