20 Tips to make vacuum sealing easier
Below is 20 of our top tips to make vacuum sealing both easy and to get the most out of your vacuum sealer. If you read all 20 and get just 1 or 2 helpful hints that you will use then that makes this blog all that more worthwhile. Food vacuum sealers Australia not only wants to sell you great food vacuum sealing products but also help you to have a great experience using your vacuum sealer. The following tips also apply to any brand external bag vacuum sealer that you may own not just the brands that we sell. So yes, we are serious about helping you no matter where you bought your vacuum sealer.
1. Write on labels or vacuum sealer bags first.
By writing on the food vacuum sealer bag or label before you fill the vacuum sealer bag or stick the label on is so much easier and neater.
2 .Select or cut the right size vacuum sealer bag.
By having enough head room in the vacuum sealer bag will make the job so much easier 100mm is usually sufficient. The more liquid in the food the more head room you will need.
3. Have a selection of sized vacuum sealer bags or rolls.
Unless you are vacuum sealing the same amount of the same product every time 1 size vacuum sealer bag will never be enough. We recommend having at least 2 different sizes available but ultimately 3 sizes abut 5cm apart in width is ideal.
4. Cuff the vacuum sealer bag before filling.
By folding the top of the vacuum sealer bag down and forming a cuff on the top 50mm – 75mm it will keep the inside of the vacuum sealer bag clean where you are going to seal it. Fold the cuff back up to vacuum and seal.
5. Make vacuum sealer bags flat and stackable.
Once you have vacuum sealed a vacuum sealer bag massage it down flat so it is stackable and takes up less room.
6. Partially freeze fragile food.
Place fragile food in the freezer for a few hours so they are part frozen which prevents crushing when vacuum sealing. Great idea for things like berries.
7. Freeze liquids before vacuum sealing.
Freeze any liquids into a solid block and then vacuum seal them so you do not suck the liquid into the seal area or into the vacuum sealer. Great for things like soup.
8. Vacuum seal only what you want to use.
Vacuum seal small amounts so there is enough for 1 meal in each vacuum sealer bag.
9. Include all ingredient when you vacuum seal an item.
If you are vacuum sealing meals to re-heat, boil in the bag or food for the Sous Vide cooker, include all ingredient so you can pull it straight from the freezer and into the pot.
10. Place a chopping board in front of the vacuum sealer.
By placing a chopping board in front of the vacuum sealer your vacuum sealer bag will then lay flat in the mouth of the vacuum sealer and not fall out or point up wards. If your vacuum sealer is very high use 2 chopping boards.
11. Cool all items off before vacuum sealing.
Do not try and vacuum seal hot or even warm food. Cool all food off before vacuum sealing or else condensation can occur trapping moisture in the bag and causing freezer burn later on.
12. Inspect the seal after vacuum sealing.
Run your eye along the seal on each vacuum sealer bag and if it does not look right for any reason give it a second seal to make sure it stays sealed.
13. Place a pad over any sharp bones protruding.
If there are any sharp bones on the surface such as T bone or Lamb chops, fold up a piece of paper towel and place a square over the sharp bone to protect the vacuum sealer bag.
14. Make sure you have the correct vacuum sealer bag for the vacuum sealer you have.
External bag vacuum sealer – means the bag is outside the vacuum sealer with 1 open end in the vacuum sealer which sucks the air out. These vacuum sealers take an embossed vacuum sealer bag which is patterned on 1 side and smooth on the other.
Chamber vacuum sealer – means that you open the lid and the whole bag goes inside the machine and outside pressure pushes the air out of the bag. These vacuum sealers take a vacuum bag that is smooth on both sides.
Hand held vacuum sealer – means the hand-held vacuum sealer has a nozzle at one end that pushes onto a valve on the side of the bag and it sucks the air out. You need a specific bag with the suitable built in valve for the particular hand-held vacuum sealer you have.
15. Use the seal only function to seal other bags.
You can use your vacuum sealer to seal other bags like potato chips and biscuits. Don’t try and vacuum them just put the open end over the seal bar and hit seal only. On some thicker bags you may have to hit seal 2 or 3 times to get it to seal.
16. A vacuum sealer is not just for food.
You can vacuum seal first aid kits, Ammunition, bearings, Fire starter kits etc… These all benefit by keeping them fresh, dry and free from rust.
17. Vacuum seal toiletries.
Vacuum seal all your shampoo and tooth paste when traveling to avoid spillages.
18. Vacuum seal photos and documents.
Keep photos and documents safe from dust and vermin by vacuum sealing them.
19. Don’t lock your vacuum sealer lid when in storage.
If you lock the lid of your vacuum sealer down when in storage you may compress the seals and then the vacuum sealer will not work properly.
20. Replace foam seals.
The foam seals on a vacuum sealer will wear out through use. You should replace them from time to time, about once a year for a domestic machine, 3 – 4 months for a commercial machine. Avoid sucking in liquid as this will destroy the foam seals in a vacuum sealer.