Notes
Every page on the site
Fixes, how-tos, comparisons and charts, newest first.
- Why jars break in a pressure cannerWhy do jars break in a pressure canner? Thermal shock, a missing rack, old or chipped jars and cooling too fast, and how to prevent each one next batch.Fix
- What size pressure canner do I need?How to choose a pressure canner size: the USDA four quart jar minimum, what fits in common sizes, stovetop weight limits, and when a bigger canner is worth it.Explainer
- What size freeze dryer do I need?Pick a freeze dryer size by household and harvest volume, then check doorways, outlets, weight and room temperature before you order one for your home.Explainer
- What foods need to be pressure canned?Which foods must be pressure canned: low acid vegetables, meats, beans, soups and stocks above pH 4.6, what a water bath can handle, and what not to can at home.Explainer
- What can you dehydrate in a food dehydrator?What you can dehydrate in a food dehydrator: fruits, vegetables, herbs, jerky, fruit leather and pet treats, plus foods that do not dry well or safely at home.Explainer
- Weighted gauge vs dial gauge pressure cannersWeighted gauge vs dial gauge pressure canners: how each reads pressure, USDA altitude settings for each, and why dial gauges need a yearly test.Comparison
- Vacuum sealed bags vs mylar with oxygen absorbersVacuum seal vs mylar bags: oxygen and light barrier, puncture risk, and which pairing suits freeze dried food, dry goods and freezer storage.Comparison
- Vacuum sealer not pulling a vacuumVacuum sealer not vacuuming? Check gaskets, bag placement, punctures and a clogged drip tray in order, with fixes for edge and chamber sealers.Fix
- Vacuum sealer not sealing: causes and fixesVacuum sealer pulls a vacuum but will not seal, or the seal fails later? Fix wet bag mouths, worn heat strips, overheating, wrong bags and wrinkles step by step.Fix
- VacMaster VP215 vs VP230: which chamber fits your bagsVacMaster VP215 vs VP230: VP230 listing specs for chamber, seal bar, bag size and oil pump, what is not confirmed for the VP215, and how to choose.Comparison
- Can you pressure can on a glass top stove?Can you pressure can on a glass top stove? Often yes, if your range maker allows it. Check weight limits, burner size, flat canner bottoms and heat cycling first.Explainer
- Pressure canner vs water bath cannerPressure canner vs water bath canner: high acid versus low acid foods, the temperatures each reaches, and why USDA says low acid foods must be pressure canned.Comparison
- Pressure canner vs pressure cooker: why only canners are safe for canningPressure canner vs pressure cooker: why USDA canning times need a canner that holds 4 quart jars, and how a canner can still cook dinner.Comparison
- Pressure canner losing pressure or leaking steamPressure canner losing pressure or leaking steam? Check the gasket, lid, vent pipe and heat, and follow USDA guidance to restart timing when pressure drops.Fix
- Pressure canner lid won't close or sealPressure canner lid won't close or seal? Check the gasket, alignment, lock pin and metal to metal seal, with fixes for Presto, All American and Barton.Fix
- How to get a pressure canner dial gauge testedWhy NCHFP says to test pressure canner dial gauges every year, where to get one tested near you, and what to do if your gauge reads high or low.How-to
- Pressure canner altitude chartUSDA pressure canner altitude chart: the psi to use by elevation for weighted gauge and dial gauge canners, and why the tested recipe still sets the time.Explainer
- Oxygen absorber size chart by containerHow many cc of oxygen absorber to use for jars, mylar bags and buckets, how to work it out from air space, and how to handle absorbers so they do not go dead.Explainer
- Jars not sealing after pressure canningJars not sealing after pressure canning? Rim residue, headspace, siphoning and old lids explained, plus the USDA rule: reprocess within 24 hours or refrigerate.Fix
- Is a vacuum sealer worth it?Is a vacuum sealer worth it? Bulk buying, game meat and sous vide make the case, occasional use often does not. Here is how to decide and which type to buy.Explainer
- Is a freeze dryer worth it?Is a home freeze dryer worth it? Who gets real value (big gardens, bulk meat, candy sellers) and who is better served by a dehydrator, freezer and vacuum sealer.Explainer
- How to seal mylar bags with a vacuum sealerHow to seal mylar bags with a vacuum sealer: why edge sealers struggle, how chamber and impulse sealers work, oxygen absorbers and how to check the seal.How-to
- How to vacuum seal soup and other liquidsHow to vacuum seal soup and other liquids: chill first, fill the bag right, stop before it boils in a chamber sealer, or freeze first with an edge sealer.How-to
- How to use a vacuum sealerHow to use a vacuum sealer the right way: bag prep, headroom, pre-freezing wet foods, sealing step by step, and the food safety rules vacuum sealing does not change.How-to
- How to use a pressure cannerHow to use a pressure canner step by step the USDA way: water level, venting 10 minutes, reaching pressure, timing, natural cool down and checking seals.How-to
- How to store freeze dried foodHow to store freeze dried food: mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, jars and buckets, how to seal and label them, and where to keep them so food stays dry.How-to
- How to make jerky in a dehydratorHow to make beef jerky in a food dehydrator: slicing, marinating, and the USDA step of heating meat to 160 F (poultry 165 F) before or after drying.How-to
- How to freeze dry candyHow to freeze dry candy like Skittles and taffy: candy mode settings, tray spacing, which candies puff, and why chocolate and hard candy behave differently.How-to
- How to dehydrate herbsHow to dry herbs in a dehydrator: low temperature settings, whole leaf vs stem drying, how to tell when they are done and how to store them for color and aroma.How-to
- How much water goes in a pressure canner?How much water to put in a pressure canner: what USDA and canner makers say about depth, water temperature, and why jars are not covered like a water bath.Explainer
- How much does a freeze dryer cost?What a home freeze dryer costs to buy by size, plus the running costs people forget: power per batch, pump oil, mylar bags and oxygen absorbers.Explainer
- How long does vacuum sealed meat last in the freezer and fridge?How long vacuum sealed meat lasts in the freezer and fridge by USDA FSIS times, and why sealing improves quality but does not replace refrigeration.Explainer
- How long does freeze dried food last?How long home freeze dried food lasts, what makers claim, why packaging matters most, and what moisture, oxygen, heat, light and fat do to quality over time.Explainer
- How long do home canned foods last?How long home canned foods last: NCHFP's one year best quality guidance, the right storage temperature, and the signs that mean a jar should be thrown out.Explainer
- How does a freeze dryer work?How a home freeze dryer works: deep freeze, vacuum pull, sublimation and final dry, with the part that does each job and why a batch takes a day or more.Explainer
- What is a chamber vacuum sealer and how does it work?What a chamber vacuum sealer is and how it works: the whole bag sits in the chamber, pressure stays equal, liquids stay put and the seal bar closes the bag.Explainer
- Horizontal vs vertical airflow dehydratorsHorizontal vs vertical airflow dehydrators: rear fan box units against stackable round ones on evenness, tray rotation, flavor mixing, capacity and price.Comparison
- Harvest Right vs Stay Fresh freeze dryer: how to compare themHarvest Right vs Stay Fresh freeze dryers: what to check on batch size, cycle time, pump, power and price, and which specs are not confirmed here.Comparison
- Harvest Right vs Blue Alpine freeze dryerHarvest Right vs Blue Alpine freeze dryer: capacity, vacuum pump, controls, warranty and support, with what the listings confirm and what you must verify.Comparison
- Harvest Right troubleshooting: common errors and fixesHarvest Right troubleshooting in the order to check: vacuum errors, door gasket leaks, pump oil, slow cycles and wet food, with when to call support.Fix
- Harvest Right Small vs Medium vs LargeHarvest Right Small vs Medium vs Large: how to compare tray area, fresh pounds per batch, outlet needs and footprint, and which size fits your household.Comparison
- Freezer burn: what causes it and how to stop itWhat freezer burn is, whether freezer burned food is safe, and how to prevent it with airtight packaging, vacuum sealing, a steady 0 F freezer and faster freezing.Fix
- Freeze dryer vs dehydratorFreeze dryer vs dehydrator: how each removes water, what they cost, how the food turns out, storage life claims and which foods suit each method.Comparison
- How to change and filter freeze dryer pump oilWhen to filter or change freeze dryer vacuum pump oil, how to do it step by step, what milky oil means, and when an oil free pump is worth the upgrade.How-to
- Freeze dryer time chart by foodTypical freeze dryer batch times by food type, from herbs and fruit to meat and full meals, and what makes a batch run longer: thickness, sugar, fat and room heat.Explainer
- Freeze dried food still wet or chewy in the middleFreeze dried food still wet or chewy in the center? Find the cause (overloaded trays, thick pieces, short dry time) and how to test dryness before you bag it.Fix
- Which food preservation method is right for you?Freezing, vacuum sealing, canning, dehydrating and freeze drying compared on cost, effort, storage space and shelf life to help you pick the right method.Explainer
- Food dehydrator vs air fryer with a dehydrate settingFood dehydrator vs air fryer: tray area, lowest temperature and run time limits that decide whether an air fryer can stand in for a real dehydrator.Comparison
- Food dehydrator temperature and time chartFood dehydrator temperatures by food from NCHFP and USDA guidance: herbs, fruit, vegetables and jerky, with typical drying times and how to tell when food is done.Explainer
- Electric vs stovetop pressure cannerElectric vs stovetop pressure canner: convenience, jar capacity, price and testing status, with the NCHFP position on electric canners stated plainly.Comparison
- Dehydrator drying unevenlyWhy some dehydrator trays or pieces dry faster than others: airflow design, overloaded trays, uneven slices and room conditions, plus when and how to rotate trays.Fix
- Dehydrated fruit still sticky or softDehydrated fruit sticky or not drying? Sugar content, case hardening and humidity explained, plus how to test dryness and condition fruit before storage.Fix
- Chamber vacuum sealer vs FoodSaver: liquids, bags, speed and spaceChamber vacuum sealer vs FoodSaver compared on liquids, bag cost, speed and counter space, with listing specs for Avid Armor and FoodSaver models.Comparison
- Chamber vacuum sealer vs regular vacuum sealerChamber vacuum sealer vs regular edge sealer: how each removes air, what each can seal, bag costs over a year and when a chamber sealer pays for itself.Comparison
- Chamber vacuum sealer pump oil: when and how to change itOil vs dry piston pumps in chamber vacuum sealers, how the conditioning cycle works, when to change pump oil and how to do it on VacMaster style machines.How-to
- Chamber vacuum sealer not reaching full vacuumChamber vacuum sealer not pulling full vacuum or not sealing? Check the lid gasket, pump oil, seal bar tape, bag and settings in this order to find the fix.Fix
- Chamber vacuum sealer bags explainedChamber vacuum sealer bags explained: smooth vs embossed, 3 mil vs 4 mil thickness, sous vide and freezer use, and how to size bags to your seal bar and chamber.Explainer
- Can you pressure can in an Instant Pot?Can you pressure can in an Instant Pot or other multicooker? Why NCHFP does not recommend it, what the canning button does and does not mean, and safe options.Explainer
- Avid Armor USV20 vs USV32Avid Armor USV20 vs USV32 chamber vacuum sealers compared on seal bar, chamber size, controls, extras and price, using only what the listings state.Comparison
- All American vs Presto pressure canner compared model for modelAll American vs Presto pressure canners: metal to metal seal vs gasket, gauges, capacity, stove fit and price, using only the Amazon listing facts.Comparison