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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Hi Kathy – So vacuum sealing powdered goods can be a bit tricky. While your machine is taking all the air out, it can also take out some of the powder with it and clog or damage your machine. That’s typically why people choose the paper bag method.
I just bought a Food Saver. I would like to dry save sugar and flour in their original 5 pound bags (along with the food saver bags of course)…but I don’t want to use the “paper bag” method I’ve seen suggested. Do you think this would work?
Hi Tilley – Coconut Macaroons do not NEED to be refrigerated, but they should be kept as cool as possible. If left at room temperature, they will soften up a little and should be good for about a week.
Dehydrated Vegetables, as long as they’re stored in a cool dark place can last at least 6 months or longer. You may want to consider throwing in an oxygen absorber or two, just to reduce the risk of any oxidation if for some reason you aren’t able to completely get all the oxygen out of you bag.
As for Homemade Beef Jerky, it can last a long time. Some references say 2 years (if unopened) or longer, some say 2 months. I’m not sure how much of an adventure you’re planning. If you keep it stored in a cool, dark place, I believe you should be fine for at least the 2 months, possibly longer.
I absolutely love your bags! I am preparing food for a backpacking trip so I will not be able to refrigerate or freeze the food. What would you say is the shelf life of coconut macaroons, dehydrated vegetables, and homemade beef jerky if vacuum sealed (and kept in a moderate climate but not frozen or refrigerated)? Thank you!
Hi Caro – You should be fine vacuum sealing and freezing your sauce as long as the onion and garlic are cooked and completely cooled before you vacuum seal it. It should be good for about 6 months in the freezer.
Hi, can you vacuum seal home made sauce with cooked chili, onions, garlic, tomatoes and seeds? If so, about how long will the shelf life be? Thanks!
Hi Dawn – You can certainly vacuum seal your turkey breast. The expiration dates would still apply if you store it in the refrigerator. If you store some in the freezer, the expiration dates can be extended.
If I buy a cooked Turkey breast to slice at home then want to vacuum seal it in several packages, does it have to go in the freezer or can it be left in the fridge. Also does the expiration date on it still apply or is it different since I opened the original packaging?
Hi Nancy – I would suggest when you’re ready to use some of your lemons, cut the seal off of the bag at the very top. Grab what you need. Once you have what you need, feel free to reseal the rest back up. If you take just the seal off of the bag, you can continue to use the same bag and not have to repackage the rest of your slices.
Hi Debra – Yes! You can certainly vacuum seal cold cuts and swiss cheese.
Hi Debra – You could certainly freeze your thai noodles with pork and veggies, but the texture may be a little off when you go to reheat.
I vacuumed sealed a lot of my cut lemons. What do I do when I want to remove a cut lemon from my sealed bag?
Can i.vacum seal cold cuts and swiss cheese and American cheese.
I purchased thai noodles cooked with pork and veggies,can i.freeze that
Hi Steve – Some foods, like ricotta, contain anaerobic bacteria, which can grow without the presence of air, meaning even within a vacuum-sealed pouch these bacteria will continue to grow and may pose a risk to your health.
Hi Nancy – We are so happy you love vacuum sealing! Please feel free to share your tips or tricks. We would love to hear them!
Hi Pearl – Fresh Pasta can be vacuum sealed. If you’re making it, you can store it in the fridge for about a day. If you freeze it, it will last about a month.
I have used a food saver since my kids were small. At 71 I am still learning new stuff. I just love it. If I want corn on the cob for Christmas I buy at peek season and vacuum seal.
Hi can i vacuum fresh pasta and how long will it stay if it’s vacuum sealed? Should i put it in the freezer or just in the fridge? Thank you
Do these recommendations pertain to foods that are being vacuum sealed and then immediately refrigerated and intended to be consumed within expiration date ? For example, ricotta that is vac sealed and the put in the fridge immediately.