Cryvac Food

Submitted: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 17:21
ThreadID: 44982 Views:5525 Replies:6 FollowUps:7
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We are thinking of cryvacing some vegetables to take on our trip to the Simpson
this August, we usually take all our meat cryvact, has anyone done that? Is it
worth buying a machine and do they work as good as the butchers? Any info
greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Matthew & Julie
Cheers

Matt & Julie


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Reply By: Grungle - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 18:31

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 18:31
Hi Guys,

We used to use the green long life vege bags that do a good job at extending the life to around 2-3 weeks.

If you have a freezer you can do what we now do and pack a lot of frozen vege's. Supposed to be better nutritionally (according to the reports) because they are snap frozen.

Aside to the original question, I have never heard of anyone cryvacing their vege's so you would be the first but could well set a trend.

Regards
David
AnswerID: 237191

Reply By: Nav 8 - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 18:42

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 18:42
Try wrapping each piece of the vegetables in news paper and carry them in a cardboard box. Store for transport in the coolest spot in the vehicle or trailer and you will find they will last up to a couple of weeks, try it you will be supprised.
Regards ,,,Nav.
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 18:45

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 18:45
#1 Pumpkin - we peel it and cut into good size bits and vacuum pack it - no need to refrigerate - comes out as fresh as when you peeled it.
#2 Coleslaw - we vacuum pack it, don't refrigerate it, and add the dressing etc after we open it.
#3 Spuds - wrap each potato individually in newspaper and pack them in a cardboard box.
#4 Carrots and parsnips - we have no answer yet, so we put them in the fridge. But this month will try the vacuum pack.
#5 Tomatos - we buy the Truss tomatos, half go in a lunch box in the engel, the other half get wrapped in newspaper and put in the cardboard box.
#6 Apples, kiwifruit etc get the newspaper treatment too.
Lettuce is too hard for us.

In August, in the Simpson, you'll have no probs keeping things cool - it will get down to freezing each night. In years gone by, we've been out there without a fridge, and just left the esky open at night.

Cheers
Phil
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Follow Up By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 18:51

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 18:51
Hi Phil G, we are with you and packing - but today I've just tried my first go at dehydrating the carrots and mushrooms and capscium. Tomorrow, the banana chips. Lettuce is too hard for me - it sure doesn't like being frozen in the Engel.
Then I'm going to dry the zucchini and celery going berzerco in the garden so I can have some nice vegies in the SD. Should be fun. Turning out o.k. so far.
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Follow Up By: Member - Au-2 - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 19:11

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 19:11
I have found that:- Lettuce can be kept edible far longer if it is wrapped in a wet bag/cloth. I have made vegetable bags for things like lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli etc., out of calico. When the bag starts to dry out, wet it again then just keep it in an esky. I also use them at home.
OzeSheila.
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 19:38

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 19:38
Hi Ruth,
Dehydrating the other stuff sounds interesting. We'll be pretty keen to see how you get on. Can't dehydrate anything in Adelaide at present - been too wet :-))

Cheers
phil
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Follow Up By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 21:00

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 21:00
Phil, it's really easy. Go in the bathroom, get the hairdryer, then stand in the kitchen blowing air on the vegies for about 10 hours (keep checking them tho) - gosh shame about the rain wetting you down there. When you are sick of it, just send it up here please.
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Follow Up By: Member -Dodger - Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 17:15

Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 17:15
Yep
We have a vacuum pack machine, the small sunbeam one and do as Phil does plus vacuum pack all our meat and fish with all lasting weeks in normal refrigeration.
The one other great thing about vacuum packing is no mess and one can change one's mind at mealtime about what you want to cook.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

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Reply By: Garbutt - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 19:38

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 19:38
That time of year vegies will keep well foir a week or so without refigeration, how long you expect to be there will determine what you need to do. We also find dried vegies pretty good after fresh stuff runs out. My SWMBO dries a lot of home grown fruit in a dehydrator and this keeps very well.
Pasta type stuff, the flavoured kind I mean is also a great alternative to spuds etc.

GB
AnswerID: 237218

Reply By: Member - Brenton H (SA) - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 20:45

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 20:45
We cryovac our carrots cut up ready for a stew (simply because i'm lazy). Pumpkin we leave whole until we need it but will cryovac Ok. Broccoli on the other hand is more difficult and needs to be blanched. Had to bury the last lot that we didn't and if i close my eyes can still smell the bloody thing. Do all our meat in the cryovac (except sausages which crush too much).
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Follow Up By: scottp - Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 16:39

Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 16:39
try freezing the snags first then cryovac them. Works good for us.
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Follow Up By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 17:56

Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 17:56
Good tips, thanks. Oooh I can smell the broccolli.
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Reply By: Nick R - Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:24

Saturday, May 05, 2007 at 23:24
Looks like you can vac pack anything nearly.
on SBS's "Iron Chef" tonight they were vacuum sealing all sorts of food for the purpose of cooking. Veggies, Scallops, Foie Gras, you name it, they sealed the food in the plastic and boiled it or put it in hot water not quite boiling.
They even did steak and scallops together in the bag then pan seared after (out of the bag of course)
NickR
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