Vacuum Sealer for Hops?

[John Sand]

Who uses a sealer? How important is it to you? I've been using a cheap hand pump and bags with a valve. It works pretty well, but not always, sometimes the bag loses it's vacuum. It doesn't worry me much, the hops are still double bagged and refrigerated. I'm looking at a used one, with bags, for a decent price. But I'm not sure the math works. How much am I spending on sealing vs how much am I risking in hops. Even if the hops were a total loss, it would take a good while to break even on the sealer. What do you say?

[jimjohson]

That's what I been doing. I have yet to find a bag that holds vacuum. I know I been thinking about upgrading.

[Beer-lord]

I got one last year. Not the most expensive but not the cheapest. I got it mostly for hops but we've also frozen steaks and fish and veggies with it and it works very well.
But, I have a lot of hops so it's worth it for me. I did read the reviews and even the best sealer gets some crappy reviews. I guess I've been lucky for the last year.

[D_Rabbit]

See here:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4294

I have used it several times so far and it has worked great!

[D_Rabbit]

Also, it depends on how you purchase the hops. If you purchase a full pound your going to save money on the hops. Than you can split them up in to a few ounces each and use them when needed. That is the most economical way to do it in my opinion. If your just using it on a 1oz - 2oz hop purchase than you are correct. It probably wouldn't be worth it. Like Beer-lord we have used it on bulk steak and such and that is fantastic also.

[RickBeer]

My LHBS doesn't vacuum seal their hops. Of course I have no idea how long they may sit on their shelves.


I take any leftover hops, push out the air, fold the bag over to make it smaller, and tape it shut. Then I put them in the freezer. I'm of the opinion that they're find many, many months later without vacuum sealing based on what I've read.