Vacuum food sealers?

[sweet maxine]

I have been reading the threads about saving money on food, and I noticed that a couple of people mentioned using a vacuum food sealer. I found one of these at Big Lots yesterday, but didn't buy it as I haven't really done any research on these things. I'm trying to remember the brand name of the one I saw, but it just doesn't grace my memory this morning. I do recall that the price was somewhere around $40 or $50 for the machine itself, and $10 for a pkg. of 3 refill rolls.

So, can someone help me with this? I don't want to spend money recklessly, and end up making a purchase I regret. Any specific brands I should be looking for?

Thanks so much for any help!

 

[strasfamily]

I have the Food Saver - I think it is by Tilia. I bought it at Costco, but it was a bit over $100. I think I wore it out and need a new one because I have to let it rest a bit if I do lots of bagging, otherwise it doesn't get all the air out of all of the packages. Even so, it is well worth the money.

 

[starwood]

I also got the food saver at Costco. Around $100 but you got more bags with it than if you bought it in the stores. I love it. The only problem is I don't have room on my counter for it so I have to keep it on a shelf by the basement steps. I'm looking to rearrange the kitchen so I can keep it on the counter. I think I will be more inclined to use it then. Otherwise I love it.

 

[sweet maxine]

Thanks for your replies!

So should I plan on spending a little more for a better product? Does Costco carry the refill bags for the sealers?

 

[strasfamily]

I have seen the replacement bags pretty much everywhere, Costco, Sams Club, Walmart, Target, I think even our local grocery stores.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I've had the expensive one (the one that first came out on infomercials years ago LOL) and long story how- but accidentally sold part of it at a yard sale then went ahead and sold the bags the next day.

Recently I bought a CHEAP one at Walgreens- and it works the same as the expensive one did.

 

[mrskay9]

I got a Tilia one for xmas and LOVE it.

My dd is 3 and only eats chicken nuggets or mac n cheese, so a package of 1 lb meat is too much for me and dh or a package of 3 chicken breasts. I've been buying the family size and freezing up the rest in sizes that better fit the two of us.

I got a great deal at Kohls and they have the bags too.

 

[kutchyone]

We have been using ours for years now. I even have the containers and use those for coffee, chips and other perishables. I also take all of the Christmas tablecloth's, napkins and table runners, wash them and then seal those because I store my Christmas items in the crawl space and I don't want them to get that musty odor. It then gives me room for my every day towels and stuff. I do hate having to have the machine on my counter though but it would be silly to put it away because we use it every daty.

 

[pooh_lover's_mom]

I received the Black and Decker (VS200) food sealer for Christmas. I have been very unhappy with the product--it hasn't been sealing the bags all of the way, and when you try and reseal, it won't take the air out. I have called B & D and I am waiting for them to tell me what they are going to do. So.........I would not recommend B & D--the price is about $50.

 

[sweet maxine]

Thanks for all the replies!

Just out of curiosity, I'm going back over to Big Lots to check on the name brand of the one I saw yesterday.

Please keep posting with your experiences. I'd love to hear about how this thing works.

 

[LorieR]

I have the Foodsaver Professional II, which I bought online directly from the manufacturer. This one closes and seals at the touch of a button - you don't have to hold the lid down like some other models do - and it stores the roll inside the machine to make your own bags. I didn't want to keep it on the counter but my husband said if I didn't have it somewhere convenient then I would probably not use it, and he was right! I made room on my counter and use it every day. I have the cannisters that I use to keep cookies, pretzles, etc. fresh. I also bought canning jars (Ball?) that I keep things like brown sugar (keeps it soft), confectioner's sugar, barley, etc., in. It works great!! I buy the refill rolls (cheaper than buying pre-made bags) at BJ's at a pretty good price. I think it is worth its weight in gold just for the meat that I used to throw away because of freezer burn in the past! Also great to keep contents of opened bags/boxes of dried fruit and raisins in!

Lorie

 

[sweet maxine]

I thought the sealers only worked with flat things....like bags. How does it work with jars or canisters, and is there only one type that does that sort of thing?

Sorry for so many questions.....

 

[LorieR]

They come with an accessory port. Here is a link where you can check out Food Saver models!! http://www.foodsaver.com/products.ad2?catalogID=1000

Lorie

 

[tikilyn]

I received the Black and Decker (VS200) food sealer for Christmas. I have been very unhappy with the product--it hasn't been sealing the bags all of the way, and when you try and reseal, it won't take the air out. I have called B & D and I am waiting for them to tell me what they are going to do. So.........I would not recommend B & D--the price is about $50.

I also bought the B&D sealer from wal-mart. What a big mistake. It didn't seal the bag right, air would get in. It was a big waste of money. I took it back to wal-mart and got my money back. Haven't bought another yet, but am looking for one soon.

 

[crl]

We have the "Food Saver" brand and love it. We make our meat bags a little big, then wash them out and re-use them for the same kinds of meat. (They are dishwasher safe.) It makes it so easy to freeze extra meat and even easier to know what I'm pulling out of the freezer. I only wisj I got this last year when I was making all our baby food!

 

[elgerber]

I love my food saver too! It doesn't seal automatically anymore (it's old), so I just push the manual seal button, but it still takes all the air out great!

 

[tarmand]

I received the Black and Decker (VS200) food sealer for Christmas. I have been very unhappy with the product--it hasn't been sealing the bags all of the way, and when you try and reseal, it won't take the air out. I have called B & D and I am waiting for them to tell me what they are going to do. So.........I would not recommend B & D--the price is about $50.

I bought that one and returned it for the exact same reason. It didn't seal the corner and then the bags would leak air in and juice out.

 

[sweet maxine]

Sounds like I'd better stay away from the Black & Decker sealer. I'm sorry so many of you have had problems with that one. Is that the only brand that anyone has had trouble with?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I didn't want to keep it on the counter but my husband said if I didn't have it somewhere convenient then I would probably not use it, and he was right! I made room on my counter and use it every day.

He was right.
Our first one (foodsaver/expensive one) I kept in the cabinet and only used it once to pkg up meat when we bought a large amount of meat for the freezer. Never used it again. In fact that's why I accidentally sold part of it at a yard sale- because I thought I'd lost the rest of it when we moved- didn't know where it was! Then after that day- going through the house to sell more stuff because we were moving to our new house and didn't want to take what wasn't necessary- I found the rest and sold it. For a STEAL. What a mistake.

The new one I keep on the counter and use all the time. Your husband was SO right on that.

 

[bengalbelle]

I've had the Foodsaver Vac 540 (now discontinued) for about a month and I love it. I've only used it for meat and vegetables so far. It's a lower end model but does the job. It also came with a canister and the port but I've not used it yet. I bought the roll refills instead of bags because I could get more for my money making my own bags and it only takes a few seconds. I think it's worth the investment. The only complaint I have about mine is that it is loud.