Can you vacuum seal meat and then freeze?

Last Updated October, 2022

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Tips To Follow During Vacuum Packaging Meats
Related Vacuum Sealers Articles
Should I vacuum seal my meat before freezing?
Can you freeze meat that has been vacuum packed?
How long will vacuum sealed meat last in the freezer?

The term preservation with regards to vacuum sealed meat, poultry or seafood encompasses much other quality defining attributes such as safety, aging, tenderness, and flavor. Therefore proper vacuum-sealing of such foods will have to hinge on extra factors like the freshness of the meat or fish during the purchase; proper storage considerations and even the aspect of how you go about reusing the food soon after removing it from the pack. In this article, we have tried to offer a rough guide on all such factors connected to proper vacuum sealing of meat, poultry, and seafood.

Pre Seal Considerations

Irrespective of the type of meat you’re vacuum packing, it’s important to consider their quality at the time of purchase. In other words, the fresher the meat or seafood, the longer it will stay in the freezer when vacuum packed. In that respect, fresh meat from your local butcher shop is your best case scenario. But, if that’s not an option for you, and you’re left to purchasing meat or seafood from the frozen food section of a supermarket, then ensure that you buy only those products with the latest package date.

Make it a point to thoroughly clean any meat, fish or seafood you get from the market, and dry it as fast as possible. Furthermore, if you’ll be using the meat or fish in portions, then cut them into smaller pieces so as to vacuum seal them in batches.

For meat or fish intended for long-term storage should be pre-frozen before it can be vacuum sealed. However, uneven freezing can lead to a purge of juices and therefore make the meat or seafood lose its identity and flavor. Instead, opt for short-term freezing by packing the constituents in a freezer bag or flash freezing by spreading small pieces of meat evenly on a large wax paper, covering them with ice and freezing the same for a day or two.

Tips To Follow During Vacuum Packaging Meats

If it’s small pieces of boneless meat, fillet or shrimps, then place them flat in a relatively larger sized vacuum-able bag. Here, it would be a good idea to drop a sachet of oxygen absorber into the bag and if possible, place a quarter-folded kitchen tissue paper over the topmost piece.

The latter will absorb any juice that might be drawn towards the mouth of the bag during the vacuum sealing process, whereas the former will ensure any oxygen that remains behind or diffuses into the bag during the course of storage is duly absorbed. The same goes for medium sized pieces of meat or smaller fish. In addition, if the pieces have sharp bones jutting out, then these have to covered appropriately.

Whole chicken or turkey can trap air within the chest cavity, which can prove detrimental to your food preservation endeavor. So, if you have a powerful vac-sealer machine, then make use of its extended vacuum function to suck out the trapped air. Otherwise, pre-freeze your whole chicken and vacuum seal the same in a proper meat compatible vac-bag. Don’t forget to the add the oxygen absorber sachet into the bag.

Finally, mark all bags with the seal date and make it a point to use the oldest batches first. Theoretically, vacuum sealed meats and fish products are supposed to stay uncontaminated for several months, but for all practical purposes, make it a point to reuse your packages within 4-6 weeks of packaging.

Post Packaging Concerns

You can tell if the vacuum packaged meat has been contaminated by noticing it’s color which should be dark purple. If there is a color difference, then don’t take any chances and use the product but not before discerning if it’s safe for cooking.

Bacterial action can still take place in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere. So, it’s natural for certain vacuum sealed meat to give out a strong odor after being opened. However, this should subside within 20-30 minutes of the meat being exposed to outside air, but if this is not the case, then don’t take any chances and throw it right away.

Should I vacuum seal my meat before freezing?

Since many of the types of bacteria that can harm both your food and your body thrive at room temperature, it's best to freeze your meats before vacuum sealing them and storing them in the freezer for an extended period of time.

Can you freeze meat that has been vacuum packed?

To refreeze, place meat that has been vacuum-sealed in the coldest area of the freezer, with packaging intact. Meat that has not been vacuum-sealed should be tightly wrapped in freezer paper and/or plastic wrap before refreezing.

How long will vacuum sealed meat last in the freezer?

Meats, like beef, poultry and fish, generally only stay fresh for about six months when stored in the freezer by conventional methods. Using your vacuum sealer can extend that shelf life to about two to three years.