Packaging experts are always on the lookout for ways to better preserve food products for a longer, safer shelf life. Vacuum sealing – where oxygen is removed from the package – has long been a go-to preservation method. But a step further is gas flushing with gas or gases to further extend product shelf life.

What is a gas flush vacuum sealer?

All vacuum sealers remove oxygen from the bag, but a gas flush vacuum sealer, like our AV-AVN Vacuum Sealer with Gas Purge, replaces the oxygen with a gas, often nitrogen, which makes up the majority of the air we breathe. The flush cycle fills the vacuum bag with gas and expels the oxygen. From there, the sealer can vacuum out some or all of the gas or leave a pillowed look similar to a bag of potato chips.

By lowering oxygen and increasing nitrogen or another specific gas, oxidation in metals is reduced, and food spoilage is delayed.

This pillowing process protects sensitive foods, extends shelf life by limiting spoilage from air exposure, and prevents freezer burn, making it ideal for delicate items like chips, pastries, soft cheeses, and fresh fish

The vacuum sealer machines we sell come with a 20” to 50” wide sealing bar and can seal a variety of bag materials, sizes, and thicknesses.

Other features of the vacuum sealer with gas purge include:

• It is made in the USA
• Seals up to 360 packages per hour
• It comes with a stainless steel nozzle.
• Has a seal width of ¼.”
• Ideal for food, medical, metals, electronics, and other applications
• A 120-volt system will work with a standard 110 plug-in
• The machine is in stock and ready to ship
• It is small enough – 28”x10”x7” -- that it can be easily moved
• Has a foot pedal and a cable to free up your hands
• Two-year limited warranty

The sealer requires an external air tank and a separate tank for a gas purge. The air tank and compressor should be at least 15 gallons or larger. Gas bottles can be purchased locally once the sealer arrives.

A vacuum filter is required for wrapping anything with small particles or liquids. This includes meats, cannabis, herbs, flour, soups, and many more. Purchasing a machine without a filter will void the warranty if juices or small particles are drawn through the machine. The filter can be emptied and cleaned as needed, and does not require purchasing additional filters over time. 

Other Frequently Asked Questions include:

• Will these machines work with any bag size?

The bag size is limited to the length of the sealing bar. If you purchase the 20” vacuum sealer, you can use bags up to 18 inches wide, allowing some room to line the bag up. Likewise, the 50” sealer cannot take bags wider than 48 inches. The length of the bags has no limits, except for the machine's location and whether you have a support structure to hold the bag up. Using a work tray helps hold bags up during the sealing process.

• What is the thickest bag that can be used?

The vacuum sealer with gas purge can seal smooth or embossed bags up to 8 mils thick. We recommend a 6-mil thickness for regular use and keeping spare sealing kits on hand when sealing at 8-mil thickness.

• How much longer will a vacuum sealer extend the shelf life of my products?

A vacuum sealer with gas purge can help with preserving food and other items for as long as possible. For example, the normal freezer life in the original packaging of most meats is 4 to 12 months. With vacuum-sealed packaging that lasts 2 to 3 years. Other examples include:

• • In original wrapping, lobster and crab (de-shelled) keep 2 to 4 months in the freezer. When vacuum sealed, that extends to 12 months.
  • Frozen bread, bagels, and pastries typically last 6 months, but vacuum sealing can extend their shelf life to 3 years.
  • The normal shelf life for ground coffee in the freezer is 6 months. The coffee can be kept fresh for up to 2 years when vacuum-sealed.

The normal shelf life of foods at room temperature can also be extended with vacuum sealing. For example, grains can be kept for 1 year in normal packaging. That extends up to 8 years with vacuum sealing. Other examples include:

• • Brown rice can be kept in the pantry in its original bag for 6 months. When vacuum-packed, it can last up to 10 years.
  • Cereal (uncooked) usually lasts up to 6 months, but can keep up to 2 years with vacuum packaging.
  • Ground coffee can sit on the shelf for up to 2 weeks, but with vacuum packaging, it can stay fresh for up to 5 months.

• How quickly can I get parts?

Purchasing parts for your gas-purge vacuum sealer is simple and quick. Most parts are shipped within 48 hours. Contact one of our technicians for help getting the right part.

We do not have parts for purchase online because we want to ensure the proper parts are provided. Many machines look like the products we offer, but they are often manufactured in other countries and use different parts. We only provide service and parts for machines we sell.

U.S. Packaging & Wrapping offers high-quality vacuum sealers with gas purge, maintenance parts, and troubleshooting support for your machine. For your packaging needs, visit our website at uspackagingandwrapping.com or contact us by phone at 1-800-441-5090 or by email at [email protected]