Vacuum food sealers?

[calypso*a*go-go]

I have had one for a few years now and love it. I buy large blocks of cheese and seal them. When I'm ready to use the cheese, I just cut off whatever size chunk I need and then just seal the bag again. Finally, no more moldy cheese!

I also use them for camping -- I get the largest size bags and fill them with ice from our freezer, seal the bags and throw them on top of our stuff in the ice chest. Stuff stays cold without melted ice leaking all over it. (It you do this, manually seal the bag once most of the air is out...if you wait until it stops automatically I have found that the plastic gets stretched out so much by the hard ice cubes that it sometimes doesn't keep the seal.) And, what's really nice is that you can throw the bags back in your freezer (if you have room!) and reuse them the next time you use the ice chest.

 

[CinderellasMama]

We have the Black & Decker one and love it. The first couple of times we used it we had the problems people are reporting but Dh went back and re-read the directions and we haven't had a problem since. It has to do with how you put the bag in the part that takes the air out. We have processed and bagged a whole deer (steaks, ground meat, etc), a whole sliced ham, and lots of bulk meat. DH also lent it to a friend who bought his own bags and processed a whole hog.

We keep ours out and use it constantly.

Brenda

 

[Taja]

I have the original FoodSaver from about 12 years or so ago and a Deni, which is a smaller machine that I received as a gift about a year later.

The FoodSaver I have is larger more difficult to use (the models out now are much easier), but I prefer it when I'm packaging large quantities of food. The Deni is smaller and not quite as efficient with vacuum sealing. The sealing portion works equally well, but the vacuum isn't as strong. It's much easier to use and move from Point A to Point B.

After 10+ years (7 of them with heavy use), both are still going strong!

 

[sweet maxine]

Good morning!

I did get over to Big Lots to look at the sealer they have. It is a Deni Freshlock----I think #1631---and it is selling for $29.99. The refills come in rolls of 3 for $9.99. I didn't see anything on the box about an attachment for sealing canisters or jars, so this must be an older, discontinued model.

Does this sound like a good deal?

 

[Taja]

Good morning!

I did get over to Big Lots to look at the sealer they have. It is a Deni Freshlock----I think #1631---and it is selling for $29.99. The refills come in rolls of 3 for $9.99. I didn't see anything on the box about an attachment for sealing canisters or jars, so this must be an older, discontinued model.

Does this sound like a good deal?

I have a Deni Freshlock Turbo II that is about 10 years old--possibly a bit older! It has held up well, although I haven't used it as much in the past three years as I did in the previous seven years! I gave that thing a good workout!

I think mine was about $60 when I bought it. I don't believe the Deni vacuum sealers have the canister or jar attachment, just the FoodSaver brand. I could be wong, though. It's been known to happen!

If you're really interested in it, be sure that it can vacuum seal wet and dry foods. The original Deni could seal both, but could vacuum seal only dry foods. Can't think they would return to that model, but read the packaging carefully, just in case!

 

[dznybound]

I love my FoodSaver. I use it on a daily basis and I feel I am saving so much money on food. I use the Foodsaver to seal everything...crackers, meat, taco shells, guacamole, cheese, tortillas...

I also make my own bags. Watch for the sales/clearance...two week ago, I found Foodsaver two roll packages at Target for $9.98 (usually one roll package is approx. $9.98). I stocked up.

I highly recommend it!

 

[SamSam]

I have a FoodSaver and have never regretted buying it. I buy meat in bulk, then divide and seal in bags (lasts at least a year), I also cook up chicken breast (then shred) and ground beef; divide into meal size portions and seal in bags. It's really been a huge money saver for me.

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm still debating about this. I'm just going to have to take the plunge and try one, and see how it goes.

I do have a question about the refill bag rolls. Are they compatible with most sealers, or do I have to buy brand-specific refills?

 

[Local_Girl]

Thank you, Sweet Maxine, for starting this thread! We've been wondering about trying the Foodsaver for awhile...and the info posted here as been great and helpful. Perhaps we can splurge on one before our WDW trip and use it for the food we're taking down (we'll be in a timeshare condo). Does anyone use these for your vacations...can you give some ideas? Thank you!