The short answer
- In a sealer like every LAVA V-model, the bag needs an embossed side so the air can be drawn out; smooth bags are for chamber sealers.
- 90 micron for everyday food, 160 micron for bones, game and sharp edges.
- Food-safe PA/PE film without plasticisers or BPA, rated for the freezer and, for sous vide, up to 95 °C.
- Bags for speed, rolls for odd lengths.
Five things that matter
- 1 · An embossed side A sealer like the LAVA V-models draws the air out through the open end of the bag. Fine channels on one side of the film keep a path open to the last corner; a smooth bag collapses and traps air. Smooth bags only work in chamber sealers.
- 2 · The right thickness 90 micron (0.09mm) handles meat, fish, vegetables and meal prep. Bones, game, frozen edges and long storage need 160 micron, which LAVA makes about 75 % thicker than its standard film.
- 3 · A two-layer film PA (polyamide) is the barrier that keeps oxygen out and resists punctures; PE (polyethylene) is the inner layer that melts into the seal. Look for film that's food-contact approved and free of plasticisers and BPA.
- 4 · Rated for your temperatures Freezer storage for years, the microwave, and sous vide: LAVA's R-Vac, RS-Vac, E-Vac and ES-Vac are rated up to 95 °C for up to 2 hours.
- 5 · Bags or rolls Ready-made bags need one seal and suit portions you repeat. Rolls are cut to any length for long or odd-shaped pieces.
Quick choice
| You seal … | Choose |
|---|---|
| Everyday meat, fish, vegetables, meal prep | R-Vac bags or E-Vac rolls, 90µm |
| Bones, game, sharp or frozen edges | RS-Vac bags or ES-Vac rolls, 160µm |
| Coffee and food that should stay dark | K-Vac metallised bags |
| With a chamber sealer | G-Vac smooth bags, 120µm |
| Food you open and close again | Z-Vac zipper bags |
| Beef for dry aging | A-Vac dry-aging bags |
| Smoked fish, cured meat, gift packs | B-Vac black bags, 120µm, black on one side |
| Sous vide over 2 hours above 70 °C, boiling water | H-Vac cooking bags |
From the LAVA bag specifications. Sizes: What size vacuum bag do I need?
Signs of a poor bag
- 1
Thin spotsOn cheap bags the structure is stamped into finished film, which leaves it thinner where it's pressed. LAVA builds the structure into the film instead.
- 2
It loosens in the freezerA bag that's tight on day one and loose after a month lets air in through the film or the seal.
- 3
Smell or tasteFood-safe film is tasteless and odourless; a plastic smell is a warning sign.
Beyond the kitchen
- 1
Documents and photosSealed flat, papers stay dry in a flood, a boat or a shed.
- 2
SilverJewellery and cutlery sealed away from the air tarnish much more slowly.
- 3
Camping and boatingMatches, a first-aid kit, spare socks: dry, compact and easy to find.
LAVA AustraliaOfficial LAVA distributor and vacuum-packaging specialists since 2018.
