Posted on July 19 2019
Have you ever wondered if there are foods you should not be vacuum sealing? There are many foods you can vacuum seal for extended freshness; unfortunately there are a handful that you should not preserve using this method. Some foods contain anaerobic bacteria, which can grow without the presence of air. Within a vacuum sealed pouch, with reduced oxygen, these bacteria will grow and may pose a risk to your health.
Do not vacuum seal:
- raw mushrooms
- garlic
- soft cheeses (blue cheese, brie, camembert, ricotta and other soft and unpasteurized cheeses)
- freshly cooked or steamed vegetables (safe to vacuum seal after they are at room temperature)
In addition, many common vegetables emit a gas when stored. If these vegetables - in the Cruciferae or Brassicaceae family - are kept in a vacuum sealed bag, this gas will cause them to spoil. To store these vegetables properly they should be blanched, dried, then vacuum sealed and frozen for storage.
Blanch first:
- arugula
- bok choy
- broccoli
- brussels sprouts
- cabbage
- cauliflower
- kale
- radishes
- turnips
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Hello Nina, yes you can vacuum seal sauerkraut then refrigerate or freeze.
Bernadette, yes, rice can be vacuum sealed.
Can rice be vacuum sealed?
Can you vacuum seal fermented vegetable produts, like sauerkraut?
Hello Bob, You can vacuum seal homemade pasta sauce. If you don’t have a chamber sealer it is recommended to freeze the sauce first.
1. Put your sauce into an ice cube tray.
2. Put it into the freezer and wait until the sauce is frozen solid. Don’t wait too long though, you don’t want it to get freezer burn.
3. Take it out of the freezer and place the sauce into a vacuum seal bag.
4. Vacuum seal the bag the same way you would any other food item.
can i vacuum pack homemade pasta sauce , do i need to sterilize the vacuum bags.
Hello Brenda,
Yes, you an vacuum seal fried foods with flour.
Hello Karen,
Cruciferous vegetables should be blanched before vacuum sealed; even if placed in the refrigerator.
Can you vacuum seal fresh vegetables and store them in the fridge? ( not the freezer) Wasn’t sure if vacuum sealing fresh vegetables and storing them in the fridge would make them last longer or would vacuum sealing them make them deteriorate?
Can you vacuum seal foods fried with flour?
Hi Donna,
You can vacuum seal uncooked rice and dry beans. It’s not a must but it will prolong the life of your foods.
https://foodvacbags.com/pages/storage-time-for-foodvacbags-vacuum-sealed-foods
Should you vacuum seal uncooked rice and uncooked beans
Arjun,
Yes, you can absolutely vacuum seal raw bones (no need to cook first). Just be careful that they are not sharp and will puncture the bag.
Can you vacuum pack raw bones (to be used for broth) or do you need to cook them first
Hello Sue,
Yes cream cheese is pasteurized so it is safe to vacuum seal.
Can you vacuum seal cream cheese?
Hi Jessica,
When properly stored, spinach will maintain the best quality for about 10 to 12 months in the freezer.
Also, here is more helpful information about freezing spinach: https://foodvacbags.com/blogs/foodsaverblogs/freezing-spinach-leaves?pos=1&_sid=afd12899b&ss=r
If you puree let’s say spinach for baby food and freeze it into cubes and now I want to Vaccum seal these frozen cubes, what would be the freezer life?
Hello Daphne,
The way you prep your fruits before freezing will significantly impact how long the food lasts, how difficult it is to thaw and how it will taste later. Be sure to wash or peel your fruits before freezing so they’re ready to go when you want to use them. Larger fruits, such should be sliced into bite-sized pieces for optimal results. Cutting fruits before the freezing process ensures that your foods thaw quickly and retain their texture.
Here is more information about vacuum sealing fruits:
https://foodvacbags.com/blogs/foodsaverblogs/17796593-how-to-prepare-fruits-and-vegetables-for-freezing?pos=1&_sid=8a4b21219&ss=r
Can you vacuum seal mangoes and other fruit? If so how do you do it please.