Hi Tess,
I am a first timer and I am wondering if I need to freeze my peas, beans and lentils before I vacuum pack them in the jars and vacuum bags? Also do I need to put oxygen absorbers in the bags and jars? Thanks.
A Reader
Answer:
Hello,
Vacuum sealing is a great way to get your long-term food stores stocked up. Congrats on taking those first crucial steps!
Many people freeze there long-term food items to kill off any insects or eggs that may be inside the packaging. If you are worried about insects getting on the long-term food items, then you can freeze them for 24-48 hours and then vacuum seal them. When I vacuum seal my dried goods, I always add an oxygen absorber in with the food. This helps the food stay fresh for the long-term. Also, if you live in an area that has high humidity, you might want to consider adding a desiccant packet as well. This helps absorb any moisture that is present inside the food sealed bag.
Since you’re a first timer, here are some articles that you may find helpful:
- Vacuum Sealing for Long-Term Food Storage
- Chart for How Many Oxygen Absorbers You Need
- Best Practices for Long-Term Food Storage
- Also, consider adding some of these 25 long-term food ideas.
I hope this gets you on the right path. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me.
Good Luck!
Tess
This article was originally published at Ready Nutrition™ on January 11th, 2017
