Can Vacuum Packaging Increase The Shelf-Life Of Food Products?

Date: 28-08-2021

The simple answer to this question is yes. Vacuum packaging increases the shelf life of food products by removing atmospheric oxygen from the main package where products are sealed.

 

Oxygen is the chief source of product deterioration, hence the primary form of vacuum packaging removes the oxygen from a vacuum bag and insulates it once a vacuum cycle gets completed.

 

Types Of Vacuum Packing

 

Below are the various types of vacuum packing methods used to maintain the overall quality and extend the shelf life of consumable products.

 

• Chamber Vaccum Packing: 

 

     -This can be done in either a single vacuum chamber machine or a double chamber vacuum machine. This method uses a vacuum chamber with a heat sealer inside that squeezes out the air and seals the package.

   

    -Widely used for low to medium volume applications like cheese, fresh meat, candy, and chocolates.

 

• Vacuum Skin Packing:

 

   -This method involves two rolls of skin films to eliminate air and seal the package as closely and tightly as the second skin to extend the shelf life and durability of the product.

 

             -It is mostly used for beef and meat to keep them fresh for up to 3 weeks.

 

• Nozzle Vacuum Sealing:

 

-A vacuum sealer comes with either a single or a double nozzle to remove the atmospheric air from the bag and seals it.

 

-It is mostly used in homes because of its compact structure.

 

Benefits of Vacuum Packaging The Food

 

Apart from extending just the shelf life of the food products, vacuum packaging has many more benefits:

 

• Vacuum packaging increases food preservation by 2-3 times compared to traditional methods of preservation. For instance, meat generally lasts 6 months in a refrigerator when stored with conventional methods. But a vacuumed sealed meat lasts 2-3 years in a freezer.

 

• The longer the food preservation, the lesser the chances of it getting wasted. This allows you to buy in bulk at a reduced cost.

 

• Vacuum sealing your food also makes sure that the food doesn't get dehydrated while in cold temperatures hence avoiding the risk of freezer burns.

 

• Vacuum packaging also retains the quality and original taste of the food. The absence of air preserves the flavors and the nutritional value of food.

 

• Since vacuum packaging preserves the food at its original quality, you don’t need any extra preservatives or chemical additives, which in turn can have some negative effects.

 

• If you like to marinate your food, vacuum sealing ensures better absorption of all those additional spices as it traps the moisture and flavors together, enhancing the taste.

 

• Ensures a better and tidier organization of your food items in the refrigerator.