If you've ever wondered what the difference was between canning and vacuum-sealing your mason jars, we've got the explanation ...

The growing season is upon us and if you haven't already done so, now is the time to make sure you have the supplies you need to safely preserve your garden bounty. Proper equipment in good condition ...

and they won’t seal properly). Process the jam Using canning tongs, carefully place the filled jars into the water bath, one at a time. Cover the pot and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

At its core, the purpose of vacuum-sealing is a simple and noble pursuit: Make food last longer. But until I talked to a bunch of experts for this story and tested a number of vacuum sealers ...