Vacuum bags don't seem to seal very well

So, the other day I followed the Joule App's recommendation and dunked a whole unopened package of bacon in my pot of water at 147, and woke up to the beautiful smell of bacon in the morning...wait...what? Why do I smell bacon? It's sealed in plastic, and submerged underwater. The water was also had a yellow tint, and the bag of bacon looked like it had brought on some water. It could had been liquidated fat, but it was a lot. Kind of gross.

I have actually noticed this with vacuum bags as well, especially on long cooks. I tried to do 72 hour short ribs a few months bag, and could smell the meat cooking after a day or two, and the water was changing color. This doesn't seem to be a case of not getting a good seal. I visually inspect every bag, and double or triple seal on top of it.

I also had the bright idea of sealing a magnet in a vac bag and placing it in with veggies to hold them down to the bottom of the bottom....but water got inside the sealed bag and rusted it.

So, to do a more scientific test I took a steak, triple sealed it in a bag, and then weighed it. Tossed it in the bath for 2 hours and then weighed it again. It was heavier, not by much, but it was.

Now, it is possible this could have something to do with the off brand (but highly rated) vac bags I get off amazon, but it happens with OEM sealed food (like the bacon) too.

Is this "normal"?

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Brandon_Byrd_40557

Some aroma/flavor molecules are small enough to penetrate plastic. This is especially true of anything smoked. I cold smoke pork belly, brisket, ribs, and a bunch of other stuff before doing SV and you can always smell it in the water after a few hours. The same is true of pre-packaged bacon. "Ordinary" non-smoke flavor molecules aren't as strong-smelling, small, or apparent as smoke is, but the bath will take on a bit of a meat smell if you're going for long cook times. I've never noticed the water changing color though.

For reference, I've noticed this with Foodsaver bags on cheap-o edge sealers as well as with Vacmaster bags using a chamber vacuum sealer (which is what I've been using exclusively for the past few years).

Cory_S_404974

I can buy that, but water getting in the magnet bag, and the steak weighing more than when the cooks started shows it is more than just aroma escaping.

torridice_498271

There is moisture in the veggies. It might not have come from the outside in, so the magnet could have oxidized from that. I also notice a meat smell on long cooks, but like Brandon I have not had the water change color. I use vacmaster bags with a foodsaver. The bacon was in the store packaging? Maybe it wasn't a material or seal that can handle the SV. Maybe repack it next time? How much heavier was the steak? Did you weigh it more than once to see if there is any measurement variation? Probably not much of any, but just a thought.

Cory_S_404974

It was about half an ounce heavier. Scale is very accurate...I use it to measure coffee every morning. The magnet was sealed in its own vac bag, I tried using it on its own in water at 180 as a test, it brought a good bit of water.

Bacon was in the store vac packaging as shown in the jolue app. If it can keep air out, you'd think it could keep water out

torridice_498271

As crazy as it sounds water molecules are actually one of the smallest ones out there. Think o2 and h2o. Maybe a little can get through? Yea, idk. I'm as confused as you are.

As for the store packs I usually just always repack because I don't want to have to worry about it

wolfiegirl

You didn't mention what kind of vac bags and sealing system you're using. As to the bacon, was it in the commercial packaging or had you repackaged? Seems if you're having a sealing issue you either have a poor quality sealer, vac bag or both.

Cory_S_404974

I've been using these, with a foodsaver. I usually clip the sealed part above the water line.

https://www.amazon.com/FoodVacBags-Storage-Commercial-presealed-inch-per-inch/dp/B00DSST17O/ref=sr_1_16?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1489446261&sr=1-16&keywords=foodsaver+bags

fisher23

I used those same bags for years and never had a problem. I wonder if you are getting a solid seal? I started having problems with my edge sealer (seal a meal type) and I changed the foam gasket. Supposedly they should be changed once a year to make a firm seal. That was one of my excuses to buy a chamber vacuum.

Cory_S_404974

Hmm, It is possible it isn't sealing well. Visually it looks like it is though. I am not crazy about my sealer...it's a little too big brother with how automated it is.

I have this one

https://www.amazon.com/FoodSaver-Automatic-Sealing-Retractable-Handheld/dp/B00DI342B4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1489520471&sr=8-3&keywords=foodsaver+v5800