I've always been amazed at how my daughter and son-in-law vacuum seal a lot of the meats and whatever they get from Costco or elsewhere for their freezer. It's such a convenient thing for a very busy family.
Well, when we were in Chicago, they bought me a vacuum sealer for my birthday... buuut... I had them return it because I really didn't feel we had enough counter space for another appliance.
The containers in the back hold boiled peanuts which is Art's favorite Hawaii snack. I've heard it's popular in the southern states also.
I'm also saving some of those boiled peanuts for my brother which I did store in a plastic bag for him.
I think it was Tiffany who first introduced me to this Poor-man's vacuum sealing. I just stick a thin straw in the corner of the bag and suck out the air.
It actually works well enough for my purposes.
I guess you do need to have enough lung power to suck in that air though. 😁
Ingenious!
ReplyDeleteYou and your ideas always amaze me, Kay. Always thinking...
ReplyDeleteYou could end up feeling quite dizzy if you did a lot of that at one time . . .
ReplyDeleteI've tried the straw at times too. Wasn't as successful as you though. I tossed the plastic containers I'd been using in favor of glass ones.
ReplyDeleteVery clever! I don't freeze much so I don't worry about vacuum sealing. It seems like we used to have a smallish machine that would do that to bags; it sort of melted the bag together with a ridge. Does that make any sense at all? LOL I've never had boiled peanuts!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I have SO much food in my freezer that are really old and probably need to be tossed. I really need to learn how to use it rather than waste it.
ReplyDeleteGoodness. My daughter has a dehydrator. I, like you, freeze in plastic reusables.
ReplyDeleteWe tend to throw stuff in the freezer and then use it right away.
ReplyDeleteI use an assortmnet of freezer containers: reusable purchased platic containers, recycled plastic food containers, resealable plastic bags. plastic wrap in plastic bags, he meat the way it came trom the store. Whatever, depending on what it is and what fits.
ReplyDeleteYou can also seal the bag except for about an inch. Submerge the bag in a sink of water, leaving the open area above the water line. The water pressure will squeeze the air out. zip the bag fully shut before pulling it out of the water.
ReplyDeleteI've not tried the straw trick! Interesting ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I invested in a vacuum sealer last year. LIfe changer, but yes, one does go through the plastic bags, and that to me is disturbing. Perfect seals but at what cost? So, I absolutely 100% agree with Debbie's suggestion for a quick seal. The water trick works beautifully. No lung capacity or sucking required! I still follow your lead by using reusable containers but must remember that the time frame is much shorter before freezer burn or crystallization occurs.
ReplyDeleteHello, Camille! It's so nice to meet you. I'm going to have to try that water trick. It sure seems a lot easier.
DeleteI have actually used the straw idea to freeze fruits. It works pretty slick!
ReplyDeleteYep, when we used to vacation on the North Carolina coast you could tell you were getting close when you started seeing boiled peanut stands - little home businesses that boiled the raw peanuts and sold them hot in a paper bag with salt. Really and truly disgusting unless you like that slug texture in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteCeci
Too funny! I always thought it was just a Hawaii thing.
DeleteI must try the straw vacuum sealing. Good idea if I have enough lung capacity.
ReplyDeleteWe don't freeze much... and when we do, it's usually plastic containers. But I do put the meat (chicken tenders and ground meat) we buy at the grocery into plastic freezer bags. And when we were in college in Louisiana, I did like boiled peanuts. It's been ages since having any.
ReplyDeleteSue has one of those sealers. She stores it somewhere hen it is not in use. Don’t ask me where.
ReplyDeleteOops. That was me, above.
ReplyDeleteYou are a clever woman!
ReplyDelete