How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Meat Last?

You might usually buy a week’s supply of meat at the supermarket, and you have to cook or eat it within a few days, or else it risks spoiling. While meat can be preserved in its original packaging or covered with plastic wrap, these options don’t last long, and the fridge smells can seep into the meat.

Luckily, you can use vacuum sealer to save meat, which greatly extends the shelf life of meat by effectively removing air from the bag to prevent bacterial growth. So how long does vacuum sealed meat last compared to regular meat storage methods? Just keep reading.

What is Vacuum Sealing? How Does It Work?

Vacuum sealing, also known as Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP), is a packaging method. It was originally developed by food companies to prevent food from spoiling during long-distance transport. Over time, vacuum-sealed food became more and more common, and vacuum sealer became a must-have in many household kitchens.

Vacuum sealing works by extracting air from the bag before sealing it to create an airtight space, and then heating to seal the opening. Generally, vacuum packaging bags are tougher than regular plastic bags, so they’re less likely to tear during sealing or storage. By removing oxygen, vacuum sealing effectively slows down bacterial growth and oxidation, which are the main culprits behind food spoilage.

Benefits of Vacuum Sealing Meat

Vacuum sealing meat has many benefits. Aside from the obvious one of keeping meat fresher for longer, there are several other benefits to consider:

1. Extend shelf life: Compared to traditional meat storage methods, vacuum sealing greatly slows down the spoilage by keeping bacteria and mold at bay, especially botulinum, an anaerobic bacterium.
2. Preserve flavor and nutrients: In a vacuum environment, the flavor and nutrients of meat can be well-preserved, minimizing issues like oxidation and discoloration.
3. Reduce freezer burn: The thick vacuum bags help prevent freezer burn, so the meat can maintain its texture.
4. Store efficiently: Vacuum-sealed meat takes up less space than regular packaging and can be stored more efficiently.
5. Cook sous vide: Vacuum-sealed meat can be used for sous vide cooking, which keeps meat tender and juicy without the risk of overcooking.

How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Meat Last?

By removing most of oxygen from the sealed bag, your meat is much less prone to oxidation. Generally speaking, vacuum-sealer meat can be stored up to 5 times longer, or 2-3 years in the freezer. However, the shelf life of vacuum-sealed meat varies depending on the type of meat and how it’s stored. Here is a vacuum sealed meat shelf life chart to help you better understand how long does vacuum sealed meat last.

How to Vacuum Seal Meat?

Vacuum sealing meat is simple and can be done at home with the right tools, including vacuum sealer and vacuum bags. Here are the steps to vacuum sealing meats.

Step 1: Prepare the meat. Make sure the meat is fresh and clean. Pat it dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture, as water is also one of the necessary conditions for bacterial to grow. And too much water might even damage your vacuum sealer machine.

Step 2: Place the meat in the bag, leaving some space at the top for sealing. If you only need to seal smaller meats, you can trim the bag and seal one side first before filling the meat. But if you are using an INKBIRD vacuum sealer, the built-in cutter makes it easy to customize the size of the bag for you.

Step 3: Insert the open end of the bag into the vacuum sealer and start vacuuming and sealing.

Step 4 (optional): It is best to label the outside of each sealed bag with date and contents for easier management.

By following these steps, you can effectively preserve meat and extend its shelf life.