VACUUM sealing seafood is a fantastic way to increase the shelf life of your catch. It is a sustainable practice because there is less waste through spoilage. Plus it gives the home cook the opportunity to space out meals for a balanced diet. The machine is compact to fit in your average sized home kitchen and easy to take with you on your adventures.
Pac Food have developed the Vacuum Sealer VS603 which is a semi-industrial unit that is compact and ideal for the recreational angler. The unit has a simple easy to use set of functions, Pac Food has created videos that demonstrate the various functions. Pac Food claims to preserve food for up to 5 times longer in the freezer when their product range is used correctly.
The stainless steel body, powerful dual pistol pump and built-in cooling fan have been designed to last and perform at a high level. When comparing this machine to cheaper models it is clear that there is value in spending the money on a superior product in the VS603 if you are going to be regularly vacuum sealing. Pac Food has vacuum sealers that are cheaper for less heavy lifting. As a recreational fisherman, I believe it is better to get a sealer that has longevity and will maintain its performance over time. After a good fishing session or catching a single large fish, the VS603 can handle the workload.
I vacuum sealed a 13kg kingfish into portion sizes for my family. We ate the last portion of the kingfish 4 months after sealing and it came out of the bag in great condition. The kingfish had no freezer burn which is damaging to flavour and texture. The Machine came with standard micro channel bags in a range of sizes which were perfect for fillets. I used the embossed micro channel rolls to seal the wings and a whole snapper because of heavy duty walls to avoid punctures. The sealer bags are BPA free, it is important to avoid those nasties wherever possible.
The VS603 has a pulse function that is a great way to monitor the pressure of the vacuum before sealing.
The bags of fish that were sealed had all the air and surface moisture removed from the fish. Reducing the risk of bacterial growth and spoilage. Once frozen, the bags held their tight pressure and seal. I have had experiences in the past where vacuum sealer bags from cheaper machines have had small leaks which has allowed air to reach the flesh.
I also used the VS603 to marinate some fish. It is important to avoid any liquids being put into the bag. A dry rub, whole lemons or soaking and removing your fillets in a marinade will ensure that the added flavour has nowhere to get except into the flesh of your seafood.
To purchase the VS603 and restock your bags you can head straight over to pacfood.com.au for same day dispatch of delivery. The VS603 comes with a 1 year warranty. Pac Food has a customer service team that can assist with questions regarding any products.
Every fisho that plans on taking home fish and freezing them should have a vacuum sealer. The Pac Food VS603 is a great choice.
