Tip: Cheap-O vacuum packing

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You know those commercials about vacuum-pack storage bags? Well, I got to thinking while packaging my plethora of green peppers for the freezer, and here's what I came up with. Using ziplock bags, I packed them in whole, expelled as much air as I could, which wasn't a lot, and then zipped the bag nearly shut. Then I covered the open portion with my mouth and sucked in real fast. Voila! Instant vacuum-packed peppers. If you're obsessive compulsive about germs, I suggest gargling with Listerine first!

-- Sara (mckeefersl@lycos.com), August 16, 2001

Answers

you created a vacumm ,, with your mouth???? (golf ball thru a garden hose??) (J/K)

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), August 16, 2001.

chrome off a bumper hitch?

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), August 16, 2001.

I get dizzy after doing that. Someone said that if you submerged the bag in water, the air will come out and you can seal.

-- Dee in NJ (gdgtur@goes.com), August 16, 2001.

Hahahaaa I have done the same thing but I put a straw in the little opening and suck on it. I can see the bag better and not have to look cross eyed to see when the air is out. hahahaaaaaaaa Can you just see a city person come to visit and wonder about our country kitchen tricks.

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), August 17, 2001.

place what ever you want to be vacuumed packed in canning jar with lid, place in an oven on the lowest setting you have. Wait about 2 hours, then remove. As the jar cools it creates a vacuum. Jars are air tight and recycleable.

Just a thought.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), August 17, 2001.



I use the straw trick. It works great.

-- Katherine (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), August 17, 2001.

Westbrook does that seal it so you don't have to freeze it?

-- vickie (vduffys@cs.com), August 17, 2001.

We freeze a lot meat mostly, can every thing else. I saw the price of the bags or rolls for the vacume machine man they are to high for me versus 10 cents for zipp lock. I was wondering if any one has used a small vacume attachement in the corner before closing or someother method. Vacume machine so slow also. Thanks Coaltrain.

-- coaltrain (prairierose91@hotmail.com), August 17, 2001.

The best cheap way I've found is to put filled zip-lock baggie in water up to the zipper, then seal. The water pressure pushes most of the air out.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), August 22, 2001.

Get your minds back to homesteading, boys.

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), August 22, 2001.


I'm with Katherine. Works very well for chickens as well, as long as you're not squaemish. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 23, 2001.

A N N I E They're just boys. Beside, Where is your mind if you know what their thinking?

:o)



-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), August 24, 2001.

Why, Kenneth, whatever do you mean? (said in my best Southern drawl).! :)

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), August 24, 2001.

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