The Ultimate Guide to Vacuum Sealing Meat for Sous Vide Meal Prepping

Are you interested in learning the secrets of vacuum sealing meat? Well, you’re in for a treat! As I juggle writing my new sous vide cookbook and embracing parenthood, vacuum sealed meats have become a staple in my life. Today, I’ll be sharing some valuable tips on how to vacuum seal meat specifically for sous vide meal prepping.

First, let’s get a grasp of the basics of vacuum sealing meat. Later on, I’ll provide you with some handy hacks and tips for vacuum sealing meat for sous vide cooking.

At Sip Bite Go, you’ll find many mouthwatering steak recipes like sous vide filet mignon, sous vide ribeye, and sous vide New York Strip, all of which can be easily meal prepped using a vacuum sealer. In this article, I’ll be using the reliable FoodSaver v4400 vacuum sealer, a real workhorse that has outlasted my first Anova sous vide machine.

What You Need to Vacuum Seal Food

To vacuum seal your food effectively, you’ll need the following:

1. Vacuum sealer – in this guide, we’ll be using the Foodsaver 4400.
2. Bags – either a vacuum seal roll that you can cut to size as needed or a collection of vacuum sealer bags.

Step-by-Step Guide to Vacuum Sealing Meats for Sous Vide Cooking

Let me give you a high-level overview of how to vacuum seal meats for storing in the freezer and later cooking sous vide. For more specific instructions, check out the video on vacuum-sealed meat featuring various sous vide techniques for burgers, lamb burgers, chicken, ribeye, bacon, and filet mignon.

Before we dive in, let’s remember to always remove the meat from its original store packaging before vacuum sealing it. This allows for proper seasoning and prevents meats from overlapping in the vacuum seal bags during the sous vide cooking process.

Step 1. Remove Meat from Store Packaging

Why should you remove the meat from its original packaging? Well, store packaging often contains cardboard, ink, and other materials that are best left out of the sous vide cooking process. You want to focus on cooking just the meat and nothing else. Furthermore, by removing the food from the original packaging, you can season it to your liking and space it out properly in the vacuum seal bags to ensure even cooking.

Step 2. Transfer Meat to a Plate or Cutting Board

If you’re in a hurry, you can simply place the meat directly into the vacuum seal bag and add the seasonings. However, for a better result, transfer the meat to a plate or cutting board. This way, you have more control over the seasoning process.

Step 3. Season Meat before Vacuum Sealing It

At this stage, you have the opportunity to enhance the flavor of your meat by adding a pinch of salt or other desired spices and herbs from your garden. Feel free to get creative! For example, you can even add a squeeze of lemon to chicken before vacuum sealing it, allowing you to make sous vide lemon chicken pasta later on.

Step 4. Add Meat to Vacuum Seal Bags

When choosing a vacuum seal bag, always select one slightly larger than the food you’re sealing. This ensures ample space for the meat to cook evenly. You can vacuum seal multiple steaks or other cuts of meat in the same bag, as long as there is some space between them.

Step 5. Vacuum Seal Meats

Depending on the specific vacuum sealer you’re using, you can either employ a Foodsaver vacuum seal bag or cut and seal a bag from a vacuum seal roll that fits your sealer. Make sure to leave 3-4 inches of extra room at the opening of the bag so that the vacuum-sealed meat, including burgers, won’t be squished by the machine.

Step 6. Freeze Most Meat for 2-3 Years

Once you’ve vacuum sealed your meat, it can be safely stored in the freezer for up to three years. This longevity is thanks to the removal of all air from the bag, effectively preserving the meat’s quality.

Here’s a perfectly meal prepped filet mignon ready for sous vide cooking at a later date.

Why Vacuum Sealing Meats is a Game Changer

Meal prepping sous vide dinners has never been easier or more convenient thanks to vacuum sealing. Whether you’re freezing filet mignon or any other cut of meat, you can enjoy restaurant-style meals whenever you desire. Plus, vacuum-sealed meats retain their freshness and flavors exceptionally well.

It’s important to note that there are exceptions to the rule of vacuum sealing meats, such as when cooking a whole chicken sous vide style. In such cases, it’s best to spatchcock the chicken instead of vacuum sealing it whole. This is because the air trapped in the chicken cavity might interfere with the sous vide cooking process.

Here’s a collection of meal prepped sous vide dinners with frozen vacuum-sealed steaks: ribeye, filet mignon, and boneless ribeye.

Unlock the Magic of Vacuum Sealing Frozen Meats

To truly understand the benefits of vacuum sealing, you must try cooking sous vide steak from frozen. As a new parent, this technique has allowed me to dine like I’m in a restaurant right at home. One trick I’ve found useful is ordering meat from an online butcher and taking the time to season and vacuum seal it all in one go. This way, I can conveniently freeze the meat until I’m ready to cook sous vide from frozen.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are a few more tips to enhance your vacuum sealing experience:

• Label your vacuum-sealed bags with the date of preparation, the seasonings used, and the specific cut of meat. This will make it easier to quickly identify and cook your desired meals later on.
• Use ziplock gallon bags if you run out of standard vacuum seal bags. Some machines offer the option to vacuum seal these bags, providing similar results.
• Check if your vacuum sealer is compatible with liquids before attempting recipes like sous vide poached pears or marinated steaks. Not all machines handle liquids well, and you wouldn’t want your cooking experience to be ruined.
• Pro tip: To save room in the freezer, remove the store packaging before vacuum sealing and seasoning the steaks. This will ensure maximum efficiency in your storage.

Since becoming a new parent, vacuum sealing meats for later sous vide cooking has become a way of life for me. It allows me to relish restaurant-style food in the comfort of my home. Figuring out how to eat gourmet meals at home, especially with sous vide cooking, has been a game-changer.

Vacuum Sealing: The Key to Successful Sous Vide Meal Prep

As a busy new parent, meal prepping has become essential for me, and the vacuum sealer has been my trusted ally in this endeavor. With vacuum-sealed meats ready in the freezer, any night can turn into a fancy steakhouse dining experience. For instance, I love to sous vide T-Bone steak, grilling or pan searing it straight from frozen.

Essential Supplies for Sous Vide Cooking

Apart from a vacuum sealer, you’ll need a few other supplies to fully enjoy the benefits of sous vide cooking:

1. Sous vide machine – popular options include the Joule, SousPreme, Anova, or Instant Pot Slim.
2. Sous vide container for water, such as a bucket or stockpot.

If you’re looking for quality meat to vacuum seal, I highly recommend ordering from online butcher services like Crowd Cow and Snake River Farms. The convenience of having premium cuts delivered to your door combined with the power of vacuum sealing ensures a seamless sous vide meal prep experience.

Here’s how beautifully a sous vide frozen filet mignon turns out. If you’re serious about sous vide cooking, check out The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook for a comprehensive collection of my best recipes.

Are You Ready to Master the Art of Vacuum Sealing Meats?

As a busy new parent, meal prepping has become a lifesaver for me. The vacuum sealer allows me to enjoy fresh and flavorful restaurant-style meals at home whenever I desire. For more delicious ideas and inspiration, follow me on Instagram @sipbitego and subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel for my best recipes. Don’t forget to watch the vacuum sealing meat video on YouTube to see the process in action!

Now that you have all the knowledge you need to vacuum seal meat for sous vide meal prepping, go ahead and explore the culinary wonders that await you. Get your vacuum sealer ready and start immersing yourself in the world of sous vide cooking. Bon appétit!

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