>>>My grandma in Kansas was great at this stuff - she was a farm girl. She could’ve taught me a lot if I didn’t live so far away from her. My grandma (nonna) in Italy was a bit different. Odd, really. <<<
Hmmm, now if you tell me your name is Dorothy and you have a pair of Ruby Slippers, I will know that OZ is in Italy. And I would want to know how Toto is. LOL
>>>>I’ve been buying some now and then to store some dry stuff for long-term.<<<<
Very good thinking - I put rice, dried beans, peas, etc. in them and put a whole tray full in the oven at 170 degrees for about an hour - I simmer the lids and put them on and tighten the band. They will vacuum seal very nicely. Gives a nice long term storage package. I put rice into pints and some half pints. That way, they are in the size I will use the entire jar. Also is handy for measuring water for them. I put one pint of rice and fill the jar twice with water - then cook uncovered till just absorbed. (If you cover it, use 1 1/2 instead of 2 waters.)
Just do not use that for yeast or for any seeds you might want to plant. The heating kills them. For those I use a vacuum foodsaver sealer. It works great for all your dried veggies too. you can mix soup mixes all in a quart jar with dehydrated vegetables for an easy fix meal (takes time though to rehydrate) Even a crock pot would be good.
Can make chicken noodle soup (all dried) - all in one jar dried celery, onion, garlic, bullion powder, noodles, dried chicken. Just dump into a crock pot, add water and come back later for home made soup.
I make a mixed bean soup with umpteen bean/pea/lentil mix - add homemade bread and enjoy.