Freezers are meant to keep food fresher for longer but have you ever taken food out of yours, thawed it out, and tried to eat only for the food to taste like rubber?
We can bet that you have experienced that at some point. What you probably do not know is that the synthetic bland taste is known as freezer burn.
It usually happens when you package your food in a zip lock bag and put it in the freezer. What you want to do instead is use a vacuum sealer especially with your meat.
How to Vacuum Seal Meat
The process of vacuum sealing meat is an easy one, as you will find out below.
Step 1
The first thing you want to do is ensure that your meat is fresh. There is no point of storing meat that is already stale.
Once you do that, wash the meat and dry it off using paper towels. Cut the meat into smaller pieces to retain its nutrients and flavor better.
Step 2
Vacuum sealers come with automatic sensors that help in sucking all the air out of the bag. Of course, this is necessary because it ensures that bacteria do not multiply in the meat.
If your meat has juices and you want to retain them for flavor, put a paper towel at the opening of the bag to prevent the juices from being sucked out.
Step 3
After all the air is sucked out, you want to seal the bag and date it. Before storing in the freezer, check for any discoloration.
If you see any discoloration, your meat is probably contaminated. In that case, you may want to consume the meat right away or throw it out because it could bring fatal results later.
How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Meat Last in the Freezer?
So, how long can vacuum-sealed meat last in the freezer? Here is a breakdown of several meat types and how long they can hold up in the freezer when vacuum-sealed.
Cooked Meat
Beef – Up to 3 Months
Poultry – Up to 4 Months
Hot Dogs – Up to 2 Months
Raw Meat
Pork – Up to 3 years
Fish – Up to 2 years
Beef – Up to 3 years
Hamburger – Up to 1 year
Poultry – Up to 3 years
Lamb – Up to 3 years
Ground Meat – Up to 1 year
Vacuum-Sealed in the Freezer
If you like to store more food or pre-prepped meals, your freezer is the best place to store it. However, although freezers are well equipped to keep your food fresh, they can change your food’s quality, texture, and taste.
That is why it is advisable to use a vacuum sealer to store your food. It prevents freezer burn and maintains your food’s original taste for longer.
Imagine being able to keep meats such as fish, poultry, and beef longer than the six months that conventional freezing packaging gives you.
Vacuum sealing is also perfect for vegetables because it can extend their shelf life to a maximum of three years. Imagine that!
Vacuum Sealing in Refrigerator
The freezer is not the only place you can store your food. Vacuum sealers also have a significant impact on the quality of food stored in the fridge.
For instance, cheese only lasts for about two weeks when stored in the fridge using regular packaging. When you use a vacuum sealer, the same cheese can last up to 8 months.
On the other hand, fruits last about a week in the fridge with conventional packaging but when vacuum-sealed, they can go up to two weeks.
Vacuum Sealing in Pantry
Not everything can be stored in the freezer. We are talking about your dry foods and the question is can they be vacuum sealed as well?
Yes, they sure can! In fact, by vacuum sealing such foods, you significantly increase their shelf life. For instance, sugar and flour usually stay fresh in the pantry for about 6 months.
With vacuum sealing, the same can last up to 2 years. Of course, this applies to other things such as pasta and rice.
Benefits of Vacuum Sealing Meat
We are certain that you have realized by now that meat lasts longer in the freezer when vacuum-sealed. But why is that? This is because vacuum sealing locks out all the air and oxygen therefore leaving nor room for bacteria to attack your meat.
You want to date your meat however so that you can cook it systematically.
What other benefits can you reap from vacuum sealing your meat? Read on to find out.
Cost Saving
Perhaps you have never thought of this but imagine buying your meat in bulk and sealing it in meal sized portions.
You get to save a considerable amount of money compared to when you have to buy your meat from a butcher whenever you want to cook.
Preservation of Food
Vacuum sealers prevent the growth of bacteria or mold hence preserving food. This is possible because vacuum sealing deprives the food of oxygen, which is needed for bacteria to thrive.
Shelf Life Extension
If you want to prolong the shelf life of your food, vacuum sealing is one of the best methods to use. This is because the method increases the shelf life of food by up to 50% more time.
Vacuum-sealed meat can last up to 2 years while meat frozen in regular containers or zip lock bags can only last up to a year.
Space Saving
When you vacuum seal your food, it makes for organized and efficient packing. What does that mean? Simply that vacuum-sealed food will easily free up space in your freezer so that you can store more food.
Taste Maintenance
Keeping food in the freezer for longer leaves it with a bland, synthetic taste and this is caused by freezer burn. However, when you vacuum seal your meat, it retains it juices, moisture, and flavor so you do not have to worry about altered taste.
Final Thoughts
Are you convinced yet that vacuum sealing is the best way to preserve meat? As long as you clean your meat and seal the bag correctly, you can have a fresh supply of meat for up to 2 years.
Now, we don’t know about you, but we would appreciate having meat that doesn’t taste bland even after staying in the freezer for long.
You know what to do; go ahead and get that vacuum sealer for your piece of mind.