By Capt. Woody Gore For years the question of preserving food has eluded people. We used to can our homemade vegetables and dry our meat. But over the years we've evolved to new and more interesting methods. Due to the genius of folks smarter than yours truly, new and innovative methods are available for homemakers, outdoors persons, and people in general. Vacuum sealers are great are tools you can use to preserve food. A vacuum sealer removes the air from your packaging, sealing the food in and keeping it fresh for storage. Food can retain its freshness by up to five times longer with this method, and since there's almost no oxygen in the packaging, there's virtually little risk of mold or spoilage. You can also use vacuum sealers to store seasonal clothing. The sealer compresses the clothing, allowing it to fit into smaller storage spaces, thus saving room in your home. There are all kinds of handy uses for a vacuum sealer. If you've been around for more than twenty years you probably remember the old wax coated mild cartons. We used them to protect certain items like fish when freezing. It was a simple technique, just clean the carton, fill it with water and insert fish.

The water would encapsulate the fish, thereby protecting it from freezer burn. When we wanted fresh tasting fish we'd thaw the cartons by immersing them in water. Then we'd have ourselves a good old fashion fish fry; we'd lightly coat the fish in meal, add salt and pepper, and fry them up crispy and serve them with hushpuppies, grits and tomato gravy. Certainly not as good as fresh off the fishing line but excellent grub for a growing Florida boy. However, with the advent of vacuum freezer storage units we're centuries ahead of such outdated freezer protection. Commonly known for its preservation of fruits, meat and vegetables, vacuum storage makes purchasing bulk items or taking advantage of sales an advantage. When vacuum sealing, shelf-life increases dramatically. As you put items away from the grocery store, immediately separate all of your bulk items into usable packs, then vacuum and seal. Mark your package with the date of purchase and the food item that is in the bag. Freeze or refrigerate as necessary and enjoy being able to reach in and pull out the perfect portion of food for your next meal. Chips, cookies and cereal can be placed in the canisters and vacuumed, sealing in the freshness. Food is not the only use; it's a great tool to use for fishing, boating and hunting activities.

Vacuum storage for outdoorsmen and women see potential uses reaching far beyond hunting and fishing boundaries. The system works to take moisture and air away from anything you put in the bags. Beyond the obvious use of storing meat from a hunting or fishing trip, the system can be utilized to store dry goods away from moisture and even to protect valuables while in the woods or on the water. You can certainly protect items like maps, licenses, batteries, tools, matches, ammunition, flares, first aid kits, spare clothing, and most importantly "toilet paper". Here are some tips to keep in mind when using a vacuum sealer:

1. Remember that vacuum sealers are not to be used as an alternative to refrigeration. Items that need to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer should still be kept there even if they have been vacuum packed.

2. Manual vacuum pumps do not remove all of the oxygen in a container, and they can only be used with canisters or jars. These can be handy for general food storage, but will not completely prevent mold or staleness.

3. Plastic bag sealers that are fan-operated also do not remove all of the air from the bags. Again, they are handy for prolonging the shelf life of your stored foods, but are not as reliable or effective as commercial electric sealers.

4. Electric pump vacuum sealers are the only vacuum sealers that completely eliminate oxygen from the sealed bag. Food stored with electric sealers will be safe from exposure to air, insects, and mold.

5. Electric pump vacuum sealers should come with an indicator or gauge that will beep or somehow let you know when a vacuum seal has been achieved. This is important so that you can be sure your food is safe.

6. When using a vacuum sealer on a glass jar, be careful not to overdo it. This is where a gauge is most important; glass can implode when too much suction is applied.

If you're interested in booking a trip, please call: 813-477-3814 or visit my website: www.captainwoodygore.com. Fishing Florida for over 50 years and offering professionally guided fishing and teaching charters. Capt. Woody specializes in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Tarpon Springs. If you want to catch fish, have a memorable adventure with friends or families or perhaps learn some new fishing tips, give me a call. I also specialize in group and multi-boat events and charters. Tell me what you need and I'll do the rest. Captain Woody Gore – Fishing Charters Cell: 813-477-3814 Home/Office 813-982-2034 Email: wgore@ix.netcom.com Website: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM