What can be cooked from squid: quick and tasty

Well, after a certain number of experiments, we can say that the work on the budgetary system for vacuuming products has been completed.
It is a little expensive to buy a ready-made vacuum sealer. To pay 8-10tr for a device that is not needed every day, but only several times a year, the toad dissuaded me. So I decided to make it myself. I'll make a reservation right away - the result is not ideal. The whole process takes some skill. Sometimes an unsealed bag has to be repackaged. But it is still cheaper than buying a ready-made packer.
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In fact, you can do without a compressor. I think a hand-held vacuum pump would be fine.


or a converted bicycle.
https://youtu.be/J3MUeY-OQ-w?list=PLwU9-q3VyyBBFaLpBT4X1wMYiaFCcpIe3
Perhaps even a regular vacuum cleaner or an electric pump for air mattresses will do.
And for sealing the bags, I used ... a bag sealer.

There are such things in many large supermarkets. They are used to seal shoppers' bags into bags so that they don't put anything they don't need. I bought such a device before the crisis, with hands. Got it for a penny. Now, of course, it will cost more.
http://prodteh.ru/goods/g270.htm
http://gloryroom.ru/Ksitex-PFS-400-ABS
It remains to collect all this into a single whole. This is where some difficulties arose. To evacuate the air and immediately seal the bag is not as easy as it might seem.
I have connected a hose to the suction port of the compressor. I did not forget about the filter (I have absolutely nothing to do with grains of rice inside the compressor or else, what kind of rubbish). Attached a ballpoint pen tip to the hose.
At first, I did this: I took the package with the contents and sealed it. Then he cut off the corner of the bag, inserted the tip there and turned on the compressor. The air was sucked out of the bag, after which I sealed the corner. But this method was malfunctioning. The package wrinkled, it was sealed crookedly and not hermetically. And for all the manipulations, one pair of hands was not enough. Therefore, instead of the tip from the pen, I made a special nozzle. It is a copper tube flattened at one end, into which a piece of tin, folded in half and soldered from the edge, is soldered. It turned out, as it were, a very flat tube, which did not interfere with the shutters of the sealer. To prevent the tip from being squeezed, I inserted a thin steel wire inside.


Now the process looks like this: The package with the contents and the inserted nozzle is put into the soldering iron and sealed. The seam is only broken where the flat tip enters the bag.

Without removing the bag, I turn on the compressor and pump out the air. Since the edge of the bag is still clamped in the soldering iron, it does not wrinkle. As soon as the air has been pumped out (this can be seen by the way the bag stopped shrinking and you can hear the compressor humming strainedly) I carefully remove the nozzle and immediately seal the bag again. It turns out tightly and evenly. For insurance purposes, I seal the bag again a little further from the first seam.

(For the demonstration, I used ground beef dried that night. I'm not going to store it for long, so I didn't put the bags of silica gel and rusty nails inside.) The last package had to be repackaged later.
A few words about packaging bags. Packages are not suitable for any, namely those intended for evacuation.

Fortunately, you can buy it now. I buy from a company that sells disposable tableware, garbage bags, shoe covers and other consumables for catering. As a last resort, you can buy such packages over the Internet.
When choosing packages, take those that are denser. If there is no difference for soft foods, then "prickly" (long-grain rice, oats, buckwheat) can "pierce" the film. It sounds strange, but I've come across this. The film of the bag is stretched during evacuation and solid contents, if handled carelessly (for example, when dropped on a hard surface), may well damage it. And the package will "inflate" after a while.
If everything is done correctly, the packaging will keep the food for a very long time. I have had two-kilogram packages of rice and buckwheat for the third year already. Flat and hard as bricks. I can’t vouch for the taste, I haven’t opened it yet, but I don’t see any bugs or mold.
I apologize for the scarcity and quality of the photos. The process takes all hands, and there is already nothing to hold the camera with. ">

The vacuum compression bag is designed for long-term storage of things in a compressed form. In this form, things take up several times less volume, are protected from dust and moisture. The bag has a fastener that allows for multiple use. To evacuate air from the bag, you do not need a special electric, hand pump or vacuum cleaner. Removal of air to reduce the volume occurs by bleeding air through a special valve, by compressing the bag. Even if you take such a bag with things on a trip, you do not have to look for a vacuum cleaner before your return trip to collect your suitcase. Just 2 minutes and your item is compressed again and ready for transport. After you take the item out of the bag, it will instantly acquire its original volume.

What are the vacuum bags

The bags come in various sizes:

• 50 * 70cm
• 60 * 80cm
• 70 * 100cm
• 80 * 110cm
• 102 * 132cm
• custom sizes

First of all, the packages are divided according to the type of air intake: with a valve under the pump and with a valve without using a pump, it is these packages that we consider in the framework of this article. Further division goes according to the type of package storage. There are bag packages, with a carry handle. Bags with a built-in hanger for convenient placement of clothes in the closet. And the most common option is for storage on any surfaces or shelves. The third characteristic of vacuum bags is color. Sami common - an ordinary transparent bag. Also on sale you can find packages of a wide variety of colors and patterns. A transparent bag is better because you can always tell at a glance what is in it. On colored bags, as a rule, there is a place for marking the contents of the bag with a marker.

Where can you buy vacuum bags

Bags for vacuum packaging and storage of things and clothes can be bought everywhere in the chain stores Auchan, Ikea (Ikea), Lerua Merlin (Leroy Merlin), Fix Price (Fix price). In these stores you can find a wide variety of bag options from different manufacturers, with and without a valve, in a set with an electric or manual pump. But the lowest price for vacuum packaging is obtained if you order cheap sets of bags in Chinese online stores. These stores usually offer free shipping. The most inexpensive options start when ordering in small wholesale from 10 pieces.

Can I make vacuum bags with my own hands?

As easy as pie. The cheapest option is to vacuum your belongings for further storage. But at the same time, it has one drawback - the package can be used once, because when you unpack it, you will most likely damage it. What is required for this:

1. vacuum cleaner or pump for vacuum bags. A vacuum cleaner is preferable - quality and speed.
2. wide tape
3. scissors or clerical knife
4. plastic bag

As a compression package, you can at least take a garbage bag as an experiment, it is not capable of more, because due to its thinness, it noticeably picks up air after a few hours. It is better to purchase thicker packages, their price in a large amount is about five rubles apiece. In the bag you put clothes or bed linen intended for long-term storage. Distribute evenly throughout the package. Tie the edge of the bag into a bun around the vacuum cleaner hose and press firmly with your hand so that the vacuum cleaner draws in the air from the bag. Turn it on for a few seconds at full power until the packet stops shrinking. With a quick motion, pull the bundle off the pipe and twist. Wrap the top with tape, if possible, making one or two folds of the neck.

Things in self-made vacuum bags are stored no worse than in factory-made bags. If your homemade or purchased vacuum bag is leaking air, it is likely that it has received damage to its surface. You can, of course, try to find a hole and seal it with tape or glue with a piece of polyethylene. But such repairs are not rational due to the low cost of the package.

Photo report of the compression of the pillow in a vacuum bag without a pump

In the photographs, we conducted an experiment with the compression of a 50 * 70cm pillow in a vacuum bag of the same size.

Vacuum bag before use.

A vacuum bag is an indispensable item for storing food. First, when you pump air out of a food bag, its volume becomes much smaller and it takes up less weight. Secondly, if there is not enough air in the bag, food is stored much longer, because there are a lot of bacteria in the air, and so on.

In this tutorial, we'll take a look at how to make a simple vacuum bag to hold small amounts of food, like a sandwich or something. In principle, you can take a larger package, just as a pump that pumps out air, we have a syringe. So it will take a long time to pump out air from a large package. But no one bothers you to modernize the design.

Materials and tools that the author needed:

List of materials:
- a syringe of large volume (the author has 50 "cubes");
- air tubes;
- tee;
- good scotch tape, packing tape (or other);
- two air valves;
- vacuum seal bags.
Tubes, valves, and other small items can be found at aquarium supply stores.

Tool list:
- scissors;
- a toothpick or other sharp object.

Vacuum bag making process:

Step one. We cut the tubes
First thing you need to do is cut three pieces of the air tube. These tubes are commonly used when supplying air to aquariums. Two valves are connected to these three tubes, as well as a syringe. We use scissors.

Step four. We collect the pump
The pump can now be completely reassembled. One short, unused tube remained on the tee. We connect a syringe to it. Take a syringe as large as possible, so you will have to pump less. Choose syringes with rubber plungers, they last longer and work easier. To make the piston slide easier, it can be lubricated with vegetable oil, for example, olive or sunflower oil.

Step five. Hole for the duct
In a vacuum bag, punch a small hole for the tube. It can be made with a toothpick or other similar object. The hole should be smaller than the diameter of the tubing, it will enlarge by itself when you insert the tubing.

Kirill Sysoev

Callous hands do not know boredom!

Content

Various technologies are used to extend the shelf life of products and improve their quality. One of them is progressive and simple - vacuum. Meat, fish, vegetables are sealed in a tight bag, the maximum amount of air is removed from it, thereby preventing the multiplication of microorganisms. For this, a special device, a vacuum sealer, has been invented, which will be your faithful assistant and expert on the freshness and constant quality of the stored products.

What is a vacuum sealer

For the life of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms, favorable conditions are needed, the most important of which are heat and the presence of oxygen. With the advent of the refrigerator, people have increased the shelf life of food. Chilling and freezing helps keep meat, fish, vegetables in a healthy state. The use of vacuum technology helps not only to protect food stocks from spoilage, but also to preserve their microelements and vitamins. In a vacuum, ready-made food is perfectly preserved. You can take it with you on the road without fear of poisoning.

Frozen food destroys its original structure during long-term storage. The vacuum food packaging machine can easily solve this problem. Freeze food that is pre-packed in vacuum bags. So the food will be preserved under ideal conditions, and after defrosting it will delight you with an appetizing appearance, pristine taste, and a full set of vitamins. To do this, you need to buy an apparatus for vacuum packaging products. Its cost is more than compensated for by the stored food, which does not have to be thrown away.

Domestic

The compact home vacuum packaging machine can be horizontal or vertical (the latter takes up less space in the kitchen). The household vacuumizer is equipped with a nozzle, a sealing tape, an electric pump, a warning system that gives light and sound signals. Put the food in a special bag, arrange the packaging according to the user's instructions so that the nozzle is inside the container. Switch on the pump and wait for the signal indicating that the vacuum is complete. Press the button that turns on the seal.

Depending on the class, price, manufacturer, vacuum dispensers used at home may have minimal or extended functionality. More expensive models have several packing modes. They are able to evacuate soft, delicate, fragile fruits, vegetables, ready meals without damaging them. Pickling containers are included with some models. In a vacuum, this process is faster and you can cook meat or fish for the barbecue in 10-15 minutes.

How can a vacuum packing machine be used at home? Slicing meat, vegetables, fruit is perfectly preserved without air. It is convenient and safe to take such packaging with you to work, for a walk and even on a hike. Pack chopped sausage, cheese, meat along with a plate. When the guests arrive, serving the treat will take a few seconds, and the slices will not dry out or fray. With vacuum sealers, you can cook food at low temperatures using the Sous Vide technology for a healthy diet.

Industrial

Unlike domestic tubeless packers, an industrial product vacuumer is a solid unit. Still, it is designed for much larger volumes of packaging of raw materials, semi-finished products and ready-made meals. The food placed in the bag, which is subjected to vacuum, is placed in the chamber, the edge of the container is located on the heating element, where the sealing line will pass. When you close the lid and press the start button, the packaging process starts automatically.

In the kitchen, at home, such a packer will look ridiculous. Its place is in production, fast food enterprises, the kitchen of supermarkets, cafes, restaurants. It does an excellent job both with increasing the shelf life of various types of products, and with packaging, giving a marketable appearance to semi-finished products, ready-made dishes for sale. The complete set of industrial vacuumizers often includes spare rubber seals, oil required to service the device, special inserts that reduce the size of the chamber if necessary.

Buy a vacuum sealer

Vacuum storage of food helps to save money, as it increases the shelf life of the food and improves its taste. An overview of the popular models of packers, their advantages and disadvantages, will help you buy a vacuum machine that will fully meet your requirements. Most of the models reviewed can be purchased at online stores that sell home appliances. In Moscow, St. Petersburg and other large cities of Russia, packers are widely represented in the stores of Eldorado, Technosila, Technopark and others.

Oberhof

• Model name - Oberhof Leere T-15
• Characteristics - Works from a 220V network, power - 110 W, created vacuum (maximum) - 0.8 bar, Auto / Stop function - the evacuator will evacuate the air and seal the bag itself, Stop function - the ability to stop the vacuum cleaner at any time.
• Pluses

1. The function of evacuating air not only from bags, but also from vacuum containers, for this, the kit includes 2 special hoses for different container valves. This is a rarity, usually vacuumizers are always designed for one type of vacuum containers and cannot work with another. At the same time, there are two most popular types of container valves on the market.
2. 2 modes to choose from, dry and wet, with dry everything is clear, but wet allows you to vacuum products with liquid, you can even pack meat with marinade, etc. Not all evacuators are capable of handling wet products.
3. 2 pressure levels: high and low, with low pressure, even the most fragile products can be packed without damage.
4. Perfect for Sous Vide cooking.
5. Compact size, does not take up much space in the kitchen (360x150x76 mm).
6. The kit includes a special stopper for evacuating bottles. For example, you can evacuate opened wine bottles to preserve flavor and aroma.
7. Increased seam strength for sealing bags and rolls.
8. Original design with a beautiful fluted lid.

• Cons: not identified

Redmond

This popular brand presents two models of vacuum packaging machines for household products.

• The model name is REDMOND RVS-M020.
• Price - 4900 rubles.
• Characteristics - 250 W vacuum sealing packer. Case material - high quality plastic with stainless steel elements, touch control buttons, led indicator. The seam is 2.5 mm thick.
• Pros - Programs for hard and soft foods, two types of packages included.
• Cons - there is no way to evacuate containers.

The second model of the Redmond packer has advanced functionality and is more expensive.

• The model name is REDMOND RVS-M021.
• Price - 8900 rubles.
• Features - Model similar to the previous one, works with vacuum containers and bags.
• Pros - There are three containers and a tube for evacuating them.
• Not found.

Caso

The German company, created as an official distributor of several European brands, has been producing kitchen appliances under its own name since 2003. Caso vacuum units are in great demand in Germany and other European countries.

• Model name - CASO VC 10.
• Price - 4500 rubles.
• Features - 110 W vacuum electronic sealer. Works with bags up to 28 cm wide. Has a vacuum stop button for delicate products.
• Pros - You can use roll film, there is a function of soldering without vacuum.
• Cons - There are none. An excellent packer for this price range.

This Caso model is more powerful, more functional, more expensive. An excellent evacuator for those who choose the best.

• Model name - CASO VC 150.
• Price - 12,800 rubles
• Features - powerful packer (120 W), equipped with an electronic seam quality controller. Has a choice of welding modes for dry and wet products. There is a hose for working with vacuum containers.
• Pros - forms a double weld, compact, with a compartment for storing the cord.
• Cons - the packer is expensive, but the quality fully justifies the price.

Henkelman

For business owners, Henkelmann produces professional vacuum cleaners. Below are reviews of two popular units.

• Model name - Henkelman MINI ECO
• Price - 70200
• Features - This is an industrial packer. Machine width 340 cm, length - 515 cm, height - 315. Power consumption 40 watts. Forms a double seam.
• Pros - Low operating noise. Very simple controls. For industrial equipment, it is not expensive.
• No downsides

The professional model Henkelman Jumbo 42 is the leader in popularity. It is compact, reliable, beautiful. An excellent helper in small food production.

• Model name - Henkelman Jumbo 42
• Price - 205,000 rubles.
• Features - Stainless steel wrapper with low voltage control system. Has a high class of electrical protection. The liquid from the pump is discharged automatically.
• Pros - modern design, reliability and safety. High performance. It solders a strong, high-quality seam.
• Cons - branded packer, it's perfect.

Zigmund shtain

Among the kitchen appliances that the German company Sigmund Stein specializes in, special attention is paid to packers. The sealed vacuum bags produced with this brand's household appliance look professional and keep products perfect.

• Model name - Zigmund & Shtain Kuchen-Profi VS-505.
• Price - 8400 rubles.
• Features - black and gray household packer, suction speed 12 liters per minute, power 170 watts.
• Pros - the container for the film is inside the case, it is very convenient. Stylish, beautiful device. Vacuum containers included.
• Cons - not found.

A model that has all the advantages of Sigmund Stein, but costs a little less due to the absence of vacuum containers, is described below.

• Model name - Zigmund & Shtain Kuchen-Profi VS-504.
• Price - 4800 rubles
• Characteristics - the device has a gray plastic case, with a motor that sucks in at a speed of 9 liters per minute. The maximum width of the bag is 30 cm.
• Pros - modern design, low noise level, vacuum hose included.
• Vacuum containers will have to be purchased separately.

Gochu

A high quality packer made by the Korean company Gochu will be a good purchase for your kitchen. It has a number of useful advantages at a low cost.

• The model name is GOCHU VAC-470.
• Price - 6800 rubles.
• Features - Power 130 W, suction speed 18 liters per minute. There are full and incomplete vacuum modes. The packer can work with vacuum containers.
• Pros - a thoughtful unusual design of the case.
• Cons - containers and vacuum hose not included.

Vama

Small industrial packers Vama are designed to work in workshops for food processing, semi-finished products, sausages. They are actively used in catering establishments.

• The model name is Vama VacBox 300.
• Price - from 100,000 rubles.
• Features - Medium Duty Packer, designed for 5 hour intermittent work shifts. Body and chamber material - stainless steel. The length of the sealing bar is 300 mm. Overall dimensions - 395x490x360 mm.
• Pros - reliability and ease of management. Manufacturer's warranty - 5 years.
• Cons - not designed for long-term operation during the day.

For use in shift work, Vama offers a more powerful packer model.

• The model name is Vama VacBox 450.
• Price - 130,000 rubles.
• Characteristics - a device with dimensions of 645x620x435 mm and a length of a welding bar of 420 mm. The duration of the evacuation cycle is 35-50 seconds.
• Pros - powerful, reliable, secure. Touch control, intuitive.
• Cons - massive, consider the overall dimensions.

How to choose a vacuum sealer

To purchase a device that will become your reliable assistant, decide what is expected of it. When buying equipment for a cafe, restaurant or small production workshop, choose industrial single-chamber vacuum machines. Depending on the expected workload, decide on the capacity, parameters and volume of the model's chamber. Any household appliance cannot cope with the loads of production, it will quickly fail.

Inexpensive tubeless packers are suitable for the kitchen. The principle of choice is the same: decide how the device will be used. If you need to evacuate meat, fish, cheese to increase the shelf life, any evacuator with a minimum set of functions will do. Packing berries, mushrooms, vegetables before freezing? Check that the device has a program for evacuating soft and fragile food. Are you going to often marinate meat? You need a sealer with vacuum containers and a complete hose.

Vacuum packaging is a modern invention that allows you to store products for a long time in optimal conditions, protect them from pollution, dust, bacteria, oxygen, light and temperature extremes. In this way, food products, manufactured goods, liquids, medical and pharmaceutical products, various metal, plastic products, bulk substances, clothing and much more are packed.

Vacuum packaging for food has become widespread, since it is an economically viable, fast and convenient option for storing stocks of perishable food in domestic and industrial conditions.

What is vacuum packaging and what is it for?

Vacuum packaging is a container, film or bag in which the required product is placed, and then, using special equipment, the air inside is pumped out. After the completion of this process, the edges of the film for the vacuum sealer are sealed with an airtight seal.

Vacuum packaging of food increases the shelf life of food due to these properties:

• Due to the lack of oxygen, the development of microbes and bacteria is prevented, the processes of decay, drying and fermentation are prevented.
• Products are reliably protected from light, moisture, retain their taste, aroma and original appearance, do not lose their juiciness, softness or hardness, depending on the type of food material.
• The product will not be lost even if for some reason it is impossible to store it at low temperatures.

Vacuum wrap is a great option for freezing food because the dry and cold air in the freezer has no effect on them and the food stays tasty and fresh after thawing.

Vacuum packaging of vegetables, herbs, fish, dairy, fat and oil and other products increases the shelf life of products several times, but for this you need to comply with several conditions:

• pack only fresh food;
• pre-cool them;
• observe the temperature storage regime.

Important! Vacuum is not a miracle cure that will "save" the product in any situation from the effects of bacteria. The shelf life is influenced by the composition of the bacteriological flora of the food until the air is removed from the package. Therefore, it is important to prevent contamination of the product by ensuring it is properly stored and handled prior to packaging.

Pros and cons of vacuum packaging

The use of storage methods such as film or vacuum bags for food has many advantages, including:

• protection from dust, dirt, direct exposure to ultraviolet rays, moisture penetration;
• increased shelf life;
• preservation of vitamins, improvement of properties (for example, ripening of vegetables and fruits);
• the possibility of portionwise separation of food, storage of vegetables in a vacuum, peeled and cut;
• convenience of freezing;
• cost-effectiveness and efficiency;
• protection against counterfeiting;
• presentable appearance, the ability to view the content;
• protection against the emergence of dangerous and harmful bacteria;
• ease of transportation.

Despite the many advantages, it is worth noting some disadvantages:

1. Insufficient protection against mechanical damage. For this reason, manufacturers are forced to use additional packaging materials (cardboard and plastic boxes) so that the goods are not damaged during transportation and handling.
2. The taste of foods may change over time.
3. Food is not protected from the emergence of Clostridium botulinum - anaerobic bacteria that survive in vacuum space and are the causative agents of botulism.

Note! All the disadvantages can be easily avoided if you do not violate the conditions and shelf life, pay attention to the choice and quality of the purchased products, buy it only from trusted manufacturers, handle it correctly, observe sanitary and hygienic requirements.

Vacuum packing material

In domestic conditions, soft packaging materials are most often used. To work with them, no complicated equipment is required, they have a low cost and are easy to use. The most common of them are bags and films for vacuum packaging of food products.

In industry for the manufacture of goods used:

• soft film for the vacuum system in a roll;
• rigid packaging (metal containers, jars, glass bottles, polymer boxes and boxes);
• blown - for bulk and liquid products;
• from gas-filled materials - for resistance to high loads;
• combined - often found on store shelves: these are stretch films that are applied to goods with a backing, plastic cups, blisters.

Vacuum film

Films for vacuum packaging are of several types:

• top - used for sealing packaging;
• bottom - used for its molding;
• type "Flow pack" (Flow Pack) - forms a three-seam package after placing the product in it and pumping out the air.

Vacuum film is sold in rolls, which are classified according to length, width and thickness, i.e. tear resistance. In stores, you can find a wide range of products for evacuation and sublimation in various fields of activity. For example, 3d sublimation film for vacuum sublimation is used for a special press when transferring an image to the surface of a product.

Vacuum bags

Unlike films for vacuuming, bags are finished products made of polyamide and polyethylene of rectangular shape of different sizes. In the process of evacuation, the bag shrinks, and it completely repeats the shape of the product placed inside. Vacuum packaging at home is most often carried out using bags, as they are versatile and easy to use.

Range of application

Vacuum film sleeves, bags, "Flow pack" have a wide range of applications:

1. They are primarily used for storing food products: meat, fish, smoked meats, semi-finished products, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts. Ideal for bulk products such as cereals, tea, spices, sugar, coffee, flour. They are used for storing ready meals and portions.
2. In industry, vacuum is used to pack metal, plastic or wood products.
3. In the domestic environment, vacuum devices are also used for clothing. This allows you to compactly place things, pack them for travel and seasonal storage, protect the fabric from dust, dirt, dust mites, moths.

Types of vacuum equipment

Vacuum sealing machines by type of purpose are household and industrial. They differ in power, size, and complexity of the device.

Industrial vacuum equipment

Industrial devices for vacuum packaging are divided into several types:

1. Chamber. They have a special chamber in which the container is placed. First, air is pumped out of the chamber, then from the container itself. This provides a better and more reliable seal. A special apparatus for gluing the film of vacuum products is built into the device, which seals the edges. There are floor-standing and table-top equipment options.
2. Thermoforming machines. For packaging, a film for a vacuum cleaner is used, which covers a special substrate. This is the most common type of equipment that is used in large-scale production, as it has a very high performance.

Household vacuumizers

At home, a tubeless vacuum sealer is most often used. Such a device processes bags or films for a vacuum sealer in rolls. The edge of the bag is placed in the device, from which air is removed, and then the material is sealed. Such equipment is not suitable for handling liquids, it is used for domestic purposes or in small trade enterprises. The device has a compact size, easy to transport, does not take up much space.