Many Features of Vacuum Seal Storage Bags

by Adam Horton

Those popular vacuum-sealed storage bags are flexible, multi-dimensional and safe. Consumers are finding interesting short and long-term uses for the air-tight, waterproof storage bags.

When it comes to food storage, people think of old fashioned canisters or those small self-sealing sandwich bags. The new vacuum-sealed storage bags are far more advanced and provide far longer term and much safer storage.

How They Work

Technology has played a big part in the development of these new bags. The result is that different manufacturers have different designs. One of the new designs requires the use of a small vacuum sealing device, which is about the size of a three holed paper punch used for office filing.

With this product, the consumer loads the food stuffs into the 8" or 11" bag, leaving a three inch gap to the top. The top is then aligned with the vacuum sealer to draw the air out of the bag and then heat seal the top. The result is an ideal storage facility, impervious to bugs, water or mold.

The three inch gap allows the user to re-enter the bag to withdraw items or to place new items in the bag. To preserve the integrity of the storage area, the vacuum seal must be applied each time the bag is opened. Once sealed, the bag is ready to be placed in the refrigerator or in a cupboard.

Another Type

Other manufacturers have developed other solutions, the most popular of which is a top loading bag that features a self-contained air valve. Once the bag is loaded, again permitting a two-three inch gap, and the bag is closed, the user connects the household vacuum hose to the air valve and draws all the air from inside the bag.

When all the air s out of the bag, simply close the valve and disconnect the hose. Your neat, tidy bag is ready for stacking or placement. These bags come in 11 different shapes and sizes.

One advantage of this storage bag is the stackable shape of the unit. Multiple bags can be placed in the freezer, refrigerator or on cupboard shelves. These are similar to the bags used by most supermarkets, who have large volumes of food to store for periods of time.

Shapes and Sizes

Most bags have a polyethylene, heavy duty puncture resistant exterior that is sometimes supplemented with an outside cover. The storage bags are available is differing sizes and shapes and colors.

Vacuum sealed plastic storage bags are now sold in more than 40 countries around the globe. There are several color options available. Prices vary greatly. If you are a first-time user, perform your due diligence and check product reviews. You will soon be able to identify the industry's most popular brands.