Yes Ive done that suck and zip method before :-)
I do have a Food Saver device that is capable of removing the air. I also have the adapters that will remove the air from quarts and wide-mouth mason jars (very, VERY handy). Ive seen on TV a hand held pump that you can pump out the air (probably by extraction I suppose) on different sized jars etc., I guess this is what Im looking for. I do have a hand held pump they sell them for special Ziploc bags. I just wonder how I can get that special portion of the Ziploc bag onto/in a bucket so I could then do the same. Does this make any sense? And yes, Ive got 5 buckets thus far and hope to get up to a bakers dozen hahA! Check any major food stores that have a bakery department and most will give them away, but you have to hit them at the right time as lots of folks are after them. Lisa _____ From: Guyot Léna [mailto:drumr...@stny.rr.com] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 4:59 PM To: silver-list@eskimo.com Subject: Re: CS>OT question: plastic buckets Hi Lisa, Like the old-fashioned Tupperware, If you press down hard on the lid (provided it's also somewhat flexible plastic), as you snap the last of the lid rim down, you'll at least create negative pressure inside, but not complete vacuum. If you're sealing dry ingredients, this should help prolongue their shelf life a bit. If you're using zip-bags, a plastic drinking straw stuck in an unzipped corner and some good lung-power can suck out all extra air and then you quick withdraw and zip simultaneously. This is great for freezing stuff, but it's also good for sealing smaller quantities of things that can then fit well into buckets without extra air in the bags. If you scouted the internet, you might find the small rubber or plastic valves the some vacu-seal containers use, but then you'd still have to vacuum. There are some food-storage vacuum systems, but they get pricey fast. Still, your buckets sound like a great resource! Be well, Léna On Jul 15, 2011, at 4:08 PM, Lisa wrote: An obvious off-topic question.., but here goes. Ive got several white plastic buckets (that used to hold a variety of icings/jellies etc. from a local bakery). Ive washed them, rinsed etc. and am now storing pastas, beans and the like in them. They seal fairly well, but quite frankly Id feel better if I could actually suck all the air out of them. Isnt there a way I can do this without having to purchase dry ice or lots of mylar bags/oxygen absorbers? I figured with all the brilliant minds we have on this list Im sure that somebody has been able to do this successfully would you please share? TIA Lisa
