Tubes off grinder or vacuum sealer for ground meat?

[2rocky]

Came across this apparatus in my scrolling.

https://food-funnels4.mybigcommerce...UJ7FM401be0SDrXNAs_aem_SMHOvxG6DfPxL8ABTjJ46A

Made me think about whether the tubes for ground meat were still the best option for:
Space in freezer
Cost per unit
Time to produce packages of ground meat
Protecting against freezer burn.

I feel like square bricks of ground meat uses soace in freezer more efficiently but vacuum bags cost more and sealing takes longer and there is more extra material.

Thoughts?

 

[mtmiller]

Chamber vac
Cheap bags
Stack neatly

 

[Gr8bawana]

I prefer vac bags because the stand up neatly like books after being frozen.

 

[Sask hunter]

Tubes for me. Can’t say I have ever had burger freezer burn in them. But I don’t grind a year at once. About 25 pounds at a time. Shuffle stuff in the freezer enough and you lose vaccum seals

 

[SFC B]

Chamber vac
Cheap bags
Stack neatly

DEFINITELY THIS!!! just got my Chamber Vac and did the first round of ground deer. Having uniform bags and flattening them out before freezing makes storage so much easier. I have always found the tubes to be a PITA

 

[Nick87]

Chamber vac
Cheap bags
Stack neatly

I use tubes but this is definitely the best route. Also the best thing about ground meat in sealed bags if you do them thin. They thaw much faster than traditional tubes.

 

[howl]

Dual grind straight into a bag is a huge time saver. Vacuum bags are nice because you can freeze the meat in a thin flat layer which thaws quickly. Slow, though.

 

[ccc23454]

I vacuum seal using pre-made qt bags off Amazon (cheap/easy). I do all my grinding into tubs the weigh out softball sized chunks at 1.3 lb, set aside on table till full. Then I grab my pre labeled bags and start loading meat into bag then into sealer. As sealer removes all air In bag I give ita flattening compression, when sealed I remove and fold over top, end up with a 6"? Square probably one inch thick. Then load them into a extra long milk crate 17" if memory serves me. They pack in tight and i get about 60lb in a crate, stacked neatly flat against each other. Just don't over stuff them in crate, once frozen they don't flex to remove. Wife loves it this way, have ate 2 year old HB still with good color and taste this way. Works like a champ and is best way i have found. Just drop crate in chest freezer that is 18" wide and done. I did 55 pounds last month in about 2 hours start to finish.

 

[Bluffgruff]

Vac bags have no air. Recently ate a lost 2022 caribou burger from a vac bag and it was perfect, no freezer burn. Ive had tube burger get freezer burn in 6 months somehow.

 

[Foxtrot1]

Chamber vac
Cheap bags
Stack neatly

What chamber vac are you using? We are looking at upgrading our sealer

 

[Bluffgruff]

VacMaster VP230 Chamber Vacuum Sealing Machine - Vacuum Sealers Unlimited

FREE SHIPPING IN THE LOWER 48! We proudly feature VacMaster chamber sealing equipment. The VP230 has a 12.25" seal bar and a 1/2 HP oil-cooled rotary pump for 24/7 use and years of dependable service.

vacuumsealersunlimited.com

 

[mtmiller]

What chamber vac are you using? We are looking at upgrading our sealer

I purchased VacMaster 215 in January 2023 and it has been perfect for my needs and no issues. I can't compare it to other brands.

Edit - I purchased mine for $950 and if I was to do it over again, I would probably go for the 230 at the price BluffGruff posted. For just me, the 215 works 95% of the time, but if I had a family and wanted to store larger portions, the 230 would be worth the $130 upgrade imo.

 

[Caseknife]

I have migrated to using quart Zip-loc freezer bags and then wrap in freezer paper, last for multiple years without any freezer burn. I pint freezer container is just the right size to fill with burger and then use a pvc downspout adapter as a funnel to put the meat into the freezer bag. The vacuum sealer was too slow for me it seemed. https://www.lowes.com/pd/PVC-4-in-x...p.ds&msclkid=e8d7b495d0991c36728cdd36196955f0