Free Shipping on all US Orders! Full 10-Year Warranty
30-Day Satisfaction Guaranteed!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does vacuum sealing with the Pump-N-Seal® take the place of conventional canning?
No! Conventional “canning” requires high-temperature sterilization of the food, the jars, and the lids… HOWEVER, after “canned” food is opened, it will last days/weeks longer in the refrigerator AND it will look much better, smell much better, taste much better and be much more nutritious than if it were NOT vacuum-sealed with the Pump-N-Seal.
How long can I keep Pump-N-Seal® vacuum-sealed foods fresh in the refrigerator?
That depends upon several factors: How long was it opened prior to vacuum sealing? How old is it? What kind of food is it? What has its temperature history been? How cold is your refrigerator?… The general answer is that it will last much longer and taste much better if it is vacuum sealed shortly after opening and if it is kept refrigerated (if refrigeration is normally required).
How long will dry foods, like nuts, chips, cookies, etc. stay fresh in the powerful vacuum of the Pump-N-Seal®?
That depends upon the food and how fresh it was before vacuum sealing them in a glass jar… a glass jar is always recommended for long-term storage. The general answer is, 5 to 25 years or longer.
Can I reuse the Tab-Chek® check valves?
Yes, to some extent… as long as you do not tear, stretch, wrinkle or otherwise distort them.
Can I make my own Tab-Chek® check valves with some sort of tape?
No… for several reasons. (1) The adhesive on most tapes are laden with harsh chemicals that will “off-gas” under the powerful vacuum of the Pump-N-Seal® and contaminate your food. (2) Tab-Check® check valves are manufactured in the USA under stringent guidelines and with FDA and USDA approved materials that will not “off-gas” into your food.
What can you put in bags?
Meats, vegetables, nuts, cheese, etc. As long as no sharp objects, like sharp bones might puncture the bag. Do not put delicate items in a bag that will easily break, like chips, cookies, flakes, etc, Do not put soft or juicy berries in a bag… they will crush and allow juice to be drawn into the Pump-N-Seal®.
What can you put in jars?
Practically anything that will fit into the jar. Some items will expand in a vacuum, like freshly juiced fruits and/or vegetables, so be sure not to fill the jar too full. If you notice juices expanding/foaming up too close to the lid, simply release the vacuum and start over. It will not expand as much the second or third time… if it does, simply remove some juice.
What kind of jars and lids can I vacuum seal with the Pump-N-Seal®?
Any canning jar or any jar that was previously vacuum sealed. Jar with a “continuous” thread on the jar and in the lid work best. Jar lids with the “multiple tabs”, rather than a continuous thread, do not always work well.
How can I tell if a particular jar and lid will hold a vacuum?
Simply fill the jar with water to about an inch from the top and Pump-N-Seal it. Then tip the jar upside down. A stream of bubbles leaking into the jar will show you where the leak may be. Replace the lid or jar if the leak is at the rim. Replace the Tab-Chek if the leak is at the center hole.
Am I able to keep paints and varnishes fresh with the Pump-N-Seal®?
Yes, however, you must use only substantial cylindrical metal containers…rectangular containers will collapse under the powerful vacuum of the Pump-N-Seal®. If possible, transfer the material from a weaker metal containers to appropriate glass jars.
Can Kerr/Ball/Mason jars and lids be reused with the Pump-N-Seal®?
Yes, hundreds of times. if you don’t bend or distort the lids. To take a vacuum-sealed lid off any store-bought or conventionally-canned jar which has not yet been opened, simply punch a hole in the center of the lid to release the vacuum. Remove the lid by unscrewing by HAND or pushing up with THUMBS… do NOT use a can-opener or knife that may distort the lid IF you intend to reuse the lid. If a jar lid already has a Tab-Chek® on it, simply lift the Tab-Chek to release the vacuum and remove the lid.
If I put too much vacuum in a container will it implode or collapse?
It depends on the strength, size and shape of the container. For example, a common rectangular shape metal gallon can will gradually collapse and crinkle up and the contents, if any, may be be drawn into the Pump-N-Seal®. Even large ROUND metal container may collapse. If possible, transfer contents of larger metal containers to glass containers to prevent collapsing or distortion. No commercially available glass jar that was designed for containing food (nearly ALL glass jars) will implode or collapse under even the most powerful vacuum of the Pump-N-Seal®. The most powerful vacuum that is attainable on earth averages a negative 14.7 PSI on an average atmospheric pressure day at sea-level.
Will the Pump-N-Seal® keep my freshly juiced fruits and vegetables fresher longer?
Definitely! Many days longer. However, depending upon what you are juicing, how fresh it was prior to juicing and the temperature at which you store the juice. ALWAYS refrigerate juiced items.
Why do my juiced items foam up when vacuum sealing them in a jar?
The juice will have air entrained within it due to the juicing process. When you pull a vacuum on the juice it pulls the flavor robbing air out of the juice (and out of the jar). When juicing, be sure not to fill the jar too full, since you DO NOT want the foam to be pulled out of the hole in the lid and into the Pump-N-Seal. When you see the foam nearing the lid, simply release the vacuum… then re-evacuate the jar. A foam will still appear, but less and less will appear after each subsequent evacuation. DO NOT simply stop pumping the Pump-N-Seal to limit the foam level, as you need the maximum vacuum to preserve maximum freshness.
What can I use the Bowl-Seal for?
Can I use the Pump-N-Seal® for vacuum-sealing 'ordinary' zipper locking bags?
Yes! Please watch the Pump-N-Seal instruction video for complete instruction. Alternatively, however, we NOW have a much better and quicker way to vacuum seal food in bags. NOW, vacuum sealing food in our NEW “Check-Valve Vacuum Bags” is quick and easy. These bags have a built-in check valve that makes it fast and easy to professionally vacuum seal in bags. No more time consuming process or procedure using the D-Flater Stik and ordinary zipper locking bags.
Do you have a better/faster way to vacuum-seal food in plastic bags with the Pump-N-Seal®
Yes! We NOW have a fast and easy way to vacuum sealing food in our NEW “vacuum bags with a built-in check valve”. No more time consuming process and procedure normally required for vacuum sealing “ordinary” zipper-locking” bags (although you can still do that using the D-Flater Stik).
Can I use the Pump-N-Seal® for fun, scientific and educational projects for kids?
Yes! We have created several interesting things for both for kids and mom and dad.
1) Pump-N-Seal a jar containing a white marhsmallow-toothpick snowman. Watch in amazement to see what happens to the snowman, inside the sealed jar, right before your eyes, as you keep on pumping! Now release the vacuum by quickly lifting the Tab-Chek® check valve. HOLY ALBINO RAISINS, BAT MAN! Now what happened, and why? What a great science project.
2) Pump-N-Seal a jar containing a partially filled balloon, after placing a stirring stick or straw in the jar along side of the balloon so that air can pass the balloon, from the bottom of the jar to the top. Watch anxiously to see what happens to the balloon inside the sealed jar as you pump. What happens if you keep pumping? GET OUT’DA TOWN! Can you believe that? Why did that happen? Did you hear a strange noise? What was it and why?….or why not? A terrific science fair project.
3) Pump-N-Seal a one quart rectangular steel can (with a leak proof cap), a half gallon plastic milk bottle or a pop can (don’t open the pop can with the lift tab…use an awl to make a small hole in the bottom and empty the can through the small hole). Use an awl to punch a small hole in the steel can or plastic bottle. Seal the D-Flater Stik® (bag attachment), from your Pump-N-Seal kit, into the small hole with Sticky Putty® (or with well chewed bubble-gum) to prevent leaks. Keep pumping until all action stops. WOW! What happened, and why? A very cool science project.
4) Pump-N-Seal hot water (the temperature of hot coffee) in a jar. What happens as you keep pumping? What happens even after you stop pumping? Place several ice cubes on the lid of the jar. YOU’RE KIDDING ME! Now what is happening? Can you believe it? Did you expect the opposite to happen? A very nice science fair project.
5) Pump-N-Seal a jar that is about 1/4 full of aerosol shaving cream. What happened? UNBELIEVABLE? What happens when you release the vacuum? Try to explain this one! Also a great science project.
6) Pump-N-Seal a quart jar about 1/2 filled with water. The jar should have a “screw-on” type of lid for this experiment. Holding the jar VERY securely, tip it upside down and VERY quickly and completely remove the Tab-Chek® check valve from the lid. HOLY SMOKE! What in the world happened? Caution: This may startle you, so be sure to hold the jar tightly. Take this to school for your next science fair project.
7) Pump-N-Seal one half of a white onion (cut through the “equator”, not the “poles”) in a small wide-mouth jar containing a 1/2 inch deep 50/50% mixture of red food coloring and water. Do not skin the onion. Place it, cut-side down, into the mixture. You will see bubbling action as you Pump-N-Seal the jar completely according to the instructions? Wait until the bubbling stops, then release the Tab-Chek and wait 15 seconds before removing the onion. Remove the onion-half and cut it in half again, this time down through the pole. FANTASTIC! What happened to the onion? Mom and Dad will love this science project. It will give them marinating ideas for the kitchen… for sure! What do you think this process would do to vegetables, chicken, fish or meats while using the Pump-N-Seal and Bowl-Seal lid set… perhaps before barbecuing??? Any ideas for Mom?
Copyright 1998-present, Pioneering Concepts Incorporated, All rights reserved