Hops can often be purchased in 1 or 5 pound bags. However, once you open them, the rest won't keep well. Thus one can use a vacuum sealing machine to reduce the amount into smaller quantities. The problem is that the bags are often 8 inches in width, so if one wishes to seal one ounce bags of hops (the most practical size), the bags are 8 inches in width and perhaps only an inch wide, which becomes very unweildy. Does anyone have a more practical solution of being able to vacuum seal one or two ounce bags of hops?
I used to seal bags with 2 ounces of hops, and I don't recall any problems. Also, I think 6" rolls are available.
Cut a bag in half lengthwise to make two 4" wide bags then seal the cuts you just made. Put stuff (hops or whatever) in the newly sized bag and vac-seal as normal. You could make even smaller sizes, too.
I haven’t seen 4” rolls, but bags are available in beaucoup sizes from Amazon: 4” x 6”, 2.7” x 3.9”, 1.57” x 5.9”
You can buy off amazon rolls of varying widths. I use like a 6" wide roll and cut to length and seal hops all the time anywhere from half an ounce up through 8-10 ounces at a time. Even if you have 'extra bag', it don't matter. As long as you get the air sucked out.
I'm just bagging the hops now. I made them about 5 inches long, and when cut in half, they are about 4 inches wide. Should hold an ounce or two.
Actually, that size was just perfect for two ounces. For one ounce, I probably could have cut the length at 4 inches, rather than 5 inches.
Yep. A single pellet in any size bag is basically as protected as any amount of hops. No air is no air (ignoring bag material permeability over time).
It's probably better to have extra bag. That way, if you use a half ounce and have a half left over, there is enough bag left over to reseal it.
I use a 10" bag to store as little as 1 ounce of hops. The "tab" above the seam is about 2" where I use a sharpie to write the details. When ready to use just cut the tab, empty the hops, and there is an 8" bag remaining. Repeat the process and end up with a 6" bag . . . then after you are down to 4" it's time to toss it. So a 10 incher gets used four times, so it is retired with honor. The same technique works for other foodstuffs as well . . . if a half avocado needs to be sealed a single bag can go through multiple cycles.
I use bags that are 8" wide by 12" long and get four or five cycles with them. Amazon has a 100 pack for 18 bucks, so expense is insignificant.
