I have a Tilia Foodsaver but so far, I've only used it for cheese (I buy big--by Japanese standards--blocks at Costco, cut them up and Tilia them). Today I bought a large amount (by Japanese standards) of ground beef and some ribs and need to divide them up and freeze them. Can I wrap portions in plastic wrap and then Tilia them? Or would that defeat the purpose of using a Tilia? It would be easier for me to remove the portions if they were wrapped in plastic wrap first than if I put the meat directly into the Tilia bags. Any suggestions for other ways to do this?
rona -- "Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and they will [censored] upon your computer." -- Bruce Graham
I have a Tilia Foodsaver but so far, I've only used it for cheese (I buy big--by Japanese standards--blocks at Costco, cut them up and Tilia them). Today I bought a large amount (by Japanese standards) of ground beef and some ribs and need to divide them up and freeze them. Can I wrap portions in plastic wrap and then Tilia them? Or would that defeat the purpose of using a Tilia? It would be easier for me to remove the portions if they were wrapped in plastic wrap first than if I put the meat directly into the Tilia bags. Any suggestions for other ways to do this?
Partially freeze the ground beef first. No need to wrap either in plastic wrap unless there's really sharp ends on the bones.
Why would wrapping in plastic wrap make them easier to remove? If you're thinking of putting separate packages into one bag, don't bother. Just cut the bags to fit the portion.
Ribs are hard to wrap and keep from freezer burning, so they benefit from the FS. Hamburger can be wrapped first, tightly, in wax paper, then in plastic wrap and will last quite a while in the freezer. I wouldn't waste the bags on hamburger.
"Rona Yuthasastrakosol" <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I have a Tilia Foodsaver but so far, I've only used it for cheese (I buy big--by Japanese standards--blocks at Costco, cut them up and Tilia them). Today I bought a large amount (by Japanese standards) of ground beef and some ribs and need to divide them up and freeze them. Can I wrap portions in plastic wrap and then Tilia them? Or would that defeat the purpose of using a Tilia? It would be easier for me to remove the portions if they were wrapped in plastic wrap first than if I put the meat directly into the Tilia bags. Any suggestions for other ways to do this?
rona
Plastic wrapping is fine...won't hurt a thing. Best to tilia portioned meat in their own tilia bags.
All the plastic wrap will buy you is protection/padding fron sharp stuff like bones and fins. And ease in washing out (if re-using) the tilia bag. If you are making meat patties/balls and then storing ...freezing the patties on a cookie sheet first would help them retain their shape.
-- Once during Prohibition I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water. -------- FIELDS, W. C.
I have a Tilia Foodsaver but so far, I've only used it for cheese (I buy big--by Japanese standards--blocks at Costco, cut them up and Tilia them). Today I bought a large amount (by Japanese standards) of ground beef and some ribs and need to divide them up and freeze them. Can I wrap portions in plastic wrap and then Tilia them? Or would that defeat the purpose of using a Tilia? It would be easier for me to remove the portions if they were wrapped in plastic wrap first than if I put the meat directly into the Tilia bags. Any suggestions for other ways to do this?
Sure, you can wrap them in plastic wrap first. Am copying George Shirley on this -- he's a Tilia faithful -- you'll find him at r.f.preserving.
Quoted message said:
rona
-- -Barb, <www.jamlady.eboard.com> An update on 6/27/04.
I have a Tilia Foodsaver but so far, I've only used it for cheese (I buy big--by Japanese standards--blocks at Costco, cut them up and Tilia them). Today I bought a large amount (by Japanese standards) of ground beef and some ribs and need to divide them up and freeze them. Can I wrap portions in plastic wrap and then Tilia them? Or would that defeat the purpose of using a Tilia? It would be easier for me to remove the portions if they were wrapped in plastic wrap first than if I put the meat directly into the Tilia bags. Any suggestions for other ways to do this?
rona
This is what I would do:
Divide meat into portions (1 pound or whatever works for you), pre-freeze for 1-2 hours to harden up any juices in the meat (so the foodsaver does not try to vacuum out the juice, just the air). Put in foodsaver back, vacuum pack, label/date and freeze.
"Rona Yuthasastrakosol" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
I have a Tilia Foodsaver but so far, I've only used it for cheese (I buy big--by Japanese standards--blocks at Costco, cut them up and Tilia them). Today I bought a large amount (by Japanese standards) of ground beef and some ribs and need to divide them up and freeze them. Can I wrap portions in plastic wrap and then Tilia them? Or would that defeat the purpose of using a Tilia? It would be easier for me to remove the portions if they were wrapped in plastic wrap first than if I put the meat directly into the Tilia bags. Any suggestions for other ways to do this?
rona
I have been using a tillia for quite a while. When in Florida in February last February, I upgraded to a more functional one.
I use it for everything. For ground beef, I make 1/4 lb patties and freeze them on a tray, then vacuum seal them. That way I can use them for burgers or take out 4 for a stew or chili but don't have to thaw a whole pound for 2 burgers.
I've gone off using them for cheese because we go through it so fast anyway and when using the bags in the new machine take up more waste with the way it seals.
Plastic wrapping is fine...won't hurt a thing. Best to tilia portioned meat in their own tilia bags.
If I have leftover pizza (usually square-cut sicilian) that I want to save for a while (because who doesn't need a pizza handy in the freezer?) I'll portion it out and pack it in one long tilia bag. Then when I need some I'll just slice it open, remove the part I need, and seal it again. Leaves me in the end with like an 18-inch bag instead of 3 6-inch ones, which are too small to be used again for anything. And I leave a little space between the portions, so it'll fold up in the freezer.
<replying to my own post rather than wasting bandwidth thanking people individually>
Thanks, all, for the replies! Since it had been done with success, I pre-wrapped the portions before using the Tilia on them. It seems to have worked so far!
rona
-- "Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and they will [censored] upon your computer." -- Bruce Graham
