As a hunter, you should always have two goals in mind—find the meat and preserve it. The former requires a lot of skill and hard work, so you have no option but to go out there and face whatever the wild has in store for you.
The latter, on the other hand, requires you to use specialized equipment that will help you keep the meet in good condition for the longest time possible.
As mentioned, hunting is no easy feat, so I bet you wouldn’t want your efforts to go to waste by letting the meat go bad prematurely.
Well, the good news is that you can keep your meat fresh in the freezer for up to two years using a vacuum sealer.
Vacuum sealers work by removing air from the bag in which you intend to seal your meat. After this, the machine creates an airtight seal, which prevents more air from entering the bag.
And the best part is that vacuum sealers can package virtually all types of meat, so it won’t matter whether it’s buck meat, boar, javelina, or rabbit.
Now that you have a rough idea of how a vacuum sealer works and its use, maybe it’s time you asked the question—;
Why do Hunters Need a Vacuum Sealer?
From the intro, you may already have an idea of why a vacuum sealer is an essential tool for a hunter.
To elaborate more on this, here are some of the benefits that a hunter will get from using a vacuum sealer.
Vacuum sealing prolongs the shelf life of meat
Meat that is stored in vacuum-sealed bags is less likely to be contaminated by bacteria, fungus, and mold.
This is mainly because vacuum sealers create airtight voids that make the area around the meat unconducive for microbes.
The result of this is that the meat will stay fresh for a very long duration, so you won’t notice a change in color or smell.
As a matter of fact, the meat will be in the same condition that it was in when you first packaged it.
Vacuum sealed meat is well protected from freezer burn
After a hunt, most of the meat is kept inside freezers, and this increases the chances of it getting damaged by freezer burn, especially if the meat in question is poorly packaged.
If you are wondering what freezer burn is; it occurs when meat is exposed to cold air for an extended period.
As a result, moisture will be drawn out of the meat and oxidation may also take place, thereby lowering quality.
However, you can avoid this by simply sealing the meat using a vacuum sealer of your choice. Through this, the texture and quality of the meat will be preserved.
Vacuum sealing prevents your freezer and other foods from smelling like meat
A vacuum-sealed meat pouch not only prevents external elements from contaminating the meat but also ensures that the meat does not flood the entire freezer with its smell.
As such, you can store just about anything in your freezer without worrying about it coming out with a ‘meaty’ smell.
Additionally, you won’t be hit by the smell of meat each time you open the freezer.
Preserves the natural flavors of the meat
By using a vacuum sealer, you will be able to store your meat for months without it losing its juicy taste.
This is achievable because bags that are sealed using vacuum sealers prevent dehydration, so all the nutrients and flavors of the meat will stay intact even after storing the meat for a long time.
In addition to this, vacuum sealing also boosts the effect that seasoning ingredients have on the meat, thus making the meat even more flavorful.
Aside from the above-listed benefits, vacuum sealers will also save you from defrosting large chunks of meat since the bags contain manageable portions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I vacuum seal meat?
Vacuum sealing is very easy since the machine does everything for you. However, you have to ensure that you wash the meat thoroughly before placing it inside the bags.
After bagging the meat, simply put the front side of the bag with the opening inside the machine to get an airtight seal.
If you like, you can even label the bags with dates and the name of the animal. This will give you an easier time when it comes to identification.
Only use bags that are specifically designed for vacuum sealing to avoid creating punctures that may let air in.
How will I know if a vacuum sealer is done sealing the bag?
Most vacuum sealers are designed with indicator lights, which notify you when the sealing process is complete.
With this in mind, ensure that you go through the machine’s user manual to get a deeper understanding of how the unit operates.
Final Thought
If you are a hunter, you should invest in a vacuum sealer because it will help you avoid serious losses, and at the same time, minimize wastage.
More to this, vacuum sealers have a user-friendly design, so you won’t have a difficult time packaging the meat. As such, you will be able to package large chunks of meats in a matter of minutes.
When buying these machines, ensure that you go for one that is designed for hunters since they are more resilient to moisture.
Additionally, you have to buy a vacuum sealer that matches the quantity of meat that you will be dealing with.
Large vacuum sealers will allow you to preserve large kills without wasting a single piece of meat.
The good thing with vacuum sealers is that they won’t interfere with the meat in any way, meaning that all the flavors will be there to tickle your fancy when you consume the meat.
As you have seen, the idea is not only to make a kill; you have to see to it that the meat is preserved properly.
With that being said, ensure that you vacuum seal your meat before placing it inside your freezer.