Vacuum seal bags are great containers if you want to store your food and make it last longer. Not only does it make it last longer but it makes it fresh to eat, as long as the seal bags are clean. If you’re wondering, here’s how vacuum sealing bags helps food last longer with these important functions:
1. Prevents oxidation – Oxygen is one of the culprits of food spoilage. It is because when the fat found in food such as meat, vegetables, and dairy products is openly exposed to oxygen, the combination of fat and oxygen generates carbon compounds that result in ‘strong and unwanted smells.
If you’re wondering why avocados and mangoes turn brown after a long time, it’s because of oxygen. This is where vacuum sealing comes in, as it removes all the air inside the packaging and seals to prevent oxygen from entering.
2. Reduces the reaction between enzymes – Fruits and vegetables come with natural enzymes that when exposed to oxygen, lead to food spoilage. By not allowing air to come into contact with these enzymes in the bag, you can reduce the reaction of the enzymes in the food, thus reducing food spoilage.
3. Prevents contamination – Bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms are some of the biggest reasons why food spoils, and as long as they get air or oxygen outside the food, they don’t stop growing. With these bags, you can prevent these microorganisms from growing further because there will be no oxygen inside to keep them alive.
In addition, no one likes when different foods or dishes come into contact with each other. It destroys the taste and can be a way for microorganisms to get from one food to another. By sealing your food in a bag, you can be sure that the food does not come into contact with each other.
4. Prevents freezer burn – Freezer burn is an effect caused by the combination of oxidation and dehydration. This usually happens when the water in the freezer evaporates into the air instead of liquid. It results in the moisture of the food coming out as steam. When this happens, oxidation changes the color of the food, and dehydration makes it dry and hard.
By using vacuum sealing, you can trap the moisture inside the food, which keeps its freshness.
How to make sure food lasts longer using vacuum seal bags
1. Dry food – Dry foods such as sugar, flour, pasta and milk already last a long time, but by sealing them in seal bags, you can make them last even longer. You can make them last up to four times longer by putting them in vacuum seal bags. For example, pasta, which can last six months stored in your pantry, can last up to even two years when vacuum sealed.
2. Frozen food – Frozen meat, fish and poultry can last up to six months in your freezer if you are not using vacuum seal bags. By using vacuum seal bags to pack frozen foods and place them inside the freezer, frozen foods can stay good and be protected from freezer burn for three years.
3. Vegetables – Different types of vegetables vary in terms of how well they keep in the fridge. Some vegetables like garlic can last up to six months in the fridge, while some like broccoli and cucumbers can only last for a few days or weeks.
If you can use vacuum seal bags to pack your vegetables, one thing is guaranteed, they can last significantly longer. Also, be sure to blanch vegetables for food safety and to preserve freshness.
4. Raw food – Raw foods like cheese, fruit, and berries can last for about two weeks stuck in your freezer. But, when you vacuum seal raw food, you can make it last up to eight months. Of course, other types of raw food such as fruits and berries have a shorter life.
5. Cooked food – If the food is cooked, it will not last, of course. Most of the time, cooked food will not spoil for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can make it last longer by using vacuum seal bags that make cooked food stay fresh for up to two weeks.
Tips on using vacuum seal bags to preserve food
1. Temperature is vital. While vacuum sealing can help preserve food, it can’t do the job alone. It is not an alternative to freezing, which means you still need to make sure it is in a place with a good temperature for preservation.
2. Some bacteria do not need air. Some types of bacteria do not need air to survive, such as C. botulinum, and without other bacteria that need oxygen, the area inside a sealed bag can be an optimal environment for botulism to grow without competition.
3. Use a good vacuum sealing machine. It is to ensure that it is perfectly sealed and free from air and contamination.
4. Wash your hands when handling food. To avoid contamination even before the food is in the bag, make sure your hands are clean and sanitary when working with the food.
Vacuum seal bags it can help you save money by not letting food go to waste so you can enjoy it later. By extending the life of food up to five times, you can keep your food fresh and tasty while also ensuring that you are safe from eating spoiled food. To get all the benefits of vacuum sealing your food, be sure to remember the tips in this article.
