Vacuum sealing is a cost-effective way to store and keep your food fresh. It preserves different types of food and a the growth of bacteria, which is beneficial if you’re planning to store seasonal items and food that quickly spoils, such as vegetables and meats. The lifespan of vacuum sealed food is longer than those that are not, which helps reduce waste and ensure well-preserved products – no matter what they may be. However, the question is, exactly how long is the lifespan of vacuum sealed food?
Some storage methods that are often used such as shelving, refrigerating, and freezing usually give us clues as to when our food will spoil – which is typically a few weeks after opening and repacking. Even without looking at the packaging, one sniff, and we’ll know when it’s no longer edible. However, with vacuum sealing that removes excess oxygen and keeps the products fresh for a longer span of time in a tightly sealed package, we won’t have to worry about food perishing within days or weeks of storage.
Vacpac ensures that we’re well-informed, so we know how to properly preserve our food up to five times longer with our vacuum sealers. The life expectancy of vacuum sealed food depends on multiple factors, including temperature, atmosphere, and most especially, the product.
Vacuum packaging is becoming the go-to for food storage all over Australia. However, since this method is relatively new, the lifespan of vacuum sealed foods isn’t widely known yet. Read on to find out the life expectancy of vacuumed sealed products.
Meat Products
Meat products typically need to be cooked and consumed within a few days before it starts to spoil. However, with vacuum sealing, products like raw meat, chicken, lamb, beef, fish, and many more can be preserved for a longer time. These products normally have a lifespan of 6 months when frozen. When vacuum sealed, however, it can last for 2 to 3 years. Aside from the long life expectancy of these products, vacuum sealing also ensures that they’re kept fresh for consumption.
Berries and Fruits
Berries and Fruits usually only last a few days in the refrigerator before they start rotting. These include strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries that aren’t edible after 1 to 3 days, and cranberries, huckleberries, and blueberries that only last 3 to 6 days. However, by vacuum sealing them and then popping them into a freezer, you can extend their shelf life of up to two weeks. That way, when you take them out, there will be very little to no deterioration, and they’re ready for smoothies or berry baking!
Beans
Beans can last for 4 weeks at room temperature without being vacuum sealed. However, vacuum sealing can preserve them for at least 16 months, and 2 to 3 years when you pop it in the freezer. Aside from extending the shelf life, vacuum sealing also keeps moisture and insects from getting mixed with your beans. So, you’ll enjoy clean beans with a long lifespan.
Oils
Unlike the other products on this list, certain types of oils can be stored for quite a long time. Safflower, Canola, Corn oil, and other types of oils that don’t have preservatives can be saved for 5 to 6 months when kept at room temperature. An alternative way to extend their shelf life is by vacuum sealing. Oils can easily be vacuum sealed for long-term storage, making it last for 12to 18 months.
Cheese
When stored in ordinary containers and popped inside a refrigerator, pasteurized, hard and semi soft cheeses only last for 1 to 2 weeks. When kept vacuum sealed, these cheeses can last for 4 to 8 months inside a refrigerated environment. The same doesn’t apply to soft cheeses like brie, camembert, cottage, ricotta, and teleme, as they cannot be vacuum packaged for a long period of time.
Baking and Cooking Ingredients
Baking and cooking ingredients such as flour, rice, and sugar are often stored in the pantry and typically last for 6 months. However, they do end up taking a lot of space, especially when they’re kept in bulk bags and sacks. When repacked and put into smaller portions with vacuum sealing, they can last for two years at room temperature.
Vegetables
Vegetables can last for only 1 to 3 days inside the fridge, and even at that period they’re already browning and inedible. When vacuum sealed, vegetables like lettuce can last for 2 weeks, and when blanched before sealing properly, the lifespan can be from 8 months to two years. Using a food vacuum canister, you’ll be able to preserve your vegetables and pop them out the fridge anytime you want to make an epic salad!
Snacks
Chips, cookies, and crackers usually go stale after a week when not sealed properly. And even when they are, sealing and reopening over and over again during snack time can make them spoil quickly. So, the best way to go about the storage of snacks is sealing portions good enough for break time or afternoon tea. Vacuum sealing small portions of snacks keeps their life expectancy for 3 to 6 weeks.
Wine
The best way to ensure that your already opened bottle of wine stays fresh for a long time is by vacuum sealing. After your wine is opened, it can last between 3 to 6 days in the fridge, but when vacuum sealed, you can maximise its lifespan as it can be refrigerated for 2 to 4 months. Vacuum sealing can extend your wine’s shelf life and prevent any air or harmful chemicals from ruining your wine.
Is there anything else you’d like to know?
If you’re planning to vacuum seal a different item that’s not on this list and want to know its shelf life, let us know in the comments below!
Get In Touch
Here at Vacpac, we make sure that our food vacuum sealers give you the best sealing experience to help you preserve your favourite food products. If you have questions regarding our sealers, let us know and we’ll provide you with the information that you need.
