How Long Do Vacuum Foods Stay Good?

Have you ever wondered how the meat mix in your pantry or freezer stays fresh months after purchase? Vacuum packaging is a great way to preserve your food, keeping it fresh and safe for long-term consumption.

Vacuum packaging protects food in several ways:

• Prevents Freezer Burn: Oxidation causes meats and other foods to turn brown or gray due to evaporation of moisture. When the water in the freezer evaporates without liquefying, dry your frozen products as the moisture inside turns into steam. Vacuum packaging prevents natural moisture from oxidizing and evaporating.
  
• Prevents Oxidation: Fats in meat, vegetables and dairy products cause deterioration and create unpleasant odors when in contact with air.
  
• Prevents Pollution: Bacteria, fungi, yeast and other microorganisms may develop on the surfaces of foods in contact with air. Vacuum packaging creates an environment in which these organisms cannot live.
  
• Prevents Enzyme Production: Fruits and vegetables have natural enzymes that can cause deterioration when interacting with air. One piece of fruit spoiled can ruin the entire bag. Because these released enzymes can also migrate. Vacuum sealing prevents enzyme production by isolating food from outside air.
  

How Long Do Vacuum Packed Foods Last?

Vacuum packaging extends the shelf life of foods, but this will not last forever. Vacuum products still have an expiration date. Always consider the ambient temperature of fresh or vacuum-packed food stored in your refrigerator or freezer.

Dried Products

Flour, pasta, cereal, etc. in your pantry. products will last 2 to 4 times longer when vacuum packed than when stored traditionally. The expiry dates of materials such as flour, sugar, rice and pasta will extend up to 2 years instead of 6 months when vacuum sealed.

Raw Foods

Food like cheese in your refrigerator will spoil in just 2 weeks. Vacuum packing your cheese will keep it safe for 4 to 8 months. Fruits like blackberries stay fresh in your refrigerator for less than a week, but vacuum packaging doubles that. If you freeze your fruits with vacuum, they have a life of 1 to 2 years.

Frozen Foods

Vacuum sealed meats, poultry and fish can stay fresh for up to 3 years without exposure to freezer burn. Vacuum sealed frozen vegetables can stay fresh for several months if properly vacuum sealed.

Cooked Foods

You don't have to worry about the taste of the chicken fajitas you'll prepare for Monday. Because it will be very easy to prepare vacuum-sealed cooked dishes. When you leave your prepackaged box in the refrigerator, it will last up to 3 days, but will extend the life of your vacuum-packed cooked food by up to 2 weeks.

Do Vacuum Packed Foods Last Longer?

“How long do vacuum foods last?” It is difficult to answer the question because every dish is different. You should always evaluate your food by the time you buy it and watch the expiration date accordingly. If you vacuum pack a product, add the appropriate time to the expiration date to determine its longevity. For example, if you bought a pack of strawberries 2 days ago, it can keep for another 4-5 days, like in the refrigerator. If you vacuum seal the strawberries and expect them to last another 10 to 12 days. If you don't have time to grill the entrecotes you just bought from the butcher, you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days. We recommend vacuuming and freezing your meats as soon as possible to prevent them from drying out and spoiling. Add the expiration date accordingly. Evaluate the appearance of your food when you plan to consume it after it has been vacuum sealed. If you notice any discoloration or unpleasant odor on any of your items during storage, dispose of them properly. Contact Cehuma for more questions or comments on the lifespan of vacuum foods.