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AU: foodsaver.com.au 1300 881 861
NZ: foodsaver.co.nz 0800 786 232
Preparation Guidelines for Hard Cheeses:
To keep cheese fresh, vacuum seal it after each
use. Make your FoodSaver
®
Bag extra long,
allowing 2.5 cm of bag material for each time you
plan to open and reseal in addition to the 7.5 cm
room you normally leave between contents and
seal. Simply cut sealed edge and remove cheese.
When you’re ready to reseal the cheese, just drop
it in bag and reseal.
IMPORTANT: Due to the risk of anaerobic bacteria,
Soft cheeses should never be vacuum sealed.
Preparation Guidelines for Vegetables:
Vegetables need to be blanched before vacuum
sealing. This process stops the enzyme action that
could lead to loss of flavour, colour and texture.
To blanch vegetables, place them in boiling water
or in the microwave until they are cooked, but still
crisp. Blanching times range from 1 to 2 minutes
for leafy greens and peas; 3 to 4 minutes for snap
peas, sliced zucchini or broccoli; 5 minutes for
carrots; and 7 to 11 minutes for corn on the cob.
After blanching, immerse vegetables in cold water to
stop the cooking process. Finally, dry vegetables on
a towel before vacuum sealing.
Note: All vegetables (including broccoli, brussels
sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, turnips)
naturally emit gases during storage. Therefore, after
blanching, they must be stored in freezer only.
Thawing and Reheating Vacuum-
Sealed Foods
Always thaw foods in either refrigerator or
microwave — do not thaw perishable foods
at room temperature.
To reheat foods in a microwave in a FoodSaver
®
Bag, always cut corner of the bag before placing
it on a microwave-safe dish. However, to avoid hot
spots, do not reheat bone-in meat or greasy foods
in microwave within a FoodSaver
®
Bag. You can also
reheat foods in FoodSaver
®
Bags by placing them in
water at a low simmer below 170°F (75°C).
Preparation Guidelines for Meat and Fish:
For best results, pre-freeze meat and fish for 1-2
hours before vacuum sealing in a FoodSaver
®
Bag.
This helps retain the juice and shape, and guarantees
a better seal.
If it’s not possible to pre-freeze, place a folded paper
towel between meat or fish and top of bag, but below
seal area. Leave paper towel in bag to absorb excess
moisture and juices during vacuum sealing process.
Note: Beef may appear darker after vacuum sealing
due to the removal of oxygen. This is not an
indication of spoilage.
Food Preparation and Reheating Tips
When freezing vegetables, it is best to pre-freeze
them for 1-2 hours or until solidly frozen. To
freeze vegetables in individual servings, first
place on a baking sheet and spread them out so
they are not touching. This prevents them from
freezing together in a block. Once they are frozen,
remove from baking sheet and vacuum seal
vegetables in a FoodSaver
®
Bag. After they have
been vacuum sealed, return them to the freezer.
IMPORTANT: Due to the risk of anaerobic bacteria,
Fresh mushrooms, onions and garlic should never
be vacuum sealed.
Preparation Guidelines for Leafy Vegetables:
For best results, use a container to store leafy
vegetables. First wash the vegetables, and then
dry with a towel or salad spinner. After they are
dried, put them in a container and vacuum seal
as normal. Store in refrigerator.
Preparation Guidelines for Fruits:
When freezing soft fruits or berries, it is best
to pre-freeze them for 1-2 hours or until solidly
frozen. To freeze fruit in individual servings, first
place on a baking sheet and spread them out so
they are not touching. This prevents them from
freezing together in a block. Once they are frozen,
remove from baking sheet and vacuum seal
fruit in a FoodSaver
®
Bag. After they have been
vacuum sealed, return them to the freezer.
You can vacuum seal portions for baking, or in
your favourite combinations for easy fruit salad
all year round. If storing in the refrigerator, we
recommend using a FoodSaver
®
Container.
Preparation Guidelines for Baked Goods:
To vacuum seal soft or airy baked goods, we
recommend using a FoodSaver
®
Container so they
will hold their shape. If using a bag, pre-freeze
for 1-2 hours or until solidly frozen. To save time,
make cookie dough, pie shells, whole pies, or mix
dry ingredients in advance and vacuum seal for
later use.
Preparation Guidelines for Coffee and Powdery Foods:
To prevent food particles from being drawn into
vacuum pump, place a coffee filter or paper towel
at top of bag or canister before vacuum sealing.
You can also place the food in its original bag
inside a FoodSaver
®
Bag.
Preparation Guidelines for Liquids:
Before you vacuum seal liquids such as soup stock,
pre-freeze in a casserole dish, loaf pan or ice cube
tray until solid. Remove frozen liquid from pan and
vacuum seal in a FoodSaver
®
Bag. You can stack
these “frozen bricks” in your freezer. When you’re
ready to use, just cut corner of bag and place in a
dish in microwave or drop into water at a low simmer,
below 170°F (75°C).
Food Preparation and Reheating Tips (cont.)
