Vacuum packers

[Whitebridges]

I bought the above following about a year ago following a conversation I had with a butcher friend of mine. It's been a bit of an education but I am completely "sold" on them. I have used it for freezing and have not had any freezer burn and the quality of fish, meat, game has been brilliant. I have frozen, trout, smoked pate,cod,mackerel, flatfish, crab, shrimp, pheasant, duck, goose, hare, pigeon, partridge and even after 6 months produce has been very good....miles better than it would have been using normal freezer bags.

The main advantage to my mind is being able to store for longer periods in the fridge. If properly stored fish lasts 10 days and meat 15 or more. I'm unsure on the techical reasons why it preserves so well, but vacuum packing is affordable and a cracking way to increase shelf life without freezing. A steady supply of meat and fish is a godsend without the need to remember to get something out of the freezer.

Any views? Anyone else vacuuming? Cheers all.

 

Here is the machine.

 

 

A few bagged up pigeon breasts

 

[al4x]

they preserve well as none of the airborne bacteria can get to them as they are sealed

[MC]

WB,

 

You have missed out the most important parts like where from? and how much?

[Whitebridges]

they preserve well as none of the airborne bacteria can get to them as they are sealed

 

Thanks al4x, you've confirmed what I have read

[Whitebridges]

WB,

 

You have missed out the most important parts like where from? and how much?

 

Apologies, I'm a bit of a performace tart. It works and after a good trial I thought I'd post.

I paid £175 and made the purchase through:

 

Culinaryinnovations

 

First rate firm to deal with. Top class. Very good range of bags.

 

Cheers

[Axe]

I'm not sure I do enough to warrant the outlay but it does seem an obvious way to maintain the quality of frozen goods. Its certainly got me considering.

[MC]

I have been looking at these and you can buy them from about £30.

 

There obviously is a difference as the catering ones are thousands. The bags seem to be the dearest thing although some of the websites say they are re usable and dishwasher proof.

[game_boy]

Think i'd rather pay £2 for some freezer bags and just eat the stuff sooner. Or I bought 100 plastic chinese take-away boxes out the cash & carry and there superb for all sorts.

[Whitebridges]

Thanks for your interest. If you shoot a lot of game and "bag" a lot go this route.

[al4x]

seem to be plenty on the favourite auction site with bags not that expensive compared to the contents

[jinxy72]

sounds like a good idea ..... but either they are very large bags or very small breasts lol

[s6boy]

I use a Vac packer at work all the time and they are by far the best tool we have for keeping meat and fish fresh for longer, the one i use cost just over 2,000 and boy can it suck, lol.

If you were looking to buy one for home there would be two things to remember,

 

1 Vac packing food does not mean it will last forever, but it will keep the food freasher for a lot longer(none of that fridge taste)

 

2 The big down side with Vac packing meat is it will tend to sweet and stew in its own blood(venison being the worst) turning the meat green if left to long, and giving an eggy smell.

 

 

But use right they are great for frezzing and stop food getting "burnt" by the frost, and aslo is a much more cleaner way to store your meat.

I guess at the end of the day you get what your pay for.

Dont be put of by prices of bags, shop around.

A great web site is nisbets.co.uk they sell a number of them

 

 

Thanx

 

 

Matt