What are you been cooking today

[Halex]

For reference from

http://www.sausagemaker.com/vacuumsealers-1.aspx

     How long will the vacuum sealed food last?

If properly done, vacuum sealing will drastically extend the life of your food. The following are approximate shelf lives for vacuum sealed products:

Fresh Meat: To maximize product life, store fresh meat in the freezer. Fresh meat should maintain its freshness for 2-3 years. Under refrigeration alone, fresh meat should last 2-4 weeks.

Ground Meat: To maximize product life, store ground meat in the freezer. If vacuum sealed properly, this product should last for up to 1 year. If refrigerated, ground meat should last for 1 month.

Fish: To maximize product life, store fish in the freezer. Once frozen, vacuum packaged fish will last for up to 2 years. If refrigerated, fish should last 1 week.

Fresh Produce: To maximize product life, store fresh produce in the freezer. This product may also be stored in the refrigerator, but this storage method will considerably reduce the shelf life. Vegetables, if blanched, will last in the freezer for 2 1/2 years. If refrigerated, the shelf life is reduced to 3 weeks. Fruits, if frozen, will last for up to 2 years, yet if refrigerated they should maintain their freshness for 2 weeks.

Cheese: Cheese should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. If sealed properly, cheese will have a shelf life of approximately 6 months. Please note that if you plan open and reseal the cheese, you should start with a larger bag to allow for multiple uses.

Breads: Breads, which includes items such as cookies or crackers, may be stored at room temperature. They should maintain their freshness for up to 6 weeks.

Grains: Grains, including pasta and nuts, may be stored at room temperature. They will have a shelf-life of 1 1/2 - 2 years.

     Do I have to use vacuum seal bags?

Yes. Vacuum seal bags are the only type of bag that will work properly in a vacuum sealer. The seal bar on these machines gets quite hot, and ordinary kitchen bags will melt under this kind of heat, ruining your vacuum sealer.

[judydawn]

Useful information thanks Hally.  I will copy it and place it in the freezing thread as well.

[Halex]

Well is nearly all in. Took the baskets out if the freezers, that helped & piled it all up.

I only have 3kgs of chicken & 1 kg of mince in the fridge. So the rest went in.

I have filo pastry, bread & few odds & ends in the fridge.

[goldfish]

Thanks Hally = have printed it off and it's on the fridge!!   

[Emme]

Have printed it off as well, thanks Hally 

Marie

[cookie1]

I don't want to throw a spanner in the works but I have some concern with ground meat (mince) keeping in the fridge for a month even if it is vacuum sealed  mince in some other countries has preservative in it. I am fairly sure that it is not allowed in Australia, so mince,is best used quickly if not placed in the freezer. I don't want to read of anyone being poisoned.

[Halex]

I don't want to throw a spanner in the works but I have some concern with ground meat (mince) keeping in the fridge for a month even if it is vacuum sealed  mince in some other countries has preservative in it. I am fairly sure that it is not allowed in Australia, so mince,is best used quickly if not placed in the freezer. I don't want to read of anyone being poisoned.

Dont worry cookie, I only have a kg out & will cook it at the weekend

[mcmich]

A great list Hally.

Made Kimmy's jar gifts today, thanks for the great idea Kim. I had to buy jars as I didn't have any litre ones on hand but I got them at Crazy Clarkes so they were very economical.
One is for my friends 7 year old, she is starting to take an interest in cooking and has everything that opens and shuts, will probably put a little apron with it.

The brownie jar is to contribute to our work hamper.

[Amy :-)]

They look lovely Mich

I made Kulsha's Chocolate and Blueberry Brownies

[mcmich]

Thanks Ames.

How were the brownies?

[Amy :-)]

Not sure yet, I only got them out of the oven two minutes ago. So they're a wee bit hot at the moment

[mcmich]

I'm not a big blueberry fan so will be interested to see what you think of them with chocolate?

[Amy :-)]

Sure Mich, will let you know I used to hate blueberries but I would eat blueberry muffins. Now I love blueberries and I don't like blueberry muffins

[mcmich]

 

[Amy :-)]

I know, I'm a bit weird