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.
1 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.
2 Place the food inside the plastic bag.
- Most machines require using a specific brand of bag.
3 Put the open edge of the bag into the sealing machine.
4 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.
5 Watch as the vacuum pack food machine withdraws the air and the plastic bag shrinks.
6 Wait for the machine to stop its operation, which signaling that the plastic bag has properly been sealed.
7 Remove the vacuum packed food and store it in the pantry, fridge or freezer.
