A method of vacuum packaging food between a first plastic film and a second plastic film using a vacuum packaging apparatus for urging the two plastic films together upon application of a partial vacuum followed by venting to atmosphere, wherein one or both of the two plastic films have an adhesive coating thereon, the method including; forming a tray from the first plastic film such that one or both of the tray and the second plastic film has the adhesive coating thereon, the tray having a floor ; providing an absorbent pad on the floor of the tray ; placing a portion of food on the absorbent pad ; placing the second plastic film on the tray to sandwich the absorbent pad and the portion of food between the plastic films ; characterised by : said forming of the tray comprises forming the floor with at least one channel running in a transverse direction along the tray , and at least one channel running in a longitudinal direction along the tray , said channels intersecting each other so that they are in communication with each other, said channels being formed by a plurality of raised portions of the floor ; forming said channels using a row or a grid of raised portions of the floor of the tray , the raised portions being discrete projections from the floor of the tray , each raised portion having an apex ; providing the absorbent pad on the floor of the tray so that it covers at least one of said channels , wherein the absorbent pad has a smaller area than the portion of food so that it is concealed by the portion of food and so that the portion of food is in contact with the apex of the raised portions of the tray around a perimeter of the absorbent pad to grip the portion of food ; and using the vacuum packaging apparatus to urge the two plastic films together to create a seal therebetween such that an adhesive bond is provided between the plastic film and each apex of the raised portions around the portion of food , wherein a plurality of intersecting ducts are formed between said channels and each of the second plastic film , the absorbent pad , and the portion of food to permit liquid to pass to the absorbent pad . said forming of the tray comprises forming the floor with at least one channel running in a transverse direction along the tray , and at least one channel running in a longitudinal direction along the tray , said channels intersecting each other so that they are in communication with each other, said channels being formed by a plurality of raised portions of the floor ; forming said channels using a row or a grid of raised portions of the floor of the tray , the raised portions being discrete projections from the floor of the tray , each raised portion having an apex ; providing the absorbent pad on the floor of the tray so that it covers at least one of said channels , wherein the absorbent pad has a smaller area than the portion of food so that it is concealed by the portion of food and so that the portion of food is in contact with the apex of the raised portions of the tray around a perimeter of the absorbent pad to grip the portion of food ; and using the vacuum packaging apparatus to urge the two plastic films together to create a seal therebetween such that an adhesive bond is provided between the plastic film and each apex of the raised portions around the portion of food , wherein a plurality of intersecting ducts are formed between said channels and each of the second plastic film , the absorbent pad , and the portion of food to permit liquid to pass to the absorbent pad . <EOS>