Vacuum sealing is a popular method of food preservation that removes air from around the food before sealing it in an airtight bag or container. This lack of oxygen helps prevent growth of bacteria and mold, allowing foods like burritos to stay fresh for longer. But can you really vacuum seal a burrito? Let’s take a closer look at how vacuum sealing works and the pros and cons of vacuum sealing burritos.
How Does Vacuum Sealing Work?
Vacuum sealing makes use of a vacuum sealer machine to remove air from a specially designed bag before sealing it closed. Here is a basic overview of the vacuum sealing process:
- Place the food items, in this case a burrito, into a vacuum sealer bag. Vacuum sealer bags are made from thick plastic or laminated material that is air-tight and impermeable to moisture.
- Open the bag and place the open end in the vacuum sealer machine, with the sealable closure inside the machine.
- Activate the machine, which will remove the air from the bag using suction. The bag will shrink down tightly over the food.
- Once most of the air has been removed, the machine will automatically seal the open end of the bag closed using heat or pressure to melt the two sides of the bag together.
- The vacuum sealed burrito in the airtight bag can now be refrigerated or frozen for long-term storage.
The lack of oxygen inside the sealed bag creates an anaerobic environment that limits aerobic bacterial growth. It also prevents freezer burn by protecting food from exposure to dry air. Vacuum sealing can extend the shelf life of burritos by weeks or even months compared to storing them in a regular container or bag.
Pros of Vacuum Sealing Burritos
There are several advantages to vacuum sealing burritos:
- Extended shelf life – By removing oxygen from around the burrito and sealing it in an airtight environment, vacuum sealing can extend the shelf life of burritos significantly. Burritos will stay fresher for weeks in the refrigerator or months in the freezer.
- Maintains flavor and texture – Without exposure to oxygen, vacuum sealed burritos are less likely to suffer freezer burn. This helps them retain their flavor, moisture and original texture better.
- Portion control – Vacuum sealing allows you to separate burritos into portioned sizes for grabbing and reheating conveniently.
- Compact storage – Vacuum sealing removes air from around the food, reducing the storage space required compared to refrigerating or freezing burritos in containers.
- Organized storage – You can vacuum seal types of burritos separately and label them for easy identification.
Overall, vacuum sealing gives you more control over burrito storage and access compared to traditional storage methods.
Cons of Vacuum Sealing Burritos
However, there are also some downsides to keep in mind when vacuum sealing burritos:
- Not suitable for immediate eating – You cannot vacuum seal a burrito and immediately eat it. The burrito will need to be removed from the vacuum sealed bag first before reheating or consuming.
- Can crush or damage burritos – The vacuum sealing process will apply pressure to the burrito as air is removed from the bag. This can potentially crush burritos or damage the tortilla if not done properly.
- Anaerobic bacteria risk – Removing oxygen also creates an environment where anaerobic bacteria like Clostridium botulinum can grow if spores are present. Proper cooking is required to reduce this risk.
- Equipment required – You need a vacuum sealer machine and special vacuum sealer bags to vacuum seal burritos. These machines and bags do require an upfront investment.
- Single use bags – Vacuum bags are generally single use and will need to be discarded after opening.
So while vacuum sealing does extend shelf life, some special care and precautions are needed to avoid potential downsides.
Can You Vacuum Seal a Burrito?
Based on the advantages and disadvantages, it is possible to vacuum seal burritos, but the process requires some special considerations:
- Use pre-cooked burritos – Raw or undercooked burritos can increase the risk of anaerobic bacteria growth in the oxygen-free environment inside the vacuum sealed bag.
- Allow to cool completely – Vacuum sealing works best when burritos are sealed cold rather than piping hot. Allow cooked burritos to cool down to room temperature before vacuum sealing.
- Freeze promptly – For best food safety and maximum shelf life extension, freeze vacuum sealed burritos as soon as possible after sealing.
- Use high quality bags – Pick vacuum sealer bags designed for food use and that have low oxygen permeability. This ensures an airtight seal.
- Adjust bag size – Use bag sizes that closely conform to the burrito shape without a lot of extra room around it to minimize crushing.
- Seal with care – Use the right settings and gently guide the bag when vacuum sealing to prevent damage to the tortilla or burrito contents.
Following basic vacuum sealing best practices tailored for burritos can let you safely vacuum pack burritos for significantly extended freshness.
Vacuum Sealing Burrito Ingredients
While whole intact burritos can be vacuum sealed, you can also vacuum seal individual burrito ingredients or fillings separately:
Beans
Beans, a common burrito ingredient, vacuum seal very well. Make sure dried beans are fully cooked and cooled before vacuum sealing in serving size portions. Refried beans may also be sealed.
Rice
Like beans, rice can be cooked, portioned and vacuum sealed with great results. Make sure rice is cooled down significantly before sealing. Store cooked rice for only 2-3 days in refrigerator even when vacuum sealed.
Cheese
Hard cheeses like cheddar can be vacuum sealed and keep well at room temperature for several weeks. Softer cheeses like queso fresco don’t preserve as long. Keep sealed cheese in refrigerator for best quality.
Salsa
Salsas and sauces can be vacuum sealed assuming they are not too acidic or alkaline. Mild tomato salsa stores well when vacuum sealed and refrigerated.
Guacamole
The lack of air in vacuum sealed bags prevents oxidation that causes guacamole to brown. Avocado based guac can be stored frozen for 3-6 months.
Tortillas
To prevent crushing, stack tortillas with parchment paper between layers before vacuum sealing in quantity. Tortillas sealed this way will stay fresh for 2-3 months refrigerated.
Meat
Raw meat like chicken or steak can be vacuum sealed but must be frozen and cooked thoroughly before eating. Marinated meats also retain flavor well when vacuum sealed.
Vacuum sealing ingredients individually allows you to mix and match them when assembling burritos later. It also gives you more options for portioning.
How to Vacuum Seal a Burrito Step-By-Step
Here is a step-by-step guide to vacuum seal burritos properly:
- Cook the burritos – Prepare the burrito fillings and cook fully. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Portion into bags – Place each cooled burrito into its own vacuum sealer bag, allowing some headspace at the open end of the bag.
- Remove air – Seal open end of bag in vacuum sealer machine and activate the vacuum process per device instructions.
- Check seal – Ensure the vacuum sealing process securely sealed the bag across the entire open end with no gaps.
- Label – Use a permanent marker to label the vacuum sealed burrito bags with contents and date.
- Freeze – For extended shelf life, freeze the vacuum sealed burritos immediately after sealing.
- Store – Keep frozen burritos stored flat to prevent damage. Refrigerate after thawing.
- Reheat and serve – When ready to eat, remove bag and reheat sealed burrito in microwave or oven until hot.
Follow proper food handling and reheating guidelines for safety when enjoying your preserved vacuum sealed burritos.
How Long Do Vacuum Sealed Burritos Last?
With vacuum sealing, the shelf life of burritos can be extended significantly compared to zipper bags or plastic wrap. Here are the approximate timelines:
Refrigerator:
- Regular bag – 3-5 days
- Vacuum sealed – 2-3 weeks
Freezer:
- Regular bag – 2-3 months
- Vacuum sealed – 6-12 months
The freezer times above are for best quality. Technically frozen burritos are safe indefinitely, but will suffer flavor and texture loss over time.
Always label vacuum sealed bags with date and inspect for signs of spoilage before consuming after long term freezing.
Tips for Vacuum Sealing Burritos
Follow these tips when vacuum sealing burritos for best results:
- Use fresh, high quality ingredients when assembling burritos intended for vacuum sealing.
- Let burritos cool to room temperature before vacuum sealing for food safety.
- Pre-freeze burritos for 1-2 hours to firm them up slightly and hold shape better when sealing.
- Carefully lower filled bags into vacuum chamber to prevent splattering contents.
- Adjust vacuum machine pressure settings to avoid crushing delicate burritos.
- Label bags with contents and date before freezing.
- Inspect bags for damage before freezing and reseal if needed.
- Stack burrito bags flat in freezer instead of upright to avoid breaking seals.
- Allow adequate thaw time before reheating vacuum sealed burritos.
Following these tips will help you get the most out of vacuum sealing for safely preserving burritos and maximizing their shelf life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about vacuum sealing burritos:
Can you vacuum seal burritos with rice?
Yes, rice is a common filling in burritos that vacuum seals well. Make sure rice is fully cooked and cooled before sealing burritos containing rice.
Can you microwave vacuum sealed burritos?
Vacuum sealed burritos must be removed from bags before reheating in the microwave. The metal in vacuum sealing bags can damage the microwave or cause sparks.
How do you reheat a vacuum sealed burrito?
Remove the frozen burrito from vacuum bag, place on a microwave-safe plate, and microwave in 30 second intervals until heated through. Oven baking at 350°F also works well.
Do you need to thaw vacuum sealed burritos before reheating?
It is safest to thaw frozen vacuum sealed burritos in the refrigerator before reheating. Microwaving frozen burritos can lead to cold spots.
Can you vacuum seal homemade burritos?
Yes, homemade burritos can be vacuum sealed as long as you cook them first and follow proper cooling procedures before sealing.
Should you wrap burritos before vacuum sealing?
Individual burrito wrappers are not needed if using vacuum bags. The bags protect frozen burritos from freezer burn.
What size bag do you need to vacuum seal a burrito?
Standard 8×12 inch bags work well for most burritos. Adjust based on burrito size, allowing 2-3 inches of extra room at the opening.
Conclusion
Vacuum sealing is an effective way to extend the shelf life of burritos for storage in the refrigerator or freezer. By removing oxygen from around the burrito and sealing it an airtight bag, burritos can stay fresh and flavorful for weeks or months more compared to traditional storage methods.
There are some best practices to follow like pre-cooking burritos, allowing them to fully cool before sealing, and freezing promptly after sealing. Adjusting vacuum pressure and using properly sized bags can also help prevent crushing the tortillas or burrito contents. With some trial and error, vacuum sealing can let you enjoy great burritos long after they are made.