How to store jerky (need airtight heavy-duty zipper-type resealable bags)

I'm going on a bit of a jerky binge. I ordered large bags of Venison, Beef, Elk, Buffalo, and Salmon Jerky as well as some Elk slim-jim style sticks. I'm looking for alligator jerky right now.

Anyways, I received the first couple of bags today. They're of considerable size compared the what you get in the supermarket (about 5-10 times the amount of meat comparatively). Some are vacuum packed, others are nitrogen filled.

I asked one of the vendors how to store the jerky after opening the bag it shipped in (which is not resealable) and he told me to put them in resealable bags and store the bags in the refridgerator.

What I'm looking for now are heavy duty ziplock-type resealable bags with thick plastic walls and an that when closed, are close to airtight (because I don't want condensation to build up and ruin $150 worth of jerky (no joke). The idea was for it to last me through at least all of March if not April. Also, I need to be able to mark the bags to denote what jerky it has.

What do you recommend? Thanks.

Here you go:

http://beefjerkyrecipes.com/storing/

Buy the Ziplock FREEZER bags in gallon and quart sizes and break it down. The freezer ones are heavy duty compared to the regular ones. Also be sure you get out the air before you zip it all the way shut.

What I do is get some air out, zip 1/2 way and then press down again before sealing the rest of the way.

If I were you I would invest in a vacuum packer. Then split the large bags up into smaller (say weekly portions) then freeze what you won't be using, take a bag out to thaw when the first is open...

My dad used to do this with venison & elk sticks that a friend would bring back from Canada and it always lasted. (Well as long as it was in the freezer it lasted, it disappeared pretty fast once it thawed)

A vacuum sealer. Interesting thought.

My plan so far was simple, since I have a back issue right now which has left me in bed for almost 2 weeks (I've lost 30 lbs in 2 weeks from not eating. I should make an advertisement for the "Pain Diet" ) and will be having surgery in a few weeks which will have me in bed for another few weeks. I only mention this because I am using this rationale to convince myself that I can justify spending $70 and change for a 1.7 cu ft refrigerator to put in the guest bedroom I'm staying in. The way I see it, if nothing else, after I'm back north, the guest bedroom will have a minibar should I get the refrigerator.

I was going to somehow get that tomorrow and put the jerky in heavy duty resealable bags inside of the refrigerator.

The idea of a vacuum sealer is good, I'm just wondering if I can justify the cost. I found out today that I can buy the same product, from the same manufacturer directly instead of via the vendor I used and for the same price and quantity, they all come individually vacuum packed (like for retail sale). So, I have about 5 fairly large bags of jerky right now if you add the stuff coming in the mail, but after that, with the exception of one product, they'll all come vacuum sealed.

I'm still wondering if it's worth getting anyways because I'm still looking for other jerky (btw- if anybody knows of good sources of Moose,
Alligator, Black Bear, Duck, or Loon jerky - that carries the Department of Agriculture seal), please do let me know.

What's the least expensive vacuum sealer out there? Also, what is not necessarily the least expensive, but the most bang for the buck vacuum sealer?

Thanks guys.

I have a basic Food Saver brand sealer. I don't know cost my my mom gave it to me!
The plastic storage bags are more expensive than ziploc style bags though. Get the ones that are not individual bags but one continous roll that you cut to size and seal.

I've had mine for a few years now and I use it mainly for freezing meat. (NEVER BAKERY!!)
It works really well and will work well for jerky. Check out what Amazon or Overstock.com has.

Originally Posted by LawGuy

What's the least expensive vacuum sealer out there? Also, what is not necessarily the least expensive, but the most bang for the buck vacuum sealer?

Thanks guys.

Click to expand...

I've had FoodSaver... good but costly. At the grocery stores now and at places like Target, there is another one out... I think it's Ziploc that makes it. less than $20 for the sealer (hand-held), and a box or two of bags... I love those! resealable, vacuum seal bags...

Amanda

I recently bought a Seal-A-Meal from Walmart and I love it. They are quite a bit less expensive than the Food Saver sealer. I haven't used it on jerky, but I have used it to freeze soups and chicken and it works perfect.

What's this Ziploc brand one? Or did I misunderstand? I'll check out the Save-A-Meal at Walmart today. Where do they sell the FoodSaver?

The ziploc system looks like it's my best option.

The bags are resealable just like I wanted, and the Ziploc vacuum removes all the air via a one way valve on the bag.

My only question - and I know this is going to sound ridiculous - is there any reason that freezer bags can't be used in a refrigerator? I was going to get a small inexpensive refrigerator today that can go down to 37/38 degrees (it has no compressor) - called the NuCool. Black and Decker has them rebranded for them, but they're made by Haier. http://www.haieramerica.com/en/product/C-RNU1708B

The Ziploc system says that it's intended for preventing freezer-burn and the bags are freezer bags. Any reason you guys can think of why the system couldn't be used in a refrigerator?

Originally Posted by LawGuy

The ziploc system looks like it's my best option.

The bags are resealable just like I wanted, and the Ziploc vacuum removes all the air via a one way valve on the bag.

My only question - and I know this is going to sound ridiculous - is there any reason that freezer bags can't be used in a refrigerator? I was going to get a small inexpensive refrigerator today that can go down to 37/38 degrees (it has no compressor) - called the NuCool. Black and Decker has them rebranded for them, but they're made by Haier. http://www.haieramerica.com/en/product/C-RNU1708B

The Ziploc system says that it's intended for preventing freezer-burn and the bags are freezer bags. Any reason you guys can think of why the system couldn't be used in a refrigerator?

Click to expand...

when they're designated as Freezer bags, it just means they're thicker plastic... I use mine in the fridge all the time. And when I'm defrosting something like a piece of fish, I put it in the fridge...

The thicker plastic works well with the vacuum...

Amanda

when they're designated as Freezer bags, it just means they're thicker plastic

Click to expand...

That's what I figured. I've never used freezer bags though, so I wanted to double check. I don't want to mess around when it comes to food safety. Especially with expensive stuff.

Bought a Black & Decker 1.7 cu ft NuCool compressorless refrigerator from Walmart.



Gets down to 37 degrees and is silent. They also had the regular NuCool not rebranded for 97 cents more (not sure why b/c it's the same unit minus a Black & Decker logo), but all the boxes for them looked like they had been shipped to Walmart via airplane and just thrown out the cargo bay when the plane flew over Walmart, no parachute. lol. I wasn't sure how many pieces the refrigerators inside would be in and how much superglue it would take to put them back together. lol I figured $79 wasn't huge for a refrigerator and it can be left in the guest bedroom as a minibar for guests after I go home, unless I want to ship it, but I suspect it would cost about as much to ship as to just buy a new one. I wanted 1.5 cu ft unit or smaller, but those for whatever reason are more expensive and most would require paying shipping too.

I also got the ziplock vacuum system. I think together I should be covered, no? At least with dried jerky

I haven't used the ziplock system, but as long as it sucks the air out you should be good to go. That is a nice mini-fridge. The price seems pretty good. I paid $100 for one when I went to college. They are handy to have around. I ordered new Seal-A-Meal bags from amazon.com, specifically from a company called "Deal Yard", I don't know if Deal Yard sells the ziplock brand, but their prices were fantastic.

Originally Posted by LawGuy

...I have a back issue right now which has left me in bed for almost 2 weeks (I've lost 30 lbs in 2 weeks from not eating. I should make an advertisement for the "Pain Diet"

) .

Click to expand...

Sorry, the Chronic Pain Diet is mine. After an accident in 2006 (drove the van into a deep ditch) I had chronic back pain and managed to drop 60 pounds. (I had plenty to drop.) Thanks to my friend and his accupuncture skills I was able to manage the pain.

Now back to your friendly neighborhood thread...

Sorry, the Chronic Pain Diet is mine.

Click to expand...

I accept your challenge. A race to the patent office it is!

Quick review of the stuff for anybody interested.

The refrigerator works just fine. It doesn't get as cold as some others might, but it doesn't have a compressor to make any noise. It's absolutely silent other than the almost inaudible fan. I was in Target today killing time before a doc appt (I overestimated how much traffic there would be) and I noticed something interesting, Target also sells the NuCool fridge by Haier branded as "Haier NuCool", but just like in Walmart, there is a second brand selling the exact same item, rebranded for them - Chefmate. It's $10 less than the Black & Decker one. Not only are both the Chefmate and Black & Decker ones the same fridge as the Haier Nucool, but if you look on the shipping label (should it still be on the box), you'll notice they actually came from Haier directly, and not from Black & Decker or Chefmate.

The Ziploc system is amazing. It's just as good from what I can tell as any of the far more expensive systems. $4 vs $49.99-$149.99? Wow. The bags are only slightly more expensive than regular Ziploc freezer bags.

I'm wondering if I can use the Foodsaver Freshsaver:



with the Ziploc vacuum bags. It looks to be about the same size nozzle as the manual Ziploc pump and I bet I can find one cheaper than $20 somewhere. I don't know if it would work though. For the moment though, I'm happy with the plastic pump.

The thing that sold me on the system I got was that I paid 60 bucks for it and I can make my own bags, since it actually seals them as well as sucks all the air out. I liked the sealing factor, but it is quite noisy and it takes up space. The Ziplock system is obviously a lot smaller, less noisy, and cheaper. I just really like making my own bags.

That's understandable. That's really the only problem with this system. I'm stuck with Gallon size or Quart size. What if I want to make rectangular bags instead of square? What if I wanted to make a very small and thin bag? What if I want to make a huge bag? Those are the options I gave up. For the moment, I'm ok with it though. If I start using vacuum bag technology for more things than jerky, I might consider a system that gives me more options.