Plastic alternative?

[Sunrise Stalker]

Just wondering if anyone has an alternative to plastic freezer bags? Would baking parchment work?
Seems a shame to have this beautiful organic meat and wrap it in plastic which is then thrown away / degrades.... although I appreciate it's still a lot less packaging than supermarket meat. Thanks

 

[nun_hunter]

Pretty sure when watching MeatEater and other American based hunting videos they often use a type of waxed paper instead.of plastic.

 

[Sunrise Stalker]

Pretty sure when watching MeatEater and other American based hunting videos they often use a type of waxed paper instead.of plastic.

Cool thanks - I'll have a little look see

 

[nun_hunter]

Seems you can buy "Freezer paper" in the UK but need to check if it's wax coated and biodegradable or plastic coated and not.

 

[Sunrise Stalker]

Seems you can buy "Freezer paper" in the UK but need to check if it's wax coated and biodegradable or plastic coated and not.

Ah yes. Also lots of wax paper on ebay etc - I assume they'd be suitable for freezing....

 

[lochty]

I vacuum pack mine, and if you open the bags carefully, you can usually get two or three uses from them. Not perfect, but better than single use.

 

[Zephyrjim]

I vacuum pack mine, and if you open the bags carefully, you can usually get two or three uses from them. Not perfect, but better than single use.

Ah, good idea. I'll try that. Does the join prize apart or do you cut carefully just inside the join

 

[lochty]

Ah, good idea.

Or, if you're using a roll of film and making your own, just make them bigger than you need.

 

[Freeforester]

Just wondering if anyone has an alternative to plastic freezer bags? Would baking parchment work?
Seems a shame to have this beautiful organic meat and wrap it in plastic which is then thrown away / degrades.... although I appreciate it's still a lot less packaging than supermarket meat. Thanks

The wax paper may well be suitable for freezing, but venison isn’t so great, compared to other products. If you aren’t planning on eating all the meat within a fortnight, be aware that unless you’re very careful at the wrapping and freezing stage, you may well find that your cuts can suffer with freezer-burn later, making the meat all but inedible. Lochty’s suggestion is the best, as only vacuum sealing the meat obviates the risk of freezer-burn. If you have bags that are an inch or two deeper than necessary, then with a wee bit of care, a sharp knife or scissors and a steady hand you should be able to make multiple uses of what is otherwise a relatively expensive single use item. Vac pouches for chamber type machines are much less expensive, but the machine is quite a bit more spendy. Needless to say, you’d have to wash out well and dry thoroughly any vac pouch you intend to reuse (which is also an energy/time/effort consideration).

Thus all said, the pragmatist in me points out that the bags have already been made, irrespective of whether you use them or not, once, twice or more times (with each re-use lessening the ‘impact’ of the item). I used to have a customer or two who were similarly concerned about the use of plastic too, but FSA/EHO regs demand their use, though for home consumption you can of course please yourself. They can have other uses outwith another cycle of food freezing later also, which may possibly help soothe the conscience.

 

[Cheviot]

Just wondering if anyone has an alternative to plastic freezer bags? Would baking parchment work?
Seems a shame to have this beautiful organic meat and wrap it in plastic which is then thrown away / degrades.... although I appreciate it's still a lot less packaging than supermarket meat. Thanks

i use these some time = Amazon product ASIN B0B8YNTBDF

 

[DevonRifle]

I do vacuum pack joints and steak and still looking for an eco alternative, however for mince I’ve been using new bags. I’ll try and post a picture.

 

[DevonRifle]

For mince, burgers and sausages my wife just bought these. They have the texture of a food recycling bag. The negatives are that they stick to mince so you have to load them carefully and they have writing on so it doesn’t look as professional if selling.

 

[VSS]

You can get "eco" biodegradable vacuum pack bags. Several of the butcher's sundries suppliers stock them.

 

[wytonpjs]

You can get "eco" biodegradable vacuum pack bags. Several of the butcher's sundries suppliers stock them.

But they do appear to have many limitations……

https://www.nisbets.co.uk/sustainapouch-compostable-vacuum-sealer-rolls-200mm-x-5m-x2/ch952

 

[Paul 600]

Just wondering if anyone has an alternative to plastic freezer bags? Would baking parchment work?
Seems a shame to have this beautiful organic meat and wrap it in plastic which is then thrown away / degrades.... although I appreciate it's still a lot less packaging than supermarket meat. Thanks

I’ve used these for retail purposes and they are received very well. Seal & Fresh Kraft Bags 360 x 300mm Gum Seal – 700

On a side note, you can’t class wild venison as organic. Who knows where and what they have been eating!?

 

[Sunrise Stalker]

I’ve used these for retail purposes and they are received very well. Seal & Fresh Kraft Bags 360 x 300mm Gum Seal – 700

On a side note, you can’t class wild venison as organic. Who knows where and what they have been eating!?

Thanks for the link.
Ah good point. I guess I meant they're not pumped full of growth hormones and anti-biotics like most commercially farmed meat is

 

[DevonRifle]

But they do appear to have many limitations……

https://www.nisbets.co.uk/sustainapouch-compostable-vacuum-sealer-rolls-200mm-x-5m-x2/ch952

They aren’t the ones with a ribbed side (forget what it’s called) to go in a vacuum machine like most of us use or they would have been perfect. Even the price for the bags was comparable. Maybe this style is less costly.

 

[DevonRifle]

Thanks for the link.
Ah good point. I guess I meant they're not pumped full of growth hormones and anti-biotics like most commercially farmed meat is

I know what you mean, I tend to say they’re near organic unless they’ve been eating GM crops.

But then I also say that I have a vegetarian diet; I eat vegetarians!

 

[mikeakc]

I will add my support for reusable freezer bags. I label my joints each time and some of these bags are on there sixth or eighth use with no signs of slowing down.

 

[VSS]

I will add my support for reusable freezer bags. I label my joints each time and some of these bags are on there sixth or eighth use with no signs of slowing down.

Same here, if it's for home consumption.