paper wrap or vaccum seal

[wheels]

Its been a awhile since i have had the chance to prosses an animal. we used to vaccum seal, but seems like i see a lot of wrapped meat any certain reason why? thanks

 

[OntarioHunter]

It's cheaper ... but definately not as good as vacuum seal. Vacuum sealed meat will last a couple of years in the freezer. Paper wrapped MAYBE a couple of months.

 

[MTLabrador]

It's cheaper ... but definately not as good as vacuum seal. Vacuum sealed meat will last a couple of years in the freezer. Paper wrapped MAYBE a couple of months.

I and people I hunt with haven’t had that experience at all. I pulled a piece of forgotten mule deer out of my freezer the other day from 2017, wrapped in plastic and then freezer paper. It was excellent.

 

[JLS]

Weird. I've paper wrapped for years. Never had an issue with freezer burn.

 

[OpenCountry]

I and people I hunt with haven’t had that experience at all. I pulled a piece of forgotten mule deer out of my freezer the other day from 2017, wrapped in plastic and then freezer paper. It was excellent.

Agreed, Saran Wrap and freezer paper. Zero issues.

 

[MarvB]

^^^ Dbl wrap plastic/paper def the key... I went back to that method (much faster for me) a couple of years back and now only use the vac sealer for fish

 

[MThuntr]

It's cheaper ... but definately not as good as vacuum seal. Vacuum sealed meat will last a couple of years in the freezer. Paper wrapped MAYBE a couple of months.

I've had quite the opposite experience. Even with the thicker vacuum bags I've had them lose vacuum and freezer burn within months. Almost every paper wrapped (plastic wrapped first) has lasted the test of time. Found a package from 2014 this summer and was still good.

 

[mtmiller]

As others have mentioned, paper works for 2 years with no problems for me.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

I wrap in plastic wrap then vacuum seal. Never had any meat that had freezer burn but I never did with paper wrap either. One big advantage is that it's easy to throw vacuum bag in cold water and defrost quickly.

 

[SFC B]

We generally used the plastic/paper method (although we used ziplocks) and as said had good results for at least a couple of years. Christmas before last mama got me a vacuum sealer and that is my go to now. After looking at some info on them I DOUBLE seal both ends of my packages for insurance. That is how I am packing my hunting meals as well.

 

[mtmuley]

Plastic first, then paper. Going on 35 years of that method. Vac seal is a waste of time. mtmuley

 

[OntarioHunter]

Well okay. I formerly wrapped bloody meat in plastic wrap and then butcher paper and it kept well enough. But I have most of my goose meat done up into jerky, pepperettes, and smokies/polish. They will not keep that way. Vacuum sealer is a godsend for that stuff.

Food saver brand freezer bags and rolls are the worst for holding a seal. Ziplock brand is cheaper and almost never fails.

 

[JohnCushman]

I put my meat in gallon or quart freezer ziplock bags and then wrap in butcher paper and have pulled stuff 3 years old out of the freezer and it's been fine.

 

[Bigjay73]

Why aren't y'all eating your game meat quicker? Bunch a vegetarians or sumptin

 

[OntarioHunter]

I put my meat in gallon or quart freezer ziplock bags and then wrap in butcher paper and have pulled stuff 3 years old out of the freezer and it's been fine.

Works best if you insert a plastic straw in the bag, zip the top tight to it, and suck out the air as you're pulling out the straw and closing the zipper. Try to avoid sucking up blood.

In Montana I stuff my pheasants into quart bags with zippers and suck the air out. They will just barely fit (a bit of a trick to it ... learn which end to put in first). Then when I get home to Ontario I throw away the bags and vacuum seal them before putting back in the freezer. Again, irregular shaped stuff doesn't keep as well unless vacuum sealed. Floppy bloody meat seals up fine with plastic wrap and paper. But there's a lot more game to preserve than just venison steaks.

 

[brockel]

We use to do the vacuum seal. Besides going through machines it was slow. We now plastic wrap then paper wrap our steaks and roasts and burger goes into burger bags.

 

[brnsvllyjohn]

Plastic wrap and butcher paper for raw red meat.

I only vacuum seal cooked meat like smoked fish or deer jerky.

 

[RobG]

The nice thing about vacuum sealed bags is that you can throw them in a pot of warm water and the meat will be thawed in 20 minutes. I’d go back to paper if it wasn’t for that.

 

[jvanhoy]

Agreed, Saran Wrap and freezer paper. Zero issues.

Exactly! This is the best option. Vacuum packed almost always ends up leaking and freezer burning.

 

[runningmt]

Yeah, plastic wrap and freezer paper, I’ve discovered “forgotten gems” in the freezer 5 years old, mostly no freezer burn, If so, minuscule in lost volume. I like hand-rolled!