Vacuum Pack Food
Vacuum packing food sucks all the oxygen out of the packaging. This makes the food last 3 to 5 times longer and preserves it appearance because microorganisms, such as bacteria, grow at a much slower rate inside of a vacuum seal. Also, freezer burn is virtually eliminated because the food is not in contact with cold air. For someone who plans to regularly vacuum pack food, purchasing a machine that automates the process may be worth the additional cost. Here is how to vacuum pack food using either an automatic machine or manual pump.
Contents
Steps
Vacuum Pack Food With an Automatic Machine
- Clean and prepare the food that you wish to vacuum pack.
- Scrub or peel fruits and vegetables so dirt is not trapped inside the vacuum seal.
- Trim any skin and bone that you don’t need from meat.
- Place the food inside the plastic bag. Most machines require using a specific brand of bag.
- Put the open edge of the bag into the sealing machine.
- Press the button, if necessary, to start the vacuum and sealing process. Many vacuum pack food machines have an automatic sensor that alerts the machine when a bag has been placed inside and automatically starts the sealing process.
- Watch as the vacuum pack food machine withdraws the air and the plastic bag shrinks.
- Wait for the machine to stop its operation, which signaling that the plastic bag has properly been sealed.
- Remove the vacuum packed food and store it in the pantry, fridge or freezer.
Vacuum Pack Food With a Manual Pump
- Clean and prepare the food that you wish to vacuum pack.
- Insert the food into the plastic bag or container. (Many manual vacuum sealing systems use containers rather than bags.)
- Place the lid on the container or seal the bag.
- Put the nozzle end of the pump into the provided hole on the plastic bag or container lid.
- Press down on the pump repeatedly until all the oxygen is sucked from the bag or container.
- Remove the nozzle from the pumping hole. (Many of the manual systems have a one way nozzle so that air won’t escape once the nozzle has been removed.)
- Store the food in the pantry, fridge or freezer.
Tips
- When comparing the cost of different vacuum seal systems, also look at the cost of purchasing additional storage bags or containers.
- Use the vacuum sealer to package individual portions of food. Vacuum sealing is most effective when sealing just one piece of meat or small amounts of produce rather than trying to cram many portions into a single bag.
- While packaging don't touch the food with your hands even if you have washed them properly.
Warnings
- Be sure to follow the food safety guidelines for vacuum packed food before consumption. While the life of food is greatly extended by the vacuum packing process, the food will still expire or spoil after a certain point.
- Even with vacuum packed food there is a chance of growing of anaerobic organism that cause threat to the food.
Things You'll Need
- Vacuum sealing system
- Specialized bags or containers compatible with the vacuum sealing system
Related Articles
- Keep Food Fresh in the Kitchen
- Keep Fresh Vegetables Fresher Longer
- Keep Snacks Fresh
- Preserve Food
- Make Your Own Vacuum Sealed Storage Bags
