Eight Great Meal in a Jar Recipes - Make-Ahead Meal Mom (2024)

FAQs

How long do meals in a jar last? ›

The Shelf Life of the Meals in a jar is around 5-15 years, depending on the ingredients used. The #10 cans have a shelf life of about 6-12 months after you open them.

Assemble your meals in a jar by layering dehydrated or freeze-dried ingredients, shaking the jar to help them settle, and topping it with an oxygen absorber to create a long-lasting, shelf-stable meal. (Time needed is an estimate.

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

As long as the can is in good shape, the contents should be safe to eat, although the taste, texture and nutritional value of the food can diminish over time. Home canned foods should be used within 1 year.

Include protein foods 2-3 times per day such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts and seeds. Eat three servings of vegetables, including dark green and yellow vegetables per day. Eat two servings of fruit per day. Include whole grains such as whole wheat breads, pasta, cereal and oatmeal in your daily diet.

Water bath canning is a process of preserving prepared food by packing it into jars with self-sealing lids and submerging the jars in boiling water for a set amount of time to create an airtight seal and kill anything that would cause the food to spoil, such as bacteria and enzymes.

While dehydrated foods are optimally good for up to two years, you may get longer by including oxygen absorbers in airtight containers (either canning jars or mylar bags), to help ensure a longer shelf-life. Some items may last for many years.

Option #1 Use a Canning Jar Sealer Kit

If you use your dehydrated food often and want to be able remove the oxygen and reseal it after each use, the canning jar sealer kit is a great option! The other benefit is that you have visibility into the mason jars and can see if the food still looks good.

Does food in glass jars go bad? ›

Store them in a clean, cool, dark, dry place. Don't store jars above 95 F. Don't store near hot pipes, a range, a furnace, in an uninsulated attic, or in direct sunlight. Under these conditions, food will lose quality in a few weeks or months and may spoil.

While canned goods past their "best-by" date may not taste optimal, there's no real health risk in consuming canned goods as long as they remain in good condition. Here's why: The food in the container is commercially sterile and a vacuum seal prevents any new bacteria from getting in, so it will not spoil.

For cereals—the best by date can be found on the bottom of the canister. Cereal is still safe to eat for 30 days after opening. For jars—the best by date can be found on the top or side of the lid. Our jar purees are still safe to eat for 1 year after the best-by date.

Properly canned and stored meat can last for several years. However, it's a good practice to use and rotate your canned meat within 2-3 years for the best quality and flavor.