Vacuum-sealing bread (or sandwiches)
Posted by Busy-Bed-2198@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 23 comments
My family and I (my girlfriend, my brother, and my young cousin) are traveling to Disneyland Paris soon. I’m thinking about bringing our own food for the two days we’ll be at the parks, mainly to save money and avoid long restaurant queues. Plus, we’re going there for the rides, so the food isn't really a priority for us.
In my city, there’s a shop that sells Mickey-shaped bread rolls, and I’d love to make sandwiches with them to add a bit of extra magic to the trip—especially for my cousin (even though she’s 11 and doesn't mind skipping the Disney restaurants).
Our schedule is a bit tricky: we travel to Paris early Friday morning and will be in the parks on Saturday and Sunday. This means I’d have to buy the bread on Thursday at the latest, and the sandwiches would be eaten on Saturday and Sunday. I usually freeze bread and thaw it the same day, but that’s not an option here since we won’t have access to a freezer from Friday to Saturday.
I was thinking about vacuum-sealing them—maybe sealing the bread while it's frozen so it doesn't get crushed by the pressure. Has anyone tried vacuum-sealing bread (or sandwiches) and leaving them at room temperature or in the fridge for 2–3 days? Do they hold up well, or do they lose their texture?
NoHuckleberry2543@reddit
I've kept sandwiches frozen for a while, but not just in the fridge for days. Bread will mold.
thirtyfourdoubled@reddit
I think you will be far better off buying fresh bread and sandwich stuff in Paris on Friday on your way to the hotel. I've also heard that some of the bakery items in Disneyland Paris are free after 5pm because they are no longer "fresh," so you could look into this to save $ instead.
Myspys_35@reddit
I dont think vacuum sealing this will help you in any way for this use
Get a mickey mouse cookie cutter and just get stuff locally. Fresher and tastier plus you dont need to worry about rules depending on where you are coming from. Another alternative is dependent on how close you are and how you are traveling - there are cooler options to keep things cold
Items that dont req. refrigeration incl. mature cheese, summer sausage, pickles, real butter (kept separate until use), hummus, nutella, jam, ajvar, mayo in individual packs, etc.
bondinchas@reddit
Does it have to be sandwiches?
Pies (fruit and meat), sausage rolls, cake, most cheeses, tomatoes, salad, will all keep in poly bags for a few days. Bread is particularly problematic because of the high air and moisture, low fat content.
I always make my work lunch from slices of frozen bread, butter and make them straight out of the freezer and put in my sandwich box frozen. They're nicely defrosted and not dry 5 hours later, better them unfrozen. But I wouldn't want to keep them for more than one day.
So why not take some frozen bread with a freezer block for the first day, and have more durable items for the following days.
TacTurtle@reddit
Vacuum sealed bread = smooshed pancake.
infinitum3d@reddit
Great advice!
fenuxjde@reddit
I've tried buying rolls in bulk and vacuum sealing them to freeze.
It does NOT work.
Bread is mostly air. You will get Mickey shaped pancakes if you try this.
Busy-Bed-2198@reddit (OP)
I get it. I've seen people freeze their bread so it goes temporarily hard and vacuum-seal them while frozen so they don't get squished. Have you tried this?
TacTurtle@reddit
Why not make pita bread sandwiches with hummus and veggies that will keep in the hotel fridge a couple days?
Transport them with a couple frozen water bottles in a cooler bag or similar ... keeps the food cold + drinking water once it melts.
fenuxjde@reddit
I did. Now it's possible it's because they were rolls, or because my vacuum sealer is strong, but it did not work for me.
Revolutionary-Half-3@reddit
If the sealer pulls hard enough even frozen rolls will have the air pulled out of them. Soon as they thaw out, outside air pressure will squash them flat, may even do it slowly while frozen.
Unleavened bread, tortillas, products that don't have much room to squish are the only bread products I'd try to vacuum seal. 14.7 pounds per square inch doesn't play around, anything compressible will be.
smsff2@reddit
You can't store sandwiches at room temperature. May I suggest a cooler and an ice pack?
Busy-Bed-2198@reddit (OP)
Yeah I could definetely leave them in the hotel room fridge! Do refrigerated vacuum-seald sandwiches hold up well for about a couple days??
TacTurtle@reddit
No, vacuum sealing will cause the bread to mush down into a thin disappointing layer like someone sat on it.
smsff2@reddit
I think sandwiches can keep in the fridge for a couple of days.
BookLuvr7@reddit
You can if they're PB&J or PB& honey. Otherwise no, not usually.
grislyfind@reddit
Buy buns and a block of cheese, or a sausage that doesn't need refrigeration, and a small jar of pickles or condiments.
Oldebookworm@reddit
Why not just get bread at a nearby grocery store/bakery when you get there?
Interconventional@reddit
You could just cut some bread into Mickey Mouse shape and not worry about all this plus get fresh sandwiches, or take the bread separately not vacuum sealed
SheistyPenguin@reddit
Honestly, this sounds like it has a high fuss factor for something to juggle on a vacation.
Fluffy bread doesn't keep well, especially if prepared into sandwiches and exposed to the moisture, bacteria etc that come from the ingredients and from your hands.
You'll have a little more success if you keep the ingredients separate until the day you will eat them, and you pack them in a cooler with ice packs.
Honestly I would just pack the bread separately with some shelf-stable spreads (PB, Nutella, etc) and prepare it same day. If you want the Mickey effect, bring a Cookie cutter from Amazon.
mopbuvket@reddit
You can seal the bags without vacuuming depending on model. Will do fine for short term storage
halcyonforeveragain@reddit
My thoughts are the vacuum will squish the bread,
it still has to be kept cold, And for such a short term packing it's a waste over freezer ziplock bags
slogive1@reddit
TJ has vacuumed bread that's good for 6 months. Keep in mind it's commercially sealed.