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This has become a fairly common way to store food in the freezer and to keep it from going bad. The Vacuum sealer removes all the air from the bag and then seals it for you. The bags are usually clear which makes it easy to look and see not only what is stored, but what condition it's in. These bags allow you to store food such as meats, cheeses, fruits and veggies in the freezer for up to a year or two without having to worry about freezer burn. They also work well for storing dry goods such as rice, beans, wheat, and oats in a airtight package.

For the most part, there are only two types of vacuum packers. There is the one we all think of, that fits on our counter tops and uses external bags for sealing. Then there are commercial ones that use internal bags, and usually come on a stand by themselves. Which one you choose to use will depend both on how much you intend to use it, and how much you want to spend.

The average person who is mostly interested in preserving extra produce from gardens, or meats and cheeses that went on sale at a grocery store will be really happy with a simple machine with external bags. While someone who owns a business or processes lots of food that needs to be frozen will want to invest in a larger style commercial vacuum packer. (These usually have the internal bags). Whichever style you choose, you're really only limited by your imagination on how you use them.

When you're storing fruits and veggies, keep in mind that they still need to be processed before they can be placed in the freezer bags and sealed. I know most vegetables need to be blanched first and then cooled before freezing. Even fruit needs to be prepared first before being vacuum packed. So check out the instructions and make sure you follow them so that you can enjoy fruits and veggies all winter long.

Meats are really easy to vacuum pack. All you have to do is divide it up into the amounts you would like to freeze, and then vacuum seal it. It'll last up to two years and still taste really good. Just make sure you have a really good seal on it.

Cheeses are easy to freeze as well; although the blocks tend to crumble once they've been frozen. So it's almost better with cheese to shred it first and then freeze it.

Meat that needs to soak in a marinade can be vacuum packed and then tossed in the fridge until ready to be used. This really helps to infuse the meat with all the spices because it forces the air out and only leaves behind the seasonings. Be careful not to let any liquid into your machine though, as that can be hard to clean and will destroy the suction over time.

Pros: Quick and easy way to buy some food in bulk and store it away for later. Because all the air is removed before the bag is sealed, food lasts up to a year or two in the freezer. Great way to package all types of food in an airtight environment. Also, the packaging is extremely light weight and very handy. Food can be stored in quanities that you use it in, rather than a large bulk can or container that you may only need a small amount from at a time.

Cons: It does require an initial investment in a vacuum sealer, and you do need special bags on hand in order to seal the food. Vegetables should still be blanched before freezing, and that can be time consuming.

Remember that no matter what food storage container you choose to use, they all have their pros and cons. What you use will depend on what it is you want to store and how long you will want it to last.