Vacuum sealing and freezing

[AZBrian]

I just got a vacuum sealer and needs some help on preparing meals.

First off I'm a trucker so I'm home only a couple days a month so I dont have access to a kitchen except when I'm home. I bought a small 12volt freezer for my truck (believe it or not, it cost as much as a full size kitchen refrigerator, ugh). I dont have a microwave in my truck but I do have a 12volt lunchbox size oven that work similar to a crock pot. It takes about 1-2 hours to cook a chicken breast in it.

When I prepare meals at home should I cook it first then vacuum seal and freeze or put all the ingredients together (like marinating chicken) and then freeze it without cooking. For casseroles, beef and pork roasts I'll cook first but for chicken and salmon, should I marinate then freeze without cooking.

Any thought and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Brian

[Chef Kevin]

Re: Vacuum sealing and freezing

you will want to cook the chicken, since of all the foods you mentioned, it has by far the worst bacteria problem, since the way they are processed is so bad.

If you cook everything and re-heat it in the lunch box warmer (those things rock!) the chicken and meat products will stay moist. it's like a crock pot, like you said.

Salmon, yeah, go raw. It cooks so quickly. Maybe cook any veg you will have in with it partially. The fish will cook faster than the veg. I assume you aren't going to cook salmon "well done", so the veg might need a head start.

Good luck and be safe out there. I think truckers work as many hours as chefs and you all never get to be home!!!

[Lyssie]

Re: Vacuum sealing and freezing

I cook everything before I freeze it. I do try to not freeze salmon, I usually just cook and refrigerate it. I eat it so quickly though (I love salmon).