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www.FoodSaver.com
Service:
1 (877) 777-8042
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
deterioration 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.
Guidelines
For Successful Vacuum Sealing
GUIDELINES
TROUBLESHOOTING
Troubleshooting
Problem
Solution
Fresh Appliance is not
vacuuming air out of the
Zipper Bag
• Ensure zipper is firmly closed. Slide fingers across entire zipper.
• Air valve is not on flat surface. Reposition bag so the air valve lies flat on appliance
platform with no food under air valve.
Vacuum Nozzle and
Air Valve are not making
secure contact
• Ensure Vacuum Nozzle is centered over the gray circle and placed flat on air valve.
Apply moderate pressure.
Air was removed from
the bag but now air has
re-entered.
• Examine zipper and valve of bag. Food debris in zipper or valve may cause leakage and
This indicates that the appliance did not reach full vacuum on time. Raise the head
and make sure the container or zipper bag are closed correctly.
Make sure liquid reservoir is clean and clicked in place correctly so there are no air leaks.
Move head down and gently but fully press it on device to vacuum and press START
button to initiate vacuum process. The vacuum process should not take longer than
1 minute.
allow air to enter.
• Sometimes moisture or food material along seal edges of the zipper or beneath the
valve prevents bag from sealing properly. Wipe the inside of bag around zipper and
beneath valve and attempt to reseal.
• If you are vacuum packaging sharp food items, bag may have been punctured. Use
a new bag if there is a hole. Cover sharp food items with a soft cushioning
material, such as a paper towel, and reseal.
The FoodSaver
®
Fresh
Container will not
LED light on unit
blinks red
This indicates the container or zipper bag are not engaged to the vacuum head
before pressing the START button. Move head and gently but fully press it on
device to vacuum and press START button to initiate vacuum process.
Light on unit
blinks green
vacuum
If you need further
assistance:
• Call Consumer Services at
1-877-777-8042
.
•
•
•
•
•
For additional tips and answers to frequently asked questions,
go to
www.foodsaver.com
• Make sure lid is closed securely on all 4 sides. Please refer to the “How to
vacuum seal with containers” section in this manual.
• Make sure rubber gasket on inside of lid is free from food materials. Make sure the
gasket on the inside of the lid is secure in place.
• Examine rim of container for cracks or scratches. Any gaps can prevent containers
from vacuuming properly. Make sure container valve is clean. Please refer to the
"Care" section in this manual.
