Is there a way to successfully inject through, and reseal, vacuum packaging during sous-vide cooking?

[Laurentius]

I'd like to try making a whole pork butt (about 14 pounds) using sous vide per Serious Eats.  My vacuum sealer is a budget unit from FoodSaver, and (a) there are no bags large enough; and (b) the sealing has become undependable, especially over long cooks.

 

After a little research, I've decided to try bathing this monster in its original cryovac packaging.  However, this route seems like it might suffer from not having a rub as it soaks.

 

So here's my question:  Is there a way to inject through the plastic and tape the hole shut without the tape coming off over the 18-24 hours the butt will be under water?

 

I'll rub and then smoke it afterward anyway, but if this would work, why would I not do that?  FYI, I have the requisite needles, syringes and even a "Meat Pump".

 

Has anyone tried this?

 

Thanks 

[AlaMoi]

there are "oven roasting bags" - they will take the temp - squeeze out the air and close as best you can.

the world will not end if it is not a brand name approved SV bag

[gfweb]

There are self sealing tapes that can be pierced and will seal.

 

The older SV threads here mention them.

 

I'll poke around.

 

The alternative is to put it in an unsealed bag that is suspended from the top and just open the bag to add your stuff

Edited Friday at 07:12 PM by gfweb (log)

[KennethT]

Just now, gfweb said:

There are self sealing tapes that can be pierced and will seal.

 

The older SV threads here mention them.

 

I'll poke around.

closed cell foam. I've never used them, but that's what NathanM used to use - but he was using for needle temperature probes which may be thinner than a syringe needle.

[gfweb]

https://www.thermoworks.com/ths-600-470/

 

Here you go

[Laurentius]

30 minutes ago, gfweb said:

https://www.thermoworks.com/ths-600-470/

 

Here you go

Thank you.  I'd seen this product before; I just didn't understand that you apply the tape and then pierce through it and the bag.  Makes sense.

 

Pretty pricey at $27!

Edited Friday at 07:44 PM by Laurentius
More info (log)

[gfweb]

1 hour ago, Laurentius said:

Thank you.  I'd seen this product before; I just didn't understand that you apply the tape and then pierce through it and the bag.  Makes sense.

 

Pretty pricey at $27!

 

Its not being made solely for sous vide.

 

I bet it exists cheaper under another name...like weather stripping?

 

 

Bingo!  https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Closed-cell+foam+tape+with+adhesive+backing

Edited Friday at 08:57 PM by gfweb (log)

[Laurentius]

55 minutes ago, gfweb said:

 

Its not being made solely for sous vide.

 

I bet it exists cheaper under another name...like weather stripping?

 

 

Bingo!  https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Closed-cell+foam+tape+with+adhesive+backing

 

Yeah, as long as it stays stuck...

[AlaMoi]

 

there's a tetra-gazillion people who do "boil in a bag" without the "SV Hangups"

the one and only 'thing' about SV is maintaining a constant temp.

and oh boy yes there are zillions of options to achieve that . . . .

[gfweb]

2 hours ago, Laurentius said:

 

Yeah, as long as it stays stuck...

Easy enough to test. 

 

Im sure Nathanm bought something already extant. Id be surprised if he hasnt named it somewhere on eG

[Laurentius]

2 hours ago, gfweb said:

Easy enough to test. 

 

OK, do a full Prime packer brisket and tell me what tape holds...

[TdeV]

Also, the store plastic packaging is not intended for heat, and might behave poorly. Possibly also imparting undesirable chemicals.

[gfweb]

11 hours ago, Laurentius said:

 

OK, do a full Prime packer brisket and tell me what tape holds...

 

If you thought about it, you'd probably realize that a test of the tape does not require a brisket.

 

You are on your own now, my friend.

 

[dcarch]

I am sure many of you can remember, a famous chef sous vided a whole pig, in a plastic garbage bag.

 

dcarch

[Laurentius]

55 minutes ago, gfweb said:

If you thought about it, you'd probably realize

No need to be snide.  If you thought about it, you'd realize that these subprimals, even cryovac'd, expand over long cooks.  This morning, in fact, I took a 14-pound pork butt out of the bath after 20 hours, and the bag was significantly inflated/pressurized.  I'd just like to know whether Brand X foam tape will hold the seal under these conditions.  Testing the tape on, e.g., a bag of 3 diced carrots cooked for an hour isn't a meaningful test. 

[btbyrd]

I would see if it fits in a 2 gallon freezer zippie. That is my goto for large cuts. ChefSteps used to recommend Glad white garbage bags for cooking suckling pigs, but that was four years ago and I don’t know if the formula has changed.

[gfweb]

55 minutes ago, Laurentius said:

No need to be snide.  If you thought about it, you'd realize that these subprimals, even cryovac'd, expand over long cooks.  This morning, in fact, I took a 14-pound pork butt out of the bath after 20 hours, and the bag was significantly inflated/pressurized.  I'd just like to know whether Brand X foam tape will hold the seal under these conditions.  Testing the tape on, e.g., a bag of 3 diced carrots cooked for an hour isn't a meaningful test. 

 

 

So fill the carrot bag with water.  This is not difficult especially since NathanM has already done the work for you...right here  in this site.  Did you ever look up his posts?

 

I love it when a poster gets an attitude and then says "no need to be snide".

 

 

[AlaMoi]

..."recommend Glad white garbage bags for cooking suckling pigs..."

 

a SV apparatus big enough to do a sucking pig . . . would be a wonder to behold . . .

[KennethT]

14 minutes ago, AlaMoi said:

..."recommend Glad white garbage bags for cooking suckling pigs..."

 

a SV apparatus big enough to do a sucking pig . . . would be a wonder to behold . . .

bathtub

[AlaMoi]

having had SpanFerkel suckling pig at a retirement party in Bavaria . . . yeah, bath tub would be a starting point  . . .

[weinoo]

Back "in the day," when my friends were doing "ghetto" (for want of a better term) sous vide, with repurposed Poly Sci circulators, the Coleman coolers certainly could have handled a smallish suckling pig.

[TdeV]

I thought I read/saw something about Heston Blumenthal using a bathtub for a pig in the early sous vide days . . .

[btbyrd]

You can use a large rotomolded cooler and a Joule with the big clip. Cut a closed cell foam yoga mat to serve as a “lid” and cut down on evaporation (or just use plastic wrap).

[btbyrd]

 

[Bernie]

On 7/27/2024 at 4:56 AM, Laurentius said:

I'd like to try making a whole pork butt (about 14 pounds) using sous vide per Serious Eats.  My vacuum sealer is a budget unit from FoodSaver, and (a) there are no bags large enough; and (b) the sealing has become undependable, especially over long cooks.

 

After a little research, I've decided to try bathing this monster in its original cryovac packaging.  However, this route seems like it might suffer from not having a rub as it soaks.

 

So here's my question:  Is there a way to inject through the plastic and tape the hole shut without the tape coming off over the 18-24 hours the butt will be under water?

 

I'll rub and then smoke it afterward anyway, but if this would work, why would I not do that?  FYI, I have the requisite needles, syringes and even a "Meat Pump".

 

Has anyone tried this?

 

Thanks 

Slightly off topic but might help 🙂

I use rolls to make bags. Do a search on ebay (or amazon) for "Food Vacuum Sealer Bags Rolls 12-30cmx500cm for Sous Vide & Storage" You then make bags of any size.

Also after the food saver has finished, don't remove the bag wait a few minutes and hit "seal" again.

If your food saver is faulty (doesn't seal or vacuum properly) the plastic inside may have cracked (look really carefully for hair line cracks particularly along where the heating/sealer is).

I actually had a small crack and took it apart to find the crack was obviously a manufacturing problem and was sealed with some sort of silicon compound which had dried out.

There were three more small cracks also sealed the same way. Not good for a rather pricey bit of gear. I will NEVER buy a Foodsaver gear again. I use one from ALDI and it works fine.

You need also to check if the original packaging has those absorbent pads to mop up the juices. They (and their contents) may not take kindly to long temperatures, or may change and impart other flavors or smells.