What Is A Food Saver?

A food save is a device that uses simple techniques to seal and store food. It keeps food fresh and safe to use long after it has been put in the refrigerator. Fresh food needs to be sealed in order to lock in the nutrients and also to keep it safe for consumption later on. When exposed to air cut fruits and vegetables lose their nutrients to the air. Meats and dairy products become stale and dried out when left exposed in the freezer. They also suffer freezer burn when ice crystallizes on the surface.

Every day we face the dilemma in the kitchen about what to do with perfectly good food that cannot be immediately put to use. Usually, we use small quantities of different ingredients in our recipes. When cooking for one person or even two it is not possible to make use of all the contents of a package of meat or fish purchased at the supermarket. We buy bigger packages because they are cheaper but end up wasting or throwing it away because it has suffered freezer burn after sitting for a few weeks in the freezer.

Food savers come in handy in such situations. These food sealers are simple systems which help keep seal the food and store it away long after the original package has been opened.

Why Do We Not Want To Store Air With Our Food?

The main culprits that cause food to go stale are air and the moisture contained in it. Food reacts with various components in air like moisture, oxygen and microbes. For example moisture-rich foods like meat dry out when exposed to air, dry foods like cookies and chips absorb air and go soggy and stale. Food becomes unsafe for consumption when exposed to harmful microbes. We need food sealers and food savers to keep our food fresh and tasty for a long time.

It is important to keep air and moisture away from food in order that you may enjoy its goodness long after being stored. With food savers you can enjoy the crisps and bakes long after opening the packages. Most importantly you don't have to use up the entire contents of a chips bag or cookie pack just because the bag has been opened neither do you need to throw it away after a couple of days in the refrigerator because it has gone stale.

Three Types of Food Savers:

There are three types of food sealers being sold today - vertical vacuum sealers, hand-held vacuum sealers and bags and rolls.

Vertical vacuum sealers:

The vertical design of food sealer sits on the counter top without taking up too much space. The two level air-tight sealing is a ideal food sealer as it completely eliminates air and moisture from your food. It uses heat to seal the plastic bags or rolls that come with the sealing system. It is suitable for both moist and dry foods. The sealers come with a variety of features and sizes depending on your needs. Once sealed you can store your fresh produce like strawberries and meats and fish for several months in the freezer.

Hand-held vacuum sealers:

Hand-held vacuum sealers are suited for saving ready to eat foods like sandwiches or sealing small deli containers. They suck out the air and seal the food. These may not be suited for storing coffee grounds or strawberries which might get sucked out when using the vacuum sealer and affect the sealing process.

Bags and rolls:

Bags and rolls are ideal for storing small quantities of food. These are like food savers for your left over pizza or leftover cooked foods. Just put it in the zip lock and store in the fridge. These are ideal for foods that will be used in a couple of days or storing overnight in the fridge. The zip lock bags and rolls come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are very cost effective.

What Does It Cost?

The vertical vacuum sealers and hand-held ones cost anywhere between $18 dollars to $500 dollars. The more expensive ones are suited for folks or small businesses storing large quantities of fresh foods. For average households choose simpler models. Choose models that are less fussy and come with thicker pouches and whose air tight seals are really good. Something in the range of $150-$200 will be ideal for most homes.

Can Food Savers Save Us Money?

With food savers and food sealers we can store our fresh produce and meats for long and use it when needed. Your garden produce need not go waste. The catch from your fishing expedition can be enjoyed long after the trip. You can avail discounts for purchase of larger quantities of foods sold at your supermarket and use it according to your needs.

You don't have to throw away good food because you can use your food sealer or food saver to store it. There is no unnecessary wastage of food or money. These are ideal for storing a variety of food products and you won't ever have to throw away your food. You can also cook large batches of food and store in the freezer to use later on. Great for both the working mom's or home maker.