Vacuum sealers are incredibly convenient when you want to store food and save money. While it is possible to find a large portion of foods that are non-perishable, the majority have expiration dates that can be extended by using a food sealer.

Understanding the process of vacuum sealing and how long it can remain on the shelf once sealed can be confusing. Lucky for you, this vacuum sealed food shelf life chart and other useful sealing information can help you along the way.

Why Choose Vacuum Packaging?

The most significant reason to use vacuum sealing is that perishable foods can maintain their freshness and shelf life three to five times longer than they naturally might. Vacuum sealing your food ensures that it doesn’t come in contact with any oxygen, and foods that are typically stored in the freezer no longer suffer from freezer burn.

If you choose to practice vacuum sealing, your food bills get reduced because the food that you purchase lasts longer in that you won’t be throwing as much away. Using a vacuum sealer is also great when purchasing items in bulk to save money because you can re-package what you buy at home.

How Does Vacuum Sealing Help with Perishable Foods?

Vacuum sealers are primarily used to extend the life of perishable goods that otherwise might not last as long. Here are a handful of reasons that vacuum seals can help to improve your food’s natural shelf life:

• Eliminates oxygen and prevents oxygen from getting in contact with the food
• No contamination during transporting of the food to storage
• No contamination when handling the sealed product
• Flavors get reserved so it tastes fresh
• Prevents freezer burn, which keeps your food from drying and shriveling up
• No need to cut off discolored or dried out parts, so there is no loss
• You can purchase products in bulk, which can save you money
• The natural moisture of food is preserved
• No product weight loss
• No discoloration and no moisture from the air is absorbed

Extended Shelf Life Chart

It’s a great idea to familiarize yourself with a vacuum sealed food shelf life chart because unless the food is non-perishable, it’s still going to reach an expiration date. After all, using a food sealer only extends shelf life.

You can turn to the information below so that you know the approximate shelf life of your vacuum sealed food.

Food Kept in a Refrigerator

Cooked Food:

Normal: Two days

Vacuumed: 10 days

Fresh Meat:

Normal: Two days

Vacuumed: Six days

Chicken:

Normal: Two days

Vacuumed: Six days

Fresh Fish:

Normal: Two days

Vacuumed: Four to five days

Smoked Sausage:

Normal: 90 days

Vacuumed: One year

Sandwich Meat:

Normal: Three days

Vacuumed: Six to eight days

Dutch Cheese:

Normal: 12 to 15 days

Vacuumed: 50 to 55 days

French Cheese:

Normal: Five to seven days

Vacuumed: 13 to 15 days

Fresh Vegetables:

Normal: Five days

Vacuumed: 18 to 20 days

Lettuce:

Normal: Three days

Vacuumed: Six to eight days

Fresh Herbs:

Normal: Two to three days

Vacuumed: Seven to 14 days

Fresh Fruit:

Normal: Three to seven days

Vacuumed: Eight to 20 days

Deserts:

Normal: Five days

Vacuumed: 10 to 15 days

Kept at Room Temperature

Temperature plays a significant role when storing all types of food, and that includes vacuum sealed foods. Here is a general guide to foods stored at room temperature:

Breads and rolls:

Normal: two to three days

Vacuumed: Seven to eight days

Cookies:

Normal: 120 days

Vacuumed: 300 days

Dried Food:

Normal: 10 to 30 days

Vacuumed: 30 to 90 days

Non-cooked Noodles:

Normal: 180 days

Vacuumed: One year

Coffee and Tea:

Normal: 30 to 60 days

Vacuumed: One year

Wine:

Normal: Two to three days

Vacuumed: 20 to 25 days

Non-alcoholic After Opening:

Normal: Two to three days

Vacuumed: Seven to 10 days

Chips and Snacks:

Normal: Five to 10 days

Vacuumed: 20 to 30 days

Baked Foods:

Normal: Two to three days

Vacuumed: Seven to 10 days

Nuts:

Normal: 30 to 60 days

Vacuumed: 120 to 180 days

Kept in a Freezer

One of the worst things is putting your food in the freezer and having them suffer from freezer burn. Freezer burn can make your food dry, and it can remove a lot of the natural flavor that your food naturally has.

Fresh Meat:

Normal: Six months

Vacuumed: 18 months

Chicken:

Normal: Six months

Vacuumed: 18 months

Minced Meat:

Normal: Four months

Vacuumed: One year

Fresh Fish:

Normal: Six months

Vacuumed: 18 months

Fresh Vegetables:

Normal: Eight months

Vacuumed: Two years

Herbs:

Normal: Six to 10 months

Vacuumed: 18 to 30 months

Champignons:

Normal: Eight months

Vacuumed: Two years

Fruit:

Normal: Six to 10 months

Vacuumed: 18 to 30 months

Baked Products:

Normal: Six months to one year

Vacuumed: 18 months

Sandwich Meats:

Normal: Two months

Vacuumed: Four to six months

Ground Coffee:

Normal: Six months

Vacuumed: 12 to 34 months

Coffee Beans:

Normal: Six to nine months

Vacuumed: 18 to 27 months

Bread and Rolls:

Normal: Six to 12 months

Vacuumed: 18 to 36 months

Conclusion

As you can see from the information above, having a vacuum sealed food shelf life chart can be highly beneficial. To get the most out of your vacuum sealer, make sure that you take advantage of any information that you can find.

It’s essential to remember that just because you are sealing your food doesn’t mean that it’s going to last forever. Consult with the user’s manual that came along with your food sealer, and you’re likely to find more information on how long your specific sealer can prolong shelf life.