Make food last longer by vacuum sealing: Very easy with the instructions - also works with a straw
Created: 12/14/2022, 6:30 p.m
By: Janine Napirca
Have you ever vacuum packed food yourself?
It's easy with instructions and a vacuum sealer.
Vacuuming food, for example to make it last longer in emergency supplies for a possible imminent crisis, also has other advantages.
You save space in the refrigerator and freezer by vacuuming, freezer burn is prevented and food can be vacuumed in portions.
The vacuum ensures that bacteria and microorganisms are deprived of oxygen, delaying spoilage and making the food last longer.
Other methods of making food last longer in emergency stocks are fermentation, cooling - with the right preparation even in the event of a power failure, salting/curing and smoking.
Which foods are suitable for vacuum sealing - and which are not?
Can be made to last longer by vacuum sealing | Can't you make it last longer by vacuum sealing? |
|---|---|
✔️ Fruit (washed, possibly peeled and dried) | ❌ Asparagus |
✔️ Vegetables (washed, peeled and dried if necessary) | ❌ Sugar snap peas |
✔️ Fish (washed, patted dry, chilled and marinated if necessary) | ❌ Cabbage |
✔️ Meat (washed, patted dry, chilled and marinated if necessary) | ❌ Broccoli |
✔️ Sauces | ❌ unpeeled potatoes |
✔️ Baked Goods | ❌ unpeeled pears |
✔️ Cooked dishes (soups, rice, noodles etc.) | ❌ unpeeled apples |
❌ unpeeled carrots |
Sample image - not the actual recipe image
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Instructions: This is how you can make your food last longer by vacuum sealing
First of all, you should thoroughly wash, dry and, if necessary, peel, cut and portion the food you want to vacuum pack.
The vacuum bag should be a few centimeters larger than the food to be vacuumed.
Alternatively, you can also use foil that you weld together on three sides.
Fill the vacuum bag or foil with fruit, vegetables, meat or whatever you want to vacuum and remove any dirt.
Then insert the open end of the vacuum bag or foil into the vacuum device and start the vacuuming process.
This takes about a few seconds per bag/foil.
Then check whether the food is really tightly closed - if necessary, seal it again.
Store the vacuumed food either in the refrigerator (shelf life is extended by a few days) or in the freezer (food will keep for several weeks or months).
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You should observe the following tips when vacuuming food in emergency supplies
the fresher the food, the longer it will last
Never break the cold chain
Hygiene is the top priority when vacuuming (clean work surface, wash/disinfect hands)
Can you vacuum food for emergency supplies without a vacuum sealer?
If you want to try the vacuum preservation method first without spending money on a vacuum sealer, you can try to vacuum food using freezer bags and a straw.
To do this, use the straw to suck out the air remaining in the freezer bag.
However, be careful not to breathe through the straw - otherwise germs could get into the food.
When all the air is out, pull out the straw and close the freezer bag.
What foods should you not refreeze after defrosting?
View photo gallery
In addition to vacuuming, there are other preservation methods to make food last longer, such as boiling or preserving.
You can extend the shelf life of fruits in emergency supplies by drying or dehydrating them.
Candying is another way of making fruit last longer.
