Can you afford not to be vacuum sealing?
These days were all looking at ways we can save money, and as food is one of the most significant monthly expenses, it's frustrating when food starts to spoil before you've had a chance to eat it.
By vacuum-sealing your food, you can extend its shelf life, avoid food spoilage, and save money in the long run. The machine works by sucking out all the air from a suitable container and then sealing the package.
Vacuum sealing increases the shelf life of food due to the removal of oxygen from the packaging, which inhibits the growth of aerobic bacteria and slows down the activity of enzymes. This creates an environment that is less conducive to spoilage and degradation, ultimately extending the shelf life of the food.
I've seen estimates that vacuum-sealing food can increase its shelf life by up to five times! Now a word of warning here, you cant expect it to increase high-risk foods by that length of time, and nor should you try to; it's potentially dangerous, but for products such as vegetables and fruit, I've found the method to extend the quality of the food dramatically!
I often use my vacuum sealer to reseal food packages such as cheese or products that can go stale quickly, such as bread, crackers and biscuits. You have to be careful on the more easily broken foods like crackers as if you remove too much air, you may find crushes the crackers and so makes them less usable; I invested in a machine that has a 'pulse' function, which means you can manually remove the air from the package by holding down a button, and as soon as the package is tight, but not too tight, remove your finger from the control, and it's job done! It also means you can vacuum seal softer items, such as tomatoes, without squashing them!
Here are my reasons why using a food sealing machine is a wise investment!
Longer shelf life: Vacuum-sealing your food can extend its shelf life dramatically. This means you can buy in bulk, reduce the cost per item, and store food for longer periods without the risk of spoilage.
Avoid food spoilage: Vacuum-sealing removes air from the packaging, preventing the growth of bacteria and fungi that can cause food spoilage. This helps you avoid throwing out food that has gone bad and saves you money in the long run.
Portion control: Vacuum-sealing your food allows you to portion out your meals, which can help you save money on food by preventing overeating and waste. It's fab for those people on a diet as you can weigh out ingredients or portion sizes precisely and then vacuum seal them and freeze them or refrigerate them, and you can just grab and go with them!
Freeze leftovers: Vacuum-sealing and freezing your leftovers can help you avoid throwing out food that would otherwise go to waste. I use it a lot for excess pasta we may have cooked; I pop it in a vacuum-sealing bag, seal it, and then pop it in the freezer. Then when you need it, you can take it out, open it and throw it into boiling water and it's ready in minutes! The same goes with extra sauces or other leftovers, just vacuum seal them and freeze them, and you have them ready to go, and as the removal of air reduces down the size iff the packaging, it means it doesn't take up much room in the freezer either.
Protect from freezer burn: Freezer burn can ruin the taste and texture of your food, but vacuum-sealing can prevent it. This means your food will taste better, and you won't have to throw out freezer-burnt items.
Store non-food items: Vacuum-sealing is not just for food. You can also use it to store non-food items, such as clothing and linens, protecting them from moisture, dust, and insects.
Keep food fresh during travel: If you're travelling with food, vacuum-sealing can help keep it fresh for longer. This is especially useful for camping trips, picnics, and other outdoor activities.
Preserve seasonal produce: Vacuum-sealing seasonal produce can help you enjoy it all year round. This means you can take advantage of lower prices during peak season and enjoy fresh produce when it's out of season.
Easy to use: Food sealing machines are easy to use and require minimal effort. All you need to do is place the food in the bag, seal the bag, and vacuum out the air. Most machines have automatic sealing and cutting features, making the process even more convenient, and you can buy different-sized sealing bags these days, which makes things even easier!
Saves time: Vacuum-sealing your food can save you time by allowing you to prepare meals in advance. Vacuum sealing is ideal for food prep, as you can throw all the ingredients for making a recipe in a bag and seal it, and you have a handy grab, open and cook meal ready to go!
Versatile: Food sealing machines are versatile and can be used for a variety of foods, including meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits. You can even use them to seal soups, stews, and other liquid-based foods.
If you want to reduce your shipping costs for items you need to post, such as things you may have sold on Ebay or Preloved, especially clothing, as you can use the machine to reduce the size of the package, meaning you may be able to change the size of perhaps a T-shirt from needing to ship with Royal Mail as a parcel, down to shipping it as a large letter, which will save you a fair bit on postage!
Are the machines expensive? They don't have to be expensive, no! Like any appliance, there are many options out there, and it's a case of seeing what you need and can afford. Now I was hoping to be able to recommend the machine I bought to anyone interested, but I bought mine during lockdown in 2020, and the exact one I purchased is no longer available.
I did get mine from Amazon, purely as it's so handy and fast, plus the prices are competitive, and there's a wide range available, far more than if you went into your normal local electrical retailer.
A decent entry machine will cost you around £25, and the slightly more expensive machines, retail at around £35, will likely give you options such as the pulse facility, which I recommend. You can view machines on Amazon here; take heed of reviews before you buy. Unless you're going to use it all day, every day, you really don't need to spend over £35.
If you don't want to mess around with bags on a roll, the vacuum sealing bags vary in size and cost between 9p each for the tiny ones, up to about 20p each for the bigger ones, and typically come in packs of 100. Now 20p for a bag might sound expensive, but these are big, and I assure you you'll save more money by not throwing food out than you will buying the bags; it really does help lower your food costs and reduce food wastage, it's money well spent!