The history of vacuum sealers can be traced back to the time of World War II when soldiers used food stored in basic vacuum sealers that helped to preserve the food for a long duration. The concept behind those sealers seems to have been generated from France before the World War II when rubber latex bags were evacuated to preserve frozen products. But, later on, the rubber was eventually replaced by plastics which were more popular after the world war, leading towards the development of vacuum sealers that we use today.
Vacuum sealers, also known as vacuum packers, were first invented in 1940’s but they were much smaller in size then. However, the kinds of sealers that are used in homes today were first invented by a German figure called Karl Busch. In 1950’s, vacuum packing was used to store whole turkeys debuting the commercial use of vacuum packing or sealing in the world. Both industries and households are now benefitting from the process on a large scale.
Principle of Vacuum Sealer:
The basic principle of the vacuum sealer is simple yet effective in preserving food at the fresh condition for an extended period of time. It goes like this: the food is stored in the vacuum which is created by removing atmospheric oxygen out of a plastic container with the help of an electric pump before sealing it. Since the oxygen is highly responsible for spoiling food products, the vacuum sealing process helps to prevent your food from spoilage by minimizing and even ceasing potential growth of harmful bacteria, fungi and micro-organisms, thus preserving the food in healthy and fresh condition for weeks. Even though vacuum sealers of various modern models are loaded with extra features today, all of them are based on the same principle of vacuum sealing. This method of food preservation is applicable for storage of a number of perishable foods such as nuts, cheese, cured meats, etc.
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Items Required For Vacuum Sealing:
The vacuum sealing technique is simple and is composed of a few items. The major item of a sealer is a vacuum bag. Next is an external air compressor used to create a vacuum in the bag. Since 1970’s, an inert gas such as nitrogen is being used in the sealers to extend the lifespan of perishable food products.
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Invention of Primitive Vacuum Sealer:
Primitive vacuum cleaner model first appeared in 1963 based on the basic vacuum sealing principle. Unlike modern sealers, they were simple to use and only performed the basic function of packing food materials. They never had all the advanced functions as modern or evolved vacuum sealers.
Evolution of Modern Vacuum Sealers
The evolution of modern vacuum sealer model occurred after users faced challenges or the need for change in the machine transforming it to become more advanced and convenient than ever, however retaining the basic premise and physical principles constant. The new sealers are now more compact and thus, convenient to place in kitchens of houses without occupying much space. Besides home vacuum cleaners, there are also industrial vacuum cleaners found in modern models that are benefitting food industries in preserving, packaging and transporting food products into various places.
The invention of the first modern sealer was done by Hans Christian in 1984. The modern models are actually basic models in evolved version with added characteristic features. This implies an improvement in its application of technology in a way that enables you to store food safely for months. Here are the characteristic features of modern models that help you to make your life easier:
1. Modern vacuum sealers are more digital and less manual in operation.
2. They have gas filling feature.
3. They are found in various types: tabletop sealer, thermoforming vacuum packing machine, automatic belt vacuum chamber sealer, etc are the main.
4. There are sealers specifically designed for homes (e.g. tabletop vacuum sealer) and there are those designed for industries (e.g. automatic belt vacuum chamber sealer)
5. Modern home sealers are compact in design yet superior in preserving food.
Advantages of Modern Vacuum Sealers
Modern sealers are popular for giving superior storage to various kinds of food including leftovers which might otherwise go waste. Unlike storing food in a plastic or aluminum foil which would only last for a few hours; with modern sealers, you can safely store them for weeks or even months. Although canning is another reliable storage option, vacuum sealers are still more preferred for their increased flexibility of usage, the convenience of storage and of course, the low price. Furthermore, if you need to do ‘sous-vide’ (literally meaning “under vacuum” in French) cooking where you need to heat food in sealed form, modern sealers are just the perfect fit. You simply put your meat in a bag, evacuate the air, submerge it into heated water for a certain period of time and your ‘sous-vide’ dish is ready to serve!
Apart from households, they are extremely beneficial for industries for storage, transportation, distribution and marketing purposes. Since their evolution, industrial vacuum sealers have revolutionized the way food are preserved and distributed in the market. They can keep the perishable food items for a longer duration. They help to extend product life of food industries enabling them to make more profits in the business. Even non-consumable products can be protected with the help of sealers.
