THE PAPER PLATE METHOD FOR VACUUM SEALING

[Rings Я Us]

I buy the disposable little plastic cutting boards.. you use them a few times and they get knife marks in them and not to great to keep around because they harbor microscopic bits you can't clean up good after a few times using them.
However, those little cutting boards are very flexible and work great to dump stuff into pots or a stand mixer bowl .
Those might be a good candidate for doing the paper plate trick also.. little oil for sliding. Lol. Like the paper plate one also.. I usually have Dixie 10" ones that seem good for waterproofing with oils . :p

 

[johnmeyer]

I have a large one of those thin "cutting boards." Since every cutting board gets cut marks, and since most surfaces are deeper and can therefore have deeper cuts (especially wood boards), I am actually considerably less concerned about contamination with this material than any of the other surfaces I have on my half dozen cutting boards.

I like the idea of using one of these in place of the paper plate because it can easily be re-used. The plate is probably a one-use item. Also, this surface is really slippery, so I suspect it will not need any oil or other lubrication, thus saving a step.

So, thanks for the idea and the next time I'm in the store I'll get one of these and then cut it up to the proper size.

 

[indaswamp]

Cool idea Al! Thanks for posting.

 

[weev]

Well I figured some of you guys had your own method for getting stuff into the vac bags without getting anything on the seal & it seems I was right, but if you don't already have a method this one works every time. So if I helped a couple of you out, then today was a good day!
Al

I think they are all great ideas and some work better for certain things than others do

 

[Rings Я Us]

Well, for food they were meant to get tossed out after a few times use.. I got some free for shopping at some store on that certain day. Kinda like those sponges with scrubby pad sides. Your supposed to toss them out after a few dozen uses.. Lol Its up to the individual I guess.

 

[johnmeyer]

Well, for food they were meant to get tossed out after a few times use.. I got some free for shopping at some store on that certain day. Kinda like those sponges with scrubby pad sides. Your supposed to toss them out after a few dozen uses.. Lol Its up to the individual I guess.

They certainly are not marketed as disposable:

(4 Pack) Thin Clear Flexible Cutting Board Chopping Mat, 12" x 15"

From that page:

• -4 Pack- Plastic 12" x 15" cutting boards
• Protects counter tops and helps prevent cross-contamination
• Mat flexes to easily transport food to cookware or storage
• Will not crack or chip, Surface will not dull knife
• Safe, hygienic and Easy to clean and to store

First of all, take a look at that third bullet: "flexes to easily transport food." Hey, that's what this thread is all about! So, your idea of using these for that purpose is a great one.

However, also note the last bullet: "Safe, hygienic and Easy to clean and to store." So, they are meant to be cleaned and re-used, and the manufacturer, who would have liability if it were not true, says they are hygienic. This seems obvious to me because compared to wood, they are are almost non-porous, and even compared to thicker plastic cutting boards, the cut marks are amazingly shallow.

What cutting surface, other than glass, would be more hygienic??

Perhaps you have a different flexible cutting mat than what I just linked to. I certainly would not compare the cutting boards in the link above to sponges or scrubby pads, both of which are amazingly porous and extremely un-hiegenic.

 

[tardissmoker]

Get a thin plastic place mat or two from WallyWorld. Can be cut down for vac packing (small) or left as is for big bags. Good also for wrapping prior to netting. I use for loin hams ala Cranky Buzzard. Can be washed a lot, dirt cheap, usually can get with a cute picture.

PS where is Cranky now that I think of it?

 

[DanMcG]

Great tutorial Al.
I still can't believe I've never thought of this, or run across it until you mentioned it.

 

[Bearcarver]

As for those thin cutting sheets, somebody talked me into getting some about a year ago.
IMO they are no better than a coated paper plate, and a slight PITA to wash & store.

With the coated paper plates, I just use the same one for everything I'm doing at one time (3 Belly pieces or 4 bags ready for SV, etc). Then I toss it---No PITA whatsoever.

Bear

 

[worktogthr]

Great Post Al! I have been doing this for a couple of years to load my bacon and cold cuts into a vac bag without them getting all folded up, but never even thought about it from the standpoint of keeping the end of a bag clean for a better seal!

 

[troutman]

Ingenuity is the mother of invention....nice work Mr. Al !!!

 

[petehalsted]

Great tip! I am a messy guy, just ask my wife! Anything that makes it easier for me to not make a mess is a good tip!

I will share mine vacuum sealing tip here as well. When sealing something that has higher liquid content, especially freshly cleaned fish, the liquid can effect the seal. I use a portion of a paper towel to catch the liquid before it can get drawn into the sealing area. Just make sure the paper towel is far enough down to not be in the seal.

Bear, the tip about cutting off 1/2 an inch and resealing is also a great one!. I know one of the Game Savers has dual sealing strips and I really wish they would add that as an option to more Food Savers.

 

[Braz]

Those flexible plastic cutting boards come in handy when I am playing "Iron Chef Moto."

 

[troutman]

Wow that’s “minimalist” camping at its best....

 

[mowin]

Great tip.
I use a large red Solo cup with the bottom cut off to load my vac bags with burger. Keeps the bag nice and clean. For large stuff, the paper plate is a great idea.

 

[ghoster]

LOL. Genius, so simple but such a good idea.

 

[hb99]

Great tip.
I use a large red Solo cup with the bottom cut off to load my vac bags with burger. Keeps the bag nice and clean. For large stuff, the paper plate is a great idea.

We load up the bags and place the open end in the vac. While it's just sitting there I push the burger down using a small wooden cutting board. When the burger is near the sealer I turn it on to seal. Now I can place the bags flat around the freezer to freeze faster. Once frozen they stack neatly.

A word about the bulk (uncut) vac bags. I use a photo cropper/paper cutter to cut the bags with. Measuring each one the same size first. Measuring takes all the guess work out of it and the cuts are always neat.

 

[mowin]

We load up the bags and place the open end in the vac. While it's just sitting there I push the burger down using a small wooden cutting board. When the burger is near the sealer I turn it on to seal. Now I can place the bags flat around the freezer to freeze faster. Once frozen they stack neatly.

A word about the bulk (uncut) vac bags. I use a photo cropper/paper cutter to cut the bags with. Measuring each one the same size first. Measuring takes all the guess work out of it and the cuts are always neat.

We flatten ours out also. Definitely saves space.
My sealer has built in storage and a cutter for bulk rolls.

 

[hb99]

That must be a deluxe model. LOL!

 

[mowin]

It's a Cabela's brand. Had it for a few yrs now. Been a great VS.