How To Preserve Food In Containers - Berkel minivac Manual Del Usuario

remain unused for several days, such as when you go
away on holiday, it is advisable to protect all foods by
vacuum packing. They will keep better and moisture,
mould and insects will not attack and ruin them.
Defrosting bags
To defrost vacuum packed food such as meat, fish,
fruit, vegetables or other delicate foodstuffs, place
it on the lowest shelf in the fridge to defrost slowly;
bread and focaccia should be left at room tem-
perature, while soups or other liquid foods should
be immersed in hot water still in the vacuum bags
until they reach the right temperature. When you
leave food at room temperature or heat it in a bain-
marie, make sure you cut one corner of the bag
to let the steam escape. When the food has been
defrosted, it must be consumed immediately. Do not re-
freeze it
Repackaging pre-packed food
Many foodstuffs, like cheese and meat, are sold pre-
packed in factory-prepared vacuum bags. To retain
the flavour and freshness of these foods, repackage
them in bags after the factory package has been
opened.
HOW TO PRESERVE FOOD IN MINIVAC CONTAINERS
Warning: Do not use plastic or glass containers that
are not suitable since they could implode under the
vacuum pressure of MINIVAC and cause injury.
Freezing in containers
To freeze food in plastic containers use only original
containers or, in the case of glass receptacles, used
tempered glass suitable for freezer temperatures.
Vacuum packing food in containers
Vacuum packing in containers is ideal for products
that you use frequently. Dried foodstuffs like pasta,
rice, flour, sugar, crisps, savouries or biscuits, and
pet food, will maintain all their shape and freshness.
Salad foods and vegetables can be cleaned for
the whole week and kept in a container. They will
remain firm and fresh. To absorb excess moisture,
fold a paper towel and place it on the bottom of the
container.
Warning: Liquids must be cooled before vacuum pack-
ing. Hot liquids will expand and leak from the container
during depressurising.
Food in powder or granule form can be covered
with a paper towel before vacuum packing. This will
prevent the powder or granules from getting into
the vacuum paths or being deposited in the Vacuum
Cap seal.
Oil used once for frying can be filtered, cooled,
vacuum sealed in a container and kept in the fridge.
This will enable you to use the oil again at least once,
since it has been preserved in an airless and cold
environment, thereby retaining its characteristics.
Larder items like flour, rice and cake mixes stay fresh
for longer if they are vacuum packed. Nuts and
condiments retain their flavour and will not become
rancid.
Pre-packed foods must always be consumed by the
use-by date shown on the original package. They must
also be handled with the greatest care and hygiene
when repackaging.
Useful tips...
- For food with tapered ends or sharp edges, like
bones and spaghetti, pad the edges with paper
towels to prevent perforating the bag.
- Fragile and delicate foodstuffs like strawberries,
crackers or biscuits should be preserved in contain-
ers.
- There are many non-food products which can
be vacuum packed, such as camping equipment
including matches, first aid kits and clean, dry
clothes. You can even preserve the emergency tri-
angle in the car. Silverware and collections can also
be vacuum packed to protect the items against
oxidation, etc.
Marinating
To marinate meat, poultry or fish, use the square
"quick marinating" Executive container (ACO1073)
and follow the instructions regarding how to use
the container it self. The food will be marinated in 20
minutes as if it had been marinated all night!
Tips for preserving food in jars
To preserve food in jars, use lids which have been
checked and are free from defects. To create and
maintain a good vacuum, the seals of the lids must
be in perfect condition. To keep the lids in good
condition, immerse them in boiling water for three
minutes and then rub the dry seal with a drop of oil.
This will restore the necessary elasticity to the seals
of the lids.
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