Retort Pouches Offer Many Advantages To Small Food Businesses

Anyone in the food-service business, from the owner of a five-star restaurant to a street vendor

, knows that one of the greatest impacts on his bottom line is spoilage. In view of this, it makes sense to utilize any tool available that will eliminate this problem. One of the most affordable and money-saving tools currently available is a vacuum sealing machine. Basically, this method of preservation prevents oxidation by excluding air from food, thus avoiding the growth of mold and bacteria and preventing the freezer burn, drying and shriveling caused by exposure to air and moisture.

Aside from preventing undue spoilage, small businesses can save time and money in other ways through use of a vacuum packing machine. For example, many family-owned restaurants have discovered the benefits of doing their own butchering, purchasing a whole side of beef, breaking it down, and sealing and freezing the parts for use when needed.

Caterers can use this packaging method to keep fresh-frozen samples of their specialties ready for tasting by potential customers, while delis, pizza parlors, home bakeries and candy makers can vacuum-seal excess product to sell at a later date. Many restaurant kitchens cook basic ingredients like stock, sauces and gravies in large quantities, then store them in vacuum-sealed bags for use when needed.

Aside from these advantages, the ability to buy in bulk and prepare dishes in advance is both efficient and cost-effective. Additionally, many restaurant owners and caterers are more often patronizing small cooperative farms and farmer's markets for locally grown produce, and/or growing their own herbs and produce. The short shelf life of products that are home grown or locally purchased is a downside, however. Nevertheless, "locavores" are lured to eateries that feature this produce, making vacuum packing for food preservation yet another benefit of owning this equipment.

Another recent packaging innovation is the retort pouch (which, contrary to popular belief, does not hold a kangaroo's snappy comebacks). This type of container consists of several layers of laminated materials, made to stand up to extreme conditions such as high heat, falling, bending, freezing and cooking. Retort pouches are easy to open and resealable; plus, food stored in them can last up to five years without refrigeration. Until recently, the largest consumer of these packages was the Army, which packed servicemen's field rations in the pouches because they are lightweight, easy to transport and can take a beating. Many products are now substituting retort pouches for metal cans, notably moist pet food and tuna. But there are other pre-cooked foods, from soups to sauces, that are now available in supermarkets everywhere in these pouches. Small food operations would do well to investigate the retort pouch as an adjunct to vacuum packing machines, as both are very consumer-friendly packaging methods that can give sales and distribution a boost in the bottom line.

by: Stephen Daniels

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