Foodsaver recommendations

[havaneselover]

I'm considering getting a foodsaver--mainly so I can buy larger packages of lean ground beef at Costco and make patties and break the rest up into 1 lb. packages for tacos and spaghetti. I probably also would use it for boneless chicken breast which I often take to work for lunch.

Any recommendations? I have a Costco membership and Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons. I know Amazon also has a number of units.

 

[Judique]

I'm considering getting a foodsaver--mainly so I can buy larger packages of lean ground beef at Costco and make patties and break the rest up into 1 lb. packages for tacos and spaghetti. I probably also would use it for boneless chicken breast which I often take to work for lunch.

Any recommendations? I have a Costco membership and Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons. I know Amazon also has a number of units.

I already do what you are planning but I just use the hefty bags and I usually use the meats within one month.

I've looked at food saver machines quite often and just can't get into it.

Also, Costco chicken breasts are already packaged separately in six packs, so easy to manage.

 

[manning]

If you don't want to get the machine (at Costco cost is around $149 go to Target (may sell them all over) get foodsaver vacuum pump for around $19 and use their ziplock bags.

It works.

IE. we vacuum sealed angel food cake. Used it 6 mounths later and it was as fresh as the day we bought it.

There are cakes sold at Costco (The company is Strawberry something). They are sold at holidays. We buy several, vacuum pack and freeze them for later. Shelf life is several weeks normally. Last year we bought one just before Xmas with a use date the middle of January. WE vacuum sealed it and used it 6 months later. Just as fresh as the day we bought it.

The claim is food will keep 5 times longer.

 

[justlook3]

I have the V2244. I bought it at Target a couple of years ago with a double stack of coupons (I can't remember exactly how much I paid). Right now the Foodsaver site has that model for 79.99 with a starter kit of bags. Where I live the best deals on meat are always on the super value packs. And as there are only 2 of us, our freezer gets a workout. The bags can be expensive but Costco runs deals on them from time to time. To us it's worth it, the meats come out fresher, you can tell what's in them, never freezer burn. And they seem to defrost quicker as well.
Now the Costco chicken breasts I do leave in their packaging and put inside traditional freezer bags. But most everything else I seal.

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

I have foodsaver bought at sams club (where I also buy the refills). I use it for meat it works wonderful also use to reseal (with vacuum off) in original bag chips cereal etc. Not always but like chex to save for more chex mix use half at thanksgiving reseal then use the rest at Christmas. Also blocks of cheese keeps way better make the bag big then just reseal same bag just smaller each time. I love mine I agree no freezer burn meat anymore.

 

[LJSquishy]

My recommendation is to not buy a Foodsaver unless you're not planning on cycling through your frozen meat within 3 months. Freezer Ziplocks are MUCH cheaper to use for shorter-term freezer storage.

I have the Foodsaver from Costco and really enjoy having it, but only use it when I'm freezing food that won't be used within a few months. If you're only going to store the bulk meat in the freezer for a month or two, using the Foodsaver will negate any cost savings on the meat due to the price of the Foodsaver rolls or bags.

 

[havaneselover]

My recommendation is to not buy a Foodsaver unless you're not planning on cycling through your frozen meat within 3 months. Freezer Ziplocks are MUCH cheaper to use for shorter-term freezer storage. I have the Foodsaver from Costco and really enjoy having it, but only use it when I'm freezing food that won't be used within a few months. If you're only going to store the bulk meat in the freezer for a month or two, using the Foodsaver will negate any cost savings on the meat due to the price of the Foodsaver rolls or bags.

I can't imagine the meat would be in the freezer for more than a month.

I guess I'll just keep using freezer Ziplocks. I definitely don't want to waste money.

Thanks everybody for the advice! It's appreciated.

 

[amyy]

I bought mine right on their site. I haven't figure the savings down to the penny but I love mine even though we are going through the meat pretty quickly. Maybe it isn't worth it if you don't have a chest freezer. Freezer burn would often have me throwing food away. I also use it for items such as almond flour which I store in the fridge but don't use often, leftovers and sandwich meant in the fridge in the FoodSaver containers, cooked and froze squash cubes, etc. I might use some jars for nuts and other items we don't get into often. Actually I should freeze those.

 

[barkley]

we have to one from Costco and love it. we tried to hand pump type (from ziplock) but the bags get pretty costly and at least around us are not that easy to find.

what I like about the foodsaver is the ability to custom cut bags-so I have much less wasted space on bags, and since they pull every bit of the air out I end up with much flatter packaging which stores much easier in my freezer.