Foodsaver

[pam95]

Which one to buy? We are looking to buy meats in bulk and use the foodsaver to divide and freeze them. But there are so many models, and I'm not sure which one to buy?? Also anyone know where I can find a deal on one? TIA!

 

[LoriNSC]

Keep checking foodsaver.com. Before Christmas they gave out a coupon code & I got mine for $25 including tax & shipping. It's not the most expensive one (I think the list price was 79.99 on their site) but it's awesome.

 

[KibbyCat]

My Target currently has one on Clearance. Has refills of the laminating sheets as well.

 

[sherry7]

I'm not familiar with the current models (mine is a few years old), but some of them have a little port that you can put a suction hose in and use a jar sealer. Like this: http://www.foodsaver.com/Product.aspx?id=c&pid=270

This allows you to vacuum seal things like pasta, rice, beans, cereal, etc using 1 quart or 2 quart wide mouth canning jars.

 

[hollypoast]

We have one that I never use. Maybe we should trade... got anything you want to get ride of ?

 

[earljam]

I bought mine at tuesday morning, I've also seen good deals on ebay.

 

[pam95]

We have one that I never use.

May I ask why? Just trying to make an informed decision.

 

[hollypoast]

May I ask why? Just trying to make an informed decision.

Sure, it was just one of those kitchen appliances that we were all excited about when we got it and then found we really didn't need. We also buy in bulk (Costco) but still go through food from the freezer fast enough that we really don't need to vacuum seal it. It just became another step.

We have several kitchen appliances that fall into this category... bread maker, ice cream maker, juicer (just sold this one on eBay), extra attachments for our Kitchen Aide mixer, etc.

It's too bad that we don't live closer to each other because you'd be helping me out by taking it off my hands. It is just taking up space in our basement.

I hope I wasn't being a "debbie downer" by posting my comment.

 

[pam95]

Sure, it was just one of those kitchen appliances that we were all excited about when we got it and then found we really didn't need. We also buy in bulk (Costco) but still go through food from the freezer fast enough that we really don't need to vacuum seal it. It just became another step.

We have several kitchen appliances that fall into this category... bread maker, ice cream maker, juicer (just sold this one on eBay), extra attachments for our Kitchen Aide mixer, etc.

It's too bad that we don't live closer to each other because you'd be helping me out by taking it off my hands. It is just taking up space in our basement.

I hope I wasn't being a "debbie downer" by posting my comment.

Not at all! We also have a lot of kitchen gadgets that fall into that category. Who knows...I might get a foodsaver and then end up saying the same thing in a couple of months!

 

[princessnoelly]

That just made me realize we have 2 of these in the garage! I bought them several years ago for Christmas presents (tuesday morning). Well, SIL made me so mad right before Christmas that I have NEVER given her a present since. My parents got it and decided it would be too much work (used theirs as a wedding gift) and mine is still there.
I'm going to get one of them out and try it. But, like PP, it seems like one more kitchen thing I won't use.
What does everyone use them for? Do they really work better than a zip lock in the freezer? What do you put in the canisters?

 

[Kycha]

I have a Reynolds handi vac. It is hand held and runs on batteries. Takes up a lot less space in the kitchen too. The bags come in quart and gallon sizes. Unfortunately, Reynolds discontinued selling these. You used to be able to buy them in Walmarts and regular grocery stores. Now Reynolds has gone into business with Debbie Meyer(you know, the Green Bag lady) and she sells the handi vac and bags on HSN. For under $20 you get the handi vac and 23 quart size bags. I buy all my meat in bulk and the handivac works perfectly for me. And another tip, Ziploc makes a hand held vacuum sealer and bags too that you can buy at the grocery store. But it is a hand pump which I'm not interested in. But you can use the Ziploc bags on the Reynolds handi vac. HTH!

http://www.reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/handi_vac/en/info_page/where_to_buy.asp

http://www.hsn.com/cnt/search/searc...ays=&minprice=&maxprice=&srchCatNm=&o=esearch

 

[Muushka]

Put me in the group that bought it and does not use it. My BIL swore that it was the best thing ever and I believed him.

Right now we have some pretty expensive cheese that I should probably store half of in the foodsaver system, but honestly I cannot be bothered to drag the thing out and seal the cheese!

 

[C.Ann]

I have a Reynolds handi vac. It is hand held and runs on batteries. Takes up a lot less space in the kitchen too. The bags come in quart and gallon sizes. Unfortunately, Reynolds discontinued selling these. You used to be able to buy them in Walmarts and regular grocery stores. Now Reynolds has gone into business with Debbie Meyer(you know, the Green Bag lady) and she sells the handi vac and bags on HSN. For under $20 you get the handi vac and 23 quart size bags. I buy all my meat in bulk and the handivac works perfectly for me. And another tip, Ziploc makes a hand held vacuum sealer and bags too that you can buy at the grocery store. But it is a hand pump which I'm not interested in. But you can use the Ziploc bags on the Reynolds handi vac. HTH!

http://www.reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/handi_vac/en/info_page/where_to_buy.asp

http://www.hsn.com/cnt/search/searc...ays=&minprice=&maxprice=&srchCatNm=&o=esearch

So are you saying that if one were to purchase the handi vac, once they ran out of bags they could use Ziploc bags instead?

And just how well does this item work? Does it really get all the air out; prevent all freezer burn or freeze crystals; etc.? Any problems for someone with hand weakness?

It might be worth the investment for me (assuming your responses are all positive) because when I'm at the lake I freeze quite a bit of food.. The reasonable grocery stores are just too far away to make weekly trips.. I prefer to do a big stock up trip when I can - then another one a couple of months later..

TIA..

 

[Kycha]

So are you saying that if one were to purchase the handi vac, once they ran out of bags they could use Ziploc bags instead?

And just how well does this item work? Does it really get all the air out; prevent all freezer burn or freeze crystals; etc.? Any problems for someone with hand weakness?

It might be worth the investment for me (assuming your responses are all positive) because when I'm at the lake I freeze quite a bit of food.. The reasonable grocery stores are just too far away to make weekly trips.. I prefer to do a big stock up trip when I can - then another one a couple of months later..

TIA..

Yes, I have used the Ziploc brand bags with my handi vac and they work fine. I use mine all the time and it works especially well on meats. No freezer burn or ice crystals at all. It creates a perfect vacuum seal.

As far as using it if you have hand weakness, you'll have to be the judge. To get the vacuum seal, simply set the suction tip onto the bag's air valve and press the button. Make sure the bag is on a flat surface to allow good suction. You may have to apply slight pressure to get the proper suction. And it only takes a few seconds to get a vacuum seal. But you will have to press the button the whole time. And if you are doing up a lot of meat at once you might have a problem with weak hands.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes, I have used the Ziploc brand bags with my handi vac and they work fine. I use mine all the time and it works especially well on meats. No freezer burn or ice crystals at all. It creates a perfect vacuum seal.

As far as using it if you have hand weakness, you'll have to be the judge. To get the vacuum seal, simply set the suction tip onto the bag's air valve and press the button. Make sure the bag is on a flat surface to allow good suction. You may have to apply slight pressure to get the proper suction. And it only takes a few seconds to get a vacuum seal. But you will have to press the button the whole time. And if you are doing up a lot of meat at once you might have a problem with weak hands.

Thanks so much.. It sounds like this might be something worth spending money on now - to save money in the long run..

By any chance do you remember how much the Zip lock bags cost? And are there various sizes? Sorry about all the questions, but it's nice to be able to ask someone who actually has one of these and uses it frequently..

 

[Kycha]

Thanks so much.. It sounds like this might be something worth spending money on now - to save money in the long run..

By any chance do you remember how much the Zip lock bags cost? And are there various sizes? Sorry about all the questions, but it's nice to be able to ask someone who actually has one of these and uses it frequently..

No problem. Glad I can help. I can't remember what the exact price for the bags were. I think they were $3.49 or $3.79. And that is for both the 12 pk quart size or 8 pk gallon size. Those are the only 2 bag sizes I've seen. I can usually find coupons for the Ziploc brand bags too. Which helps the budget. Also, I have heard other people reuse their bags. I don't do that. But if I did, I wouldn't want to put raw chicken in a bag that had raw hamburger in it.

 

[C.Ann]

No problem. Glad I can help. I can't remember what the exact price for the bags were. I think they were $3.49 or $3.79. And that is for both the 12 pk quart size or 8 pk gallon size. Those are the only 2 bag sizes I've seen. I can usually find coupons for the Ziploc brand bags too. Which helps the budget. Also, I have heard other people reuse their bags. I don't do that. But if I did, I wouldn't want to put raw chicken in a bag that had raw hamburger in it.

Thanks again.. Sounds reasonable, so I think I'll check into it..