Guidelines For Successful Vacuum Sealing - FoodSaver FM5200 Series Owner's Manual

Guidelines
For Successful Vacuum Sealing
Vacuum Sealing and Food Safety
The vacuum sealing process extends the life of foods by removing most of the air from
the sealed container, thereby reducing oxidation, which affects nutritional value, flavor
and overall quality. Removing air can also inhibit growth of microorganisms, which can
cause problems under certain conditions:
Mold – Easily identified by its fuzzy characteristic. Mold cannot grow in a low oxygen
environment, therefore vacuum sealing can slow the growth of mold.
Yeast – Results in fermentation, which can be identified by smell and taste. Yeast
needs water, sugar and a moderate temperature to grow. It can also survive with
or without air. Slowing the growth of yeast requires refrigeration, while freezing
stops it completely.
Bacteria – Results in an unpleasant odor, discoloration and/or soft or slimy texture.
Under the right conditions, anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium Botulinum (the
organism that causes Botulism) can grow without air and sometimes cannot be
detected by smell or taste. Although it is extremely rare, it can be very dangerous.
To preserve foods safely, it is critical that you maintain low temperatures. You can
significantly reduce the growth of microorganisms at temperatures of 40°F (4°C)
or below. Freezing at 0°F (-17°C) does not kill microorganisms, but stops them from
growing. For long-term storage, always freeze perishable foods that have been vacuum
sealed, and keep refrigerated after thawing.
It is important to note that vacuum sealing is NOT a substitute for canning and it cannot
reverse the deterio ration of foods. It can only slow down the changes in quality. It
is difficult to predict how long foods will retain their top-quality flavor, appearance
or texture because it depends on age and condition of the food on the day it was
vacuum sealed.
IMPORTANT: Vacuum sealing is NOT a substitute for refrigeration or freezing.
Any perishable foods that require refrigeration must still be refrigerated or frozen after vacuum sealing.
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