Food Saving Tips

Food Saving Tips


Vacuum-sealing dehydrated foods
*Dehydrators purchased at* http://www.officialvacupack.com/

Vacuum packing is a great way to store and save a lot of food, especially if you have limited space. While this method of storage works well for fresh food, you can also use vacuum sealing to store dehydrated vegetables, fruits, and even meat.

By combining dehydration with vacuum sealing, you can extend the shelf life of your food. Cooked and dehydrated meat, also known as jerky, can be vacuum-packed and stored for two to three months. With fruits and vegetables, you can expect at least a year, and often longer.

Dehydrating at home
http://www.officialvacupack.com/

Dehydration is the process of removing most of the water from food. Moisture is one of the primary causes of food spoilage, so dehydration lets your food last longer without going bad.

You will need a dehydrator, which is a fairly inexpensive piece of equipment designed to safely remove water through a heating process. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for dehydrating different types of foods.

You can use a dehydrator to:

 Make dried fruits, such as raisins, prunes, dried apricots, apple or banana chips, dried cranberries, and more

 Use salted, cooked meat to make jerky

 Turn pureed fruits or vegetables into “leather” (dried strips that are similar to jerky)

 Dehydrate fresh or frozen vegetables to make easy soups and stews

How to vacuum-seal dehydrated foods

There are a few different ways you can go about vacuum packing your dehydrated food for long-term storage. The preparation method you choose should depend on the type of food, and where you plan to store it.

Vacuum bags: This is the most basic method of vacuum sealing, which uses strong plastic bags that are designed specifically for vacuum packing. The vacupack vacuum packer removes all the air from the inside of the bag, and then uses heat to seal it closed so air, moisture, insects, and bacteria can't get in.

Vacuum bags by themselves are a good way to store jerky, fruit, and vegetable leather, and sturdier dried goods like legumes and herbs.

Vacuum sealed jars: Many vacuum packing machines include an attachment that allow you to create a vacuum seal for Mason jars, which are the most common type of canning jars. For vacuum-packed jars, you should soften and sterilize the lids and seals as you would with a regular canning process. Make sure everything is completely dry before using the vacuum packer attachment to form an airtight seal.

Vacuum-sealed jars are ideal for storing dried fruit or fruit chips, dehydrated vegetables or vegetable mixtures, and any “soft” dehydrated food that would be likely to get crushed in a vacuum bag.

Dehydrofreezing: This method combines dehydration and vacuum-sealing with freezing. Simply freeze whatever you're storing in a single layer on a large baking sheet, and then store the frozen food in vacuum bags. Dehydrofreezing allows you to store softer foods directly in bags without crushing.

Keep your food longer

Vacuum-sealing dehydrated foods is an excellent way to stretch out shelf life. It's also a great source of convenient, healthy food and snacks for your family. With these storage methods, you can enjoy fruits and vegetables anytime, without having to constantly run to the supermarket.

Words By Melissa
http://www.wordsbymelissa.com/

Find vacuum sealers at http://www.vacupack.com/ or at http://www.vacupack.ca/ in Canada.
Jar Sealers can be found at http://www.vacupack.com/
Dehydrators can be found at http://www.officialvacupack.com/
All types of bags and rolls can be found at all three sites above. 


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