Hi Barbara,

Thanks for your great question! With interest in food preservation climbing, it’s no surprise that devices like vacuum sealing machines are also becoming more popular.

These vacuum sealers can be a great way to prolong the life of leftovers but any items that require refrigeration before vacuum sealing will still need to be stored properly in the refrigerator or freezer. Items that do not need to be refrigerated (like crackers) can be stored in the air-tight container on the shelf. If freezing your vacuum sealed items, thawing should take place under refrigeration.

The National Center for Home Food Preservation reminds us: “While food is being packaged and prepared or used later, extremely clean hands, and clean and sanitized equipment and work surfaces are essential. Food should be dated and still used within reasonable storage times unless frozen. Raw meats, poultry and seafood should be cooked thoroughly to recommended temperatures, measured with a food thermometer, before eating. Any food showing signs of spoilage should be discarded – when in doubt, throw it out!”

You can find out more about vacuum packing foods from The National Center for Home Food Preservation here: https://nchfp.uga.edu/resources/entry/should-i-vacuum-package-food-at-home#gsc.tab=0