Vacuum Food Storage
One way to keep foods longer is vacuum food storage. One of the main causes of freezer burn is the air. To be more specific the air causes your food to discolor, dry out and can be a source of bacteria and molds that cause your foods to spoil.
one way to minimize all of these problems is to buy a system that removes air from the containers or bags that you use to store foods. A vacuum food storage system can be inexpensive and can save you money. The system works by using specialized bags or containers that you place the food you want to preserve in. Once the food is in the bag or container you attach the bag to the vacuum device. Air is removed or sucked out of the bag or container.
The system is especially useful in the freezer. The freezer can be used to store food practically indefinitely but freezer burn usually limits the time. Freezer burn dries out your food and gives it an odd or off taste. for this reason foods that have freezer burned usually get thrown out even if they are considered "safe for consumption". The main cause of freezer burn is air and moisture. the vacuum food storage system eliminates the majority of the air and moisture from the container your food is sealed in.
One popular system removes all of the air from a plastic bag and then heat seals the bag. The main advantage of this approach is that the bag is truly sealed. There is no way for air to re-enter the bag through a seal or a bag that can be reopened. This is also the main drawback to the heat seal approach. A heat sealed bag is a one use bag. If you have multiple portions it is best to seal only the number you will use in a single use. This is a great idea for creating single servings or sealing just enough for one meal at a time.
The most common use for a vacuum food storage system is to freeze foods. You can also use it to vacuum seal foods for the refrigerator and the pantry. All foods that you desire to store can benefit from vacuum sealing. spices will stay fresh longer in the cupboard. vegetables and cheeses can last up to five times longer in the refrigerator. vegetables will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks instead of 3 or 4 days. Cheese can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 8 months if you vacuum seal it correctly.
There are vacuum food storage systems that use special canisters instead of bags. These systems are ideal for long term emergency food storage.
A special time saving tip is to use your vacuum food storage system as a quick marinade system. Remembering to marinade the meat overnight can be a chore and time consuming. Instead, vacuum seal your meat in a bag with marinade and put it in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes. It will come out juicy and tender just as if you had marinated it all night.