One of the more modern appliances used in commercial kitchens, vacuum pack machines are nevertheless incredibly useful and can help to reduce waste and improve the efficiency of your kitchen. They work by removing the air and sealing a plastic bag around ingredients, keeping the freshness in and preventing air form getting to the contents.

They are used most in a commercial kitchen to prep ingredients in advance, allowing you to seal in freshness until you need to open and serve. However, they also have a secondary use, which is to seal in ingredients prior to being cooked sous vide in a water bath.

We stock vacuum pack machines in a range of sizes, from small packers for bistros and cafes, to large machines for bigger volumes of ingredients in commercial kitchens. All our machines are top quality and manufactured by tried and trusted brand names. As well as the vacuum pack machine, you’ll also need vacuum pack bags. These are special plastic bags that can be sealed at one end.

There are two main types of vacuum pack machines, known as external and chamber. External vacuum machines feature bags that are sealed on the outside of the machines, with the chamber varieties featuring a cavity which fits the whole bag inside. External machines are more compact and suitable for kitchens where space is at a premium. They are portable and low power, better for occasional use.

If you are going to be using your vacuum pack machines on a daily basis, then it might be a better option to go for a chamber style appliance. These are high capacity, fast and very easy to use. Some models are programmable, which helps to pack more fragile foods that might be susceptible to pressure. Chamber machines can be countertop or free standing, but are generally much larger than the external machines available.

Once sealed in the air-tight bag, they can then be placed in the sous vide machine to cook slowly, or placed in the fridge or freezer to greatly extend the shelf life of the ingredients. Vacuum pack machines can often double or triple the lifespan and freshness of some ingredients, which really helps to increase freshness. They are suitable for use with everything from cooked and raw meat, to fish, bread and even sauces and soups.