vacuum sealers for hop storage

They all seem to work good...I've had my knockoff for over 10 years and have sealed a lot of homegrown and commercial hops...the bags/sheets end up being the pricey part.

My advice: Don't get a white one that clashes with the lupulin if you are in a relationship

 

I have the basic Foodsaver FM2000 and it works great. I use it for hops, sous vide, and making charcuterie without any issues. It also has the port for a jar sealer, but I have never used it personally.

I agree with Krusty, the bags are the pricey part. Buy in bulk to save there.

 

For optimum storage you need a bag which is oxygen impermeable. Mylar bags for example.

Cheers!

 

Anyone have any luck getting mylar bags to seal? I've tried to no avail. Best option if you are concerned to that extent is buy them in small mylar denominations (eg. 2 oz)

 

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=303070

Looks like this guy did it with some pieces of standard seal bags.

I would think for short term storage jars may be best. Oxygen barrier plus reusable so you don't have to waste bags.

 

I knew there was a reason I waste so much time on this site thanx

 

I use a Foodsaver sealer with standard Foodsaver bags (cut from rolls). Hops will last a looooooong time in these things, several years at least, if kept frozen. The fact that the bags hold a vacuum indicates they are rather impermeable to all molecules in the air. Cheers!

 

The FoodSaver bags, as well as other food saver bags, have little teeth on one side for a reason. It helps bite to make a seal. If you take the toothed side of this bag and place it in a mylar bag you should have something similar. I've never tried it, personally. Lots of good vids on Youtube claim it works. I believe that some of the more expensive vacuum sealers can take on mylar bags, but I'd have to double-check.

 

I've used a standard FoodSaver for about two years. I've had some problems when I just single-seal the bags. You go back through and double-seal each side of each bag and everything stays where it should. Also, make each bag a little bigger than you think you'll need. Cut just below the seal and you have some room to work with to reseal the same bag. This is way easier than making another new bag every time you turn around.

I've also seen people break out the clothes iron for sealing bags. It seems like a good way to do it if you're going to do a lot of hops in one sitting.

 

I use a Ziploc brand vacuum sealer (which, ironically, is not a Zip-loc seal but a heat seal). It was on sale at Walmart post Christmas. Very simple operations. It uses thick plastic bags, I think comparable to freezer grade zip-loc, which I believe is 2.7 mil thick. I only just started using this in the past month, but I think it will maintain that vacuum for several months or even longer. If any of you have a different experience, I'd like to hear.

 

Foodsaver bags are said to be more oxygen impermeable than a Ziplock. Mylar would be better, and has the added light protection (but it is dark in the freezer).
Performance
Mylar>Foodsaver>>Ziploc