Secrets for vaccum packing shrimp with the shell on?

[AKArcher]

Short of using the foam plates sold by Alaska Butcher, anyone have a way to vacuum pack shrimp in the shell (heads off) without the bags being poked by the shells?

[dangus]

I use freezer paper cut to the size of the bag, make sure the slick side is turned inside and seal away. My buddy buys french fry trays at costco, fills 'em and puts another tray on top, then seals. We both have the VacMaster VP210 and it's sweet!!

[Rob B]

I put about 50 tails in a bag and vacuum it full of water. No holes for me.

[alaskabliss]

Alaska Butcher supply also sells a heavy sheeting just for that

[sweepint]

I have for several years just put them in a vacuum bag fill with water and run it throe the chamber vac then freeze. This will protect the shrimp form freezer burning as well. You can not run the bag of water in a regular vacuum sealer it has to be a chamber vacuum

[JR2]

Go to AK Butcher Supply and buy a roll of bone guard. It's a heavy plastic that you can line the inside of your vac bags with to prevent punctures. It's a bit tedious when loading the bags but it works good.

[Ak Bird Brain]

I sandwich them between paper plates

[Swissy]

I just get the bigassed roll of butcher paper at Costco, and if I roll the shrimp 2 times in the paper so it's double thick, I have never had one leak air. I don't bother with the water or other things like that. I had tried paper plates (too much space taken up in freezer) and the foam plates (more expensive and wife developed an allergy to styrofoam)

[AKArcher]

Thanks to all for the ideas!

[potbuilder]

The secret is not to bag them just freeze in a container of water, no holes, no freezer burn and they stay frozen and act like ice gel packs on those long plane rides when going outside !!

[stid2677]

Secrets for vaccum packing shrimp with the shell on?

The secret is not to bag them just freeze in a container of water, no holes, no freezer burn and they stay frozen and act like ice gel packs on those long plane rides when going outside !!

+1,,,best way I have found.

[potbuilder]

+1,,,best way I have found.

Take'em out of the containers and just wrap in saran wrap, takes up less room in the freezer and they keep just as well.

[jrogers]

Yes, I endorse Potbuilders way. I got the square 1qt freezer containers, freeze the shrimp in water, and then after they are frozen remove them from the container with a little warm water and wrap them in saran rap. I then put a set of two of these in an 11" vacuum seal bag and seal them for extra protection. They last all winter this way in perfect condition. I think Steve wrote this method up here a couple of years ago and I started doing that. It works great.

[potbuilder]

Yes, I endorse Potbuilders way. I got the square 1qt freezer containers, freeze the shrimp in water, and then after they are frozen remove them from the container with a little warm water and wrap them in saran rap. I then put a set of two of these in an 11" vacuum seal bag and seal them for extra protection. They last all winter this way in perfect condition. I think Steve wrote this method up here a couple of years ago and I started doing that. It works great.

The plastic containers/molds and freezing in water works great for me, i bet the extra bagging really makes them keep well.

[270ti]

I'm with potbuilder. It's really easy to freeze them in the disposable tupperware type containers. They stack well in the freezer too.