If you want to stock up and store protein at home, in this blog Pac Food’s food storage experts answer the question “can you vacuum seal meat?”.
The simple answer is yes – you can vacuum seal meat! A large variety of meats can be sealed and frozen uncooked, while a few items are okay to seal after cooking.
Below you’ll find our Meat Vacuum Sealing Guide which outlines a number of the dos and don’ts when it comes to correctly and safely vacuum sealing meat.
Plus, we also reveal which of our high-quality vacuum sealing machines, bags and rolls will work best for your meat needs!
Vacuum sealing meat: Raw and cooked
Do you buy in bulk, portion out, vacuum seal and store your meat?
If not, you may be surprised to learn how easy is it to do – and the positive impact it can have on your grocery budget, saving you money and reducing food wastage.
- Can you vacuum seal raw meat?
Yes. Uncooked you can vacuum seal:
- Smallgoods, such as ham or pepperoni
- Large cuts of meat, including poultry, pork, beef and lamb
- Ground meat, including beef, poultry, lamb and pork
- Some seafood
Some other favourites:
- Can you vacuum seal sausages? Yes
- Can you vacuum seal bacon? Yes
Here’s an idea of how you can improve the shelf life for some meat products with vacuum sealing:
| Food | Stored In | Normal Shelf Life | Vacuum Shelf Life |
| Large cuts of meat: beef, poultry, lamb and pork | Freezer | 6 months | 2-3 years |
| Ground meat: beef, poultry, lamb and pork | Freezer | 4 months | 1 year |
| Fish | Freezer | 6 months | 2 years |
Sous Vide is also a cooking method which involves vacuum sealing in a plastic pouch and cooking in a water bath at a precise temperature, for a length of time. It’s a great way to achieve a juicy texture and preserve flavour.
Learn more about Sous Vide in our blog where Masterchef Adam Liaw revealed his tops tips.
- Can you vacuum seal cooked meat?
Yes. You can prep your meals and cook them up, then vacuum seal once they’ve cooled down to an appropriate temperature and freeze. Finally, reheat when ready.
Generally, your leftovers can be vacuum sealed, so they don’t go to waste.
- Do I need to freeze meat before vacuum sealing?
No – because meat is more solid than veggies or fruit, you don’t need to worry about flash freezing meat. You also run the risk of leaving it too long and meat getting frost bite, which is exactly what you’re trying to avoid by vacuum sealing!
Can you vacuum seal meat?
Vacuum sealing can be a great way to save time and money in the kitchen – especially if you struggle to shop regularly or you buy too much one week.
The good news is you can seal raw meat, and some cooked meat, so it doesn’t end up in the bin.
If you’re ready to start vacuum sealing, talk to Pac Food by calling 1800 823 200, to learn about the right food packaging and storage products to suit your needs.
Or send us an online enquiry here.
Pac Food is committed to providing customers with the best products, best prices and best customer service. Perfect for domestic use – whether you love fishing, camping or buying meat in bulk – and even small food & beverage outlets such as cafes.
Take advantage of our easy and secure online ordering system. View our extensive range of bags, rolls and vacuum sealers here. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our specials section – updated regularly – or view our range of combo deals to suit every budget. Got a question? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help.