We cryo a lot and it is brilliant. We have a Sunbeam our daughter bought us for Xmas. This time we cryoed pumkin to see how it went but have not opened it yet just for an experiment. It still looks good and that was three weeks ago.

They say meat stays good in the fridge for about four weeks but we freeze ours and thaw as necessary as we have that option.

I know a lady who cuts her avocado and cryos it and she told me it is perfect.

I do stews and the like, only make sure you partly freeze them to crunchy freeze if they have a lot of liquid or it will suck out as you seal.

We will be using ours a lot more now we have given it a fair go.

The butcher we found in Kunnanurra a month or so ago, was out of town somewhere. I will see if I can find the name of it, it is a wholesale one next to Wicked Campers. So if you google Wicked, the address is next door to it in an industrial type place.

Firstly we went to the butcher in the Woolies Plaza and he wanted 24 hrs notice and $1  a bag to do it so we went to this other one we had found by googling. When we went to see him, he was very busy (Plaza one had no customers) and we asked him if he could. He asked for a couple of hours to get it done as he had orders he was getting out so we toddled off and came back three hours later and it was done. He did them up in two person serves for us and we had the last of the meat the other day, beautiful. Highly recommend him guys, he does not serve you inferior meat in any way.

Firefly....
When you have cryovacced something such as that piece of pumpkin, and you use part of it, do you re-seal the bag or do it again with a new one?
We have one of those machines bought at a caravan show, and havent really used it except for a few tests, still havent decided whether its worth taking in the caravan.

Hi Grumpy,

Just a side line if I may, it looks to me that you may be a Vietnam Vet - what unit were you with, and where are you travelling at the moment?

Pejay

Thanks for the replies on the cryovac subject...interesting,

but another gadget to carry but could be one of the best things.

Have to see how much they cost assume most brands abt same.

Then ongoing just the plastic wrap, available at camping places ?

-- Edited by countryroad on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 11:52:37 AM

Thanks for answers...might watch out for Aldi advert in the letterbax

Ahhh now thats an idea, never thought about ebay for the bags, thanks for that.

BigW have a small handheld one that runs on batteries or AC for around $30

The Bags are quite large and reuable, ideal for one or more meals although I don't think they would hold a joint.

The food lasts for ages, better in the freezer or fridge --- when I first  got mine I put some bread in it and just put the bread in a cupard --- forgot all about it but around 2 mths later the bread was still o/k. ---- bit squashed though

cheers
Coyotte

How timely is this thread. We were just talking about cryovac machines this evening, saw the sunbeam one in the local paper.

For those of you who have used a cryovac machine, two questions, example, piece of rump steak (for his benefit) how long can it be stored in fridge, how long in freezer, bearing in mind that freezer is not Deep Freeze. I think my other question has been answered - you obviously can cryo veggies - but do you have to blanch them first.

Ah, just thought of another question, crossing borders interstate with frozen veggies, cryo veggies, preserved veggies - any thoughts, any problems, in particular that "fruit fly exclusion zone"?

Thanks Linda. Amazing how a dotted line on the map makes a no go zone for fruit & veg. that is the other thing we discussed this evening, when coming close to those borders, just cook everything up into stewed fruit or veggies - then if cryo'ed shouldd be OK. I have become adept at making tomato salsa during home bumber crops - and planning on sundrying as much as possible this summer in prep for next year's adventure.

Aware of honey, with the hessian bag issue, dog sleeps on "stretcher" which has "custom" made hessian cover on it. Do you think this is an issue?

How can I survive the next 10 months?

I know this is dumb, but thats me. People seem to be recommending that casseroles, etc., be frozen before being cryovaced - can we do this and then just store them in the fridge? We don't have a freezer as such. I always thought once something that had been frozen was thawed in the fridge, it had to be used. Sorry, but I'm totally confused.

Should have gone to Anaconda while we were up your way DM.  Got one in Big W for around $50 (I think) with some bags included but can't find a Big W that stocks supplies of bags down here.

Ma, in NSW they aree in Penrith, Moore Park & Auburn

That is exactly why I finally decided on the one I bought, no need to be in Caravan Park for power or run the genny just to cryo, no hassle in running out of batteries - even though we have some vartas & recharger. I am, however, going to buy a spare, just in case it gets dropped, squashed or similar

I will check out Big W next time I am there to see what their bags are like - if they would work with the anaconda pump - they might be cheaper (not that I am complaining about the price of them)