Your
Seal-a-Meal®
Vacuum Food Sealer will keep foods fresh for up to 5 times longer than conventional
storage methods. To get the best results, make sure you always start with the freshest,
most flavorful foods available.
Tips for storing fruits and vegetables
The
Seal-a-Meal
System is a wonderful way to preserve the freshness and nutritional value of fruits
and vegetables. It also allows you to buy vegetables and fruits in season when they're
at their best and most affordable, then enjoy them later in the year.
- It is essential that vegetables are correctly blanched before freezing, as blanching
removes dirt and bacteria. Most importantly, blanching stops the enzyme action which
destroys the fresh flavor, color, and texture of your vegetables. Watch your vegetables
carefully as you blanch. Under-blanching actually stimulates enzyme action and over-blanching
removes color and vitamins.
- To Blanch: drop 1 pound of vegetables at a time into 1 gallon of
rapidly boiling water. Use 2 gallons of boiling water for leafy vegetables. Cover
and begin timing immediately. Follow the Blanching Chart for proper times. Remove blanched vegetables
with a slotted spoon and plunge into ice cold water. The same boiling water may
be used for 6 to 10 batches of blanching.
- Cool the vegetables and divide into meal-sized portions in
Seal-a-Meal
Vacuum Storage Bags.
- You can freeze individual portions of vegetables and fruit before sealing. Simply
spread the cooled fruit or vegetables on a baking sheet, allowing enough room so
each piece of food freezes individually. Pack and seal the pre-frozen vegetables
or fruit as directed above.
-
Seal-a-Meal
Vacuum Storage Bags can go directly from the freezer to the microwave or boiling
water. To prepare frozen vegetables for a meal, place the entire bag in a saucepan
of boiling water, or snip the corner of the bag and microwave the vegetables.
- Produce such as onions, beets, winter squash, and pumpkin should not be blanched.
Simply wash, chop and spread on a baking sheet before sealing and freezing. Create
vegetable mixes, such as onion, garlic, and pepper and store for easy additions
to recipes.
- Wash and dry leafy vegetables, like spinach, lettuce, and chard for refrigerator
storage in
Seal-a-Meal
Vacuum Storage Canisters or Bags. To use, open the canister, take the amount needed
and re-seal the canister. You can store leafy vegetables in canisters in the refrigerator
for up to 2 weeks.
- Seasonal berries stay fresh in the refrigerator when stored in a
Seal-a-Meal
Vacuum Storage Canister. To use fresh berries, open the canister, remove the amount
needed and re-seal. The berries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Tips for storing delicate foods
Use your
Seal-a-Meal
Vacuum Food Sealer and Canisters to seal and store delicate foods that are easily
crushed—cereals, chips, snacks, cookies, and scones. You can also seal delicate
foods in
Seal-a-Meal
storage bags. Prior to sealing, freeze the delicate foods to help prevent crushing.
Tips for storing liquids and moist foods
Seal-a-Meal
Canisters are great for refrigerated storage of liquids or moist foods like sauces
and stews. You can also seal moist foods in
Seal-a-Meal
Storage Bags for freezer storage. Prior to sealing, freeze the moist foods to help
prevent liquid draw. Another option is to double bag. Place moist food inside a
storage bag and place the unsealed bag inside another storage bag, then vacuum seal.
This helps retain the liquid in the bag.