Food prices around the world are soaring. Now, home cooks and professional chefs are placing more emphasis on food preservation. Finding ways to avoid throwing out spoiled food is a top priority.
One of the best food preservation methods to use is a commercial vacuum sealer. What are the benefits of investing in this nifty product? Let’s dive in and find out.
How Do Commercial Vacuum Sealers Work?
If you’re not sure if a commercial vacuum sealer is for you, knowing how it works may be all the convincing you need. Here’s how it works.
- Place food into the sealing chamber, in an open plastic bag
- The vacuum then sucks out the excess air from around the food
- Heat seals the opening of the bag, making it ready for storage
Top Uses of a Commercial Vacuum Sealer
The good thing about vacuum sealers is that you can use them all around the home. For example:
- Preserve meats and fish for months
- Freeze fruit vegetables to avoid spoiling
- Prepare marinades in advance and freeze
- Do meal prep in advance and freeze or store
- Assist with portion control, by storing the excess food
- Keep important documents dry and safe
- Store blankets and bedding when not in use
- Use for out-of-season clothes (saves space in cupboards)
- Easy to keep camping essentials dry and organized
Benefits of Using Commercial Vacuum Sealers
Now that you know what you can use a commercial vacuum sealer for, you may be wondering how this benefits you. Do you REALLY need one in the kitchen and at home? Here’s why a sealer is so valuable:
1. Prevents Discolouration and Freezer Burns
Vacuum sealing prevents moisture and cold air from building up in the package. In turn, this process preserves the color of vegetables and meat and also prevents food items from becoming stale.
2. Keeps Meat and Vegetables Fresh for Longer
One of the top reasons that make the vacuum sealing process so appealing has to do with the taste of your food. When food is vacuum sealed and then consumed, later on, it tastes as fresh as it did on the day it was first prepared. Much better than keeping something on the counter or fridge.
Certain food types can be stored for months without spoiling. Opting for this solution will ensure that you no longer throw out unused veggies or spoiled fruits. You can also pre-chop and divide the veggies needed for each meal and store them. Some cooks even use this method to prepare marinades and sauces in advance.
3. Extends Shelf Life of Frozen, Dry, And Fresh Foods
Dried foods can easily be kept for a full year without spoiling, provided they have been vacuum sealed and stored properly. Fresh and frozen foods, on the other hand, can remain in their prepared state for up to several months. Always check the manufacturer’s recommendation for each food type.
4. Simplifies Steamed Food Preparation
The vacuum sealing process makes it relatively easy to prepare frozen food by simply steaming it. All you have to do is place the sealed bag in a pot of hot water. Food that has been stored for months will easily defrost and be ready to eat.
5. Saves Space in the Freezer or Refrigerator
One of the biggest reasons that food spoils is that it’s shoved into a refrigerator or freezer where it gets squashed against other foods. This leads to cross-contamination and the spreading of bacteria.
Vacuum sealing extracts the air from each bag, eliminating bacteria growth. Since the vacuum-sealed bag is flat, it takes up less space in the freezer or fridge.
6. Easily Preserves Prepared Meals
If you have a busy schedule or follow a strict eating plan, finding the time to prepare the right meals can be challenging. However, with vacuum sealing, you can prepare a month’s food in advance and store it in the freezer.
Not only will your food still taste amazing when you warm it up, but you’ll save a considerable amount of time in preparation. Having your meal already prepared is an easy way to stick to your eating plan!
7. Both Commercial and Residential Applications
While the name suggests that this handy machine should be used in a commercial space, the good news is that it’s versatile enough to be used just about anywhere.
In fact, commercial settings often combine this machine with a plastic strapping machine to ensure that their products are vacuum sealed and packaged in the best possible way. Due to its bigger size, it makes sealing bigger items quick and easy.
Final Thought
If you were on the fence about whether or not you could use a commercial vacuum sealer, our list of uses and benefits should easily convince you. Whether you’re working in a commercial kitchen or simply want to make meal prep at home easier, there’s no denying that this is the appliance you need.
