The vacuum packaging is becoming increasingly popular and for good reason. What are your advantages? It significantly extends the durability of food, but is also with theStorage of clothingAnd useful bed linen. What the advantages and disadvantages of the method are in a vacuum packaging, which vacuumers you should buy for your home- we will reveal all of this in our guide.
What is vacuum packaging?
As we know, oxygen is decisive for the spoilage of food, changes in taste, mold formation, drying out, rancid and oxidation of vitamins. By reducing the amount of oxygen in the airtight packaging, the product remains fresh and retains its pleasant aroma, its texture and nutritional value for a longer period of time. The vacuum packaging (Vacuum Packaging, VP) is one of the best ways to preserve food. With this method, the product is placed in an airtight foil packaging, then the internal pressure is reduced by reducing the amount of oxygen and increasing the amount of CO2 and finally closed hermetically.
The containers for vacuum packaging are available in many different forms - that can be special bags, sacks and foils, but also glasses and cans made of glass, plastic or stainless steel. The packaging must be resistant to damage, lockable, anti -condensation and less permeable to carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapor. For the storage of food, the most frequently used packaging materials are cellophane/polyethylene laminate, PET/PE laminate, PA/PE laminate and PET and PA films in the form of covers.
What can be packed in vacuum bags?
The vacuum packaging primarily serves - but not exclusively - to preserve food. You can store practically all products in this way, but you have to take into account that each of you has a different shelf life. You can store raw meat and sausage, raw and smoked fish, cheese, grain, fruit, processed vegetables, ready meals, soups and sauces, baking and confectionery and even ... wine. The vacuum packaging is also suitable for theStorage of bedding and clothing. The main thing is to reduce their volume and to better use the room in the wardrobe, but it also protects the materials from dust, moisture and mites.
How are foods vacuum packed?
The food you want to vacuum must be fresh, clean, cooled and as dry as possible. If you observe these rules, you can get the best out of this storage method. Meat, fish, fruit and vegetables should be thoroughly washed and wiped before packaging. Put soups and sauces in a separate freezer bag and place it upright in the freezer. When the liquids are frozen, put them in a vacuum bag and close it.
The most popular is vacuum packaging in foil or plastic bags. For this purpose you need a vacuumer (packaging device) that can withdraw the air. If you use foil, measure a piece from the roll and weld the one end together. Place the product in the middle and the other side of the film in the vacuumer that sucks on the oxygen and seals the packaging. You can also use pre -made vacuum bags that are available in different sizes. Some of them are equipped with special ribbons to absorb excess liquid, which is particularly useful for packing meat. It is worthwhile to use foils and bags that can be placed in the microwave or are used for the sous-video cooking, in which hermetically packaged products are cooked at low temperature for a long time. This technique, popular with French chefs, is appreciated because of the aroma, taste and juiciness of the prepared dishes.
Special glasses, containers and pots can also be used for vacuum packaging, which is a more ecological solution than one -way film. They can be used to store berry fruit (e.g. strawberries), salad mixtures, coffee beans and dried tea as well as for marinating meat. After closing the container, the air should be extracted with a hand pump or a hose supplied with your vacuumer. You can also use it to extend the durability of wine. Once a wine bottle is open, the wine reacts with the oxygen of the air and quickly loses its taste and smell, even if you close the bottle with a replacement body. With the hose you can suck the air out of the old bottle and close the wine again - until the next consumption.
How are clothing and bed linen vacuum packed?
To pack your clothes and bed linen, you can use reusable bags made of hard and durable plastic. Some of them are equipped with hangers so that they can hang them in the closet. The objects that you put in the vacuum bag should be dry and clean, carefully folded and stacked on top of each other. Make sure that you do not overfill the bag or put things in. After putting the clothes or bedding in the bag, seal it with the zipper and put the pipe of the vacuum cleaner on the special valve. Suck the air out of the inside with the vacuum cleaner and then turn the valve to. The volume of the bag with the content is reduced by up to 25 percent.
Vacuum packaging - advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of vacuum packaging:
- Extended durability, which reduces the risk that food is spoiled and thrown away, which in the age ofZero-Waste-TrendsA very important part of consumer decisions.
- Vacuum packaging is alsohygienic, because they prevent the leakage of liquids and the formation of food. In addition, the products contain no or only small amounts of preservatives, which can have a positive effect on our health.
- For companies that process and sell food, vacuum packaging also means a good product presentation,Reduced production and storage costsAnd a simpler sales.
The disadvantages of vacuum packaging:
- High costs- Both the vacuum devices and the necessary packaging are quite expensive. If you plan the purchase of a vacuum device for your own needs, it does not have to put a lot of strain on your wallet, but you should keep an eye on the price-performance ratio. The cheapest sealing device can be bought for around 22 euros, but the most functional is between 70 and even 300 euros. For professional chamber vacuumers you even have to pay several thousand euros.
- Although you can extend the durability of food with vacuum packaging on the one hand and reduce food waste, foil packaging on the other hand producelarge quantitiesto difficult to recyclingPlastic.
Is vacuum packaging healthy?
Although vacuum packaging extends the freshness of food, you should remember that you have to be stored at the right temperature, air humidity and the right pH value as well as for the right time. Otherwise, dangerous anaerobic microorganisms that are responsible for food poisoning can multiply in food. How long can vacuum -packed foods be kept? The warehouse time is different for each product, but it is generally recognized that thanks to a vacuum, it can be up to five times longer!
Which vacuum packaging machine for at home?
A frequently related process for vacuum packing is the controlled atmosphere packaging (cap), in which the concentration of carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and water vapor is regulated within the packaging. Modified atmosphere Packaging (map), on the other hand, preserves food by replacing the air inside the container by a special gas or gas mixture with protective properties. However, CAP and MAP methods require more professional equipment and are mainly used in food processing companies. A simple vacuum device is best suited for personal use.
In the case of vacuum packaging machines, you can choose between chamber vacuumers and beam vacuumers, still known as bar-welding devices. Chamber welding devices have a special chamber in which the air is sucked out and the film is sealed. The advantages of these devices are their speed, repeatability of the work, regulation of the pressure, possibility of filling with gas and also the option of using cheaper bags of smooth film. The disadvantages? Above all, the considerable size of the device and its high costs. For these reasons, vacuum packers are mainly used in large companies. It is better for private use to buy a compact vacuum device - cheaper, smaller and more handy. However, the disadvantages of this type of vacuum machine include lower efficiency and the need to use bags and foils with structure that are more expensive than simple packaging. When choosing a foil welding machine, you have to pay attention to a few elements that will influence the comfort of the application.
The most important parameters of bar vacuumers:
Welding band length- This determines how large the food may be. The length of the welding tape corresponds to the maximum width of the bag that you can use. The most common vacuumers have a rod length of approx. 30 cm.
Performance- The speed of the machine depends on her. It is worth paying attention to this parameter, especially if you choose a large sealing machine - the larger the packaging, the more difficult it is to withdraw her air.
Maximum reachable pressure- The higher the vacuum, the better the conditions for storing food.
Pump capacity- The higher the pump output, the faster the air is sucked out of the packaging.
Foil/bag thickness- Each welding machine is designed for another thickness of the packaging, which can be sealed with it. Remember that the thicker the bags are, the better your durability and resistance to environmental influences.
Number of weld seams- The more weld seams the device makes, the lower the risk of leakage. Some machines carry out a double or even three -fold seal, which especially when packing damp products, e.g. B. meat is important.
Functions and accessories:
Hand operating/ automatic operation - enables regulation of the sucked -out air so that there is no risk of crushing soft and juicy products.
Pressure display
Welding function for bags on roles
Foil dispenser
Built -in cutter
Compatibility of the accessories such as a vacuum container or with wine plug for closing the wine bottle under vacuum
Dry/wet mode
Soft and unsavory strawberries, withered salad, spoiled ham, moldy vegetables. We are sure that you are familiar with it. But it is even worse when a lot of food ends up in the trash can because you didn't manage to eat them before they have lost their freshness. At a time when the “Less Waste” movement gains popularity, it is worthwhile not only to buy less, but also to pay attention to the correct storage of food. The vacuum packaging can be an excellent remedy for food waste.
