Can cooked food be vacuum sealed?

It can be difficult to maintain a healthy menu for you or your family when life gets busy, which is why it might be time to consider vacuum sealing cooked food.  

At Pac Food, we create high-quality food packaging supplies, including cook chill bags, stand up pouches and vacuum sealing bags.  

We are competitively priced, reliable and have a “never out of stock” guarantee.

Keep reading to find out more about vacuum sealing cooked food or get in touch with our friendly team on 1800 823 200. You can also send an online enquiry here.

Benefits of Vacuum Sealing Cooked Food  

Vacuum sealing cooked food can be a great time saver for those with busy schedules, plus a money saving solution if you are budget conscious.  

You can plan your meals in advance, prep your dinners, cook and then vacuum seal.  

Leftovers can also be portioned into meals to have later, frozen and reheated whenever you need. 

The amount of time a cooked meal keeps depends on the item; however, they can last for quite a while in the freezer.  

Which Types of Food Can be Sealed Cooked?  

Some vegetable and meat products, including seafood, can be vacuum sealed after being cooked.  

Lasagne is a popular meal to be portioned, vacuum sealed and then reheated.

For information on which food products are suitable for sealing before cooking click here.  

What Food Cannot be Vacuum Sealed?  

Never vacuum package garlic or fungi like mushrooms.

A dangerous chemical reaction takes place when air is removed, causing these foods to be dangerous if ingested.

Vegetables should be blanched before packaging to kill any enzymes that may cause deterioration of out-gassing when vacuumed.

For more information about vacuum sealing and which machine will best suit your needs, contact the professional Pac Food team today on 1800 823 200 or enquire online here.  

Can cooked food be vacuum sealed?

Pac Food is committed to providing customers with the best products, best prices and best customer service. Perfect for domestic use – whether you love fishing, camping or buying meat in bulk – and even small food & beverage outlets such as cafes. 

Take advantage of our easy and secure online ordering system. View our extensive range of bags, rolls and vacuum sealers here. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our specials section – updated regularly – or view our range of combo deals to suit every budget. Got a question?  Contact us and we’ll be happy to help. 

If you want to stock up and store protein at home, in this blog Pac Food’s food storage experts answer the question “can you vacuum seal meat?”.

The simple answer is yes – you can vacuum seal meat! A large variety of meats can be sealed and frozen uncooked, while a few items are okay to seal after cooking.

Below you’ll find our Meat Vacuum Sealing Guide which outlines a number of the dos and don’ts when it comes to correctly and safely vacuum sealing meat.

Plus, we also reveal which of our high-quality vacuum sealing machines, bags and rolls will work best for your meat needs!

Vacuum sealing meat: Raw and cooked

Do you buy in bulk, portion out, vacuum seal and store your meat?

If not, you may be surprised to learn how easy is it to do – and the positive impact it can have on your grocery budget, saving you money and reducing food wastage.

  • Can you vacuum seal raw meat?

Yes. Uncooked you can vacuum seal:

  • Smallgoods, such as ham or pepperoni
  • Large cuts of meat, including poultry, pork, beef and lamb
  • Ground meat, including beef, poultry, lamb and pork
  • Some seafood

Some other favourites:

  • Can you vacuum seal sausages? Yes
  • Can you vacuum seal bacon? Yes

Here’s an idea of how you can improve the shelf life for some meat products with vacuum sealing:

Food Stored In Normal Shelf Life Vacuum Shelf Life
Large cuts of meat: beef, poultry, lamb and pork Freezer 6 months 2-3 years
Ground meat: beef, poultry, lamb and pork Freezer 4 months 1 year
Fish Freezer 6 months 2 years
*Please note: Typical storage life will vary depending on product quality and freshness at the time of packaging and all shelf lives noted are approximate.

Sous Vide is also a cooking method which involves vacuum sealing in a plastic pouch and cooking in a water bath at a precise temperature, for a length of time. It’s a great way to achieve a juicy texture and preserve flavour.

Learn more about Sous Vide in our blog where Masterchef Adam Liaw revealed his tops tips.

  • Can you vacuum seal cooked meat?

Yes. You can prep your meals and cook them up, then vacuum seal once they’ve cooled down to an appropriate temperature and freeze. Finally, reheat when ready. 

Generally, your leftovers can be vacuum sealed, so they don’t go to waste.

  • Do I need to freeze meat before vacuum sealing?

No – because meat is more solid than veggies or fruit, you don’t need to worry about flash freezing meat. You also run the risk of leaving it too long and meat getting frost bite, which is exactly what you’re trying to avoid by vacuum sealing!

Vacuum sealing can be a great way to save time and money in the kitchen – especially if you struggle to shop regularly or you buy too much one week.

The good news is you can seal raw meat, and some cooked meat, so it doesn’t end up in the bin.

If you’re ready to start vacuum sealing, talk to Pac Food by calling 1800 823 200, to learn about the right food packaging and storage products to suit your needs.

Or send us an online enquiry here.

Can cooked food be vacuum sealed?

Pac Food is committed to providing customers with the best products, best prices and best customer service. Perfect for domestic use – whether you love fishing, camping or buying meat in bulk – and even small food & beverage outlets such as cafes. 

Take advantage of our easy and secure online ordering system. View our extensive range of bags, rolls and vacuum sealers here. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our specials section – updated regularly – or view our range of combo deals to suit every budget. Got a question?  Contact us and we’ll be happy to help. 

Can you vacuum seal already cooked food?

Can cooked food be vacuum packaged? Yes, with the exception of tomatoes (see FAQ #2 below). Cooked foods must be at least room temperature before vacuuming or you run the risk of bacterial growth.

How long does vacuum packed cooked food last?

Food Lasts Longer Most vacuum sealed foods will last in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks, which is much longer than the typical 1-3 days food will last when stored conventionally in a refrigerator.

Which foods Cannot be vacuum sealed?

Cruciferae or Brassicaceae Vegetables Like raw onions and garlic, raw vegetables in the Cruciferae and Brassicaceae families that emit gasses also shouldn't be vacuum sealed. These vegetables include cabbage, broccoli, kale, radishes, bok choy, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and arugula.

How long does cooked meat last vacuum sealed?

Food code reference allows for shelf life of cured, vacuum packaged cooked meat up to 30 days.