Vacuum food sealer - which to get?
#11
I have been using Food Savers for more than 35 years and love them. Now mind you I have gone through several over the years and loved them all. I now buy my bags from ULINE as the rolls of bags cost far less from them. I actually have a brand new one waiting in the wings for when my current one wears out. I picked up this replacement at a thrift store still in the wrapper for $10 and I grabbed it. A good unit will last me 8-10 years. The bags are always the same as far as I know. So anyway I am set for years to come. My Food saver gets used 4-6 times a week depending on what I am doing in the Kitchen.
The quality of my preserved foods when frozen is great.
I also have a small Food Saver vacuum sealer for small refrigerator bags. The bags are a light weight bag similar to a baggie with a vent hole of sorts that you place the little machine over and it draws out the air and the hole closes up. These bags can be rinsed and reused a time or two for dry foods like fresh green beans. These bags are not as easy to find IMHO but the system does a nice job for freshness. You can't really go wrong with Food Saver.
You do not want to confuse vacuum sealing with freeze drying. The equipment for this is far more expensive and the food will last much longer plus it is a different process all together. Good Luck!
The quality of my preserved foods when frozen is great.
I also have a small Food Saver vacuum sealer for small refrigerator bags. The bags are a light weight bag similar to a baggie with a vent hole of sorts that you place the little machine over and it draws out the air and the hole closes up. These bags can be rinsed and reused a time or two for dry foods like fresh green beans. These bags are not as easy to find IMHO but the system does a nice job for freshness. You can't really go wrong with Food Saver.
You do not want to confuse vacuum sealing with freeze drying. The equipment for this is far more expensive and the food will last much longer plus it is a different process all together. Good Luck!
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NW Kansas
Posts: 601
I am on my third vacuum sealer. This one I bought at Cabela's, their band. It is the greatest. I vacuum seal everything. Left overs, I freeze in a regular container, then vacuum seal. When we go fishing and have extra fish, I freeze it in a regular container in water, then vacuum seal after it is frozen. It keep almost indefinitely and is still just as fresh as can be when used. I buy meat when it is on sale, in family packs, divide into meal size for hubby and me, freeze on a cookie sheet, then vacuum seal after frozen. Keeps almost for ever. My vacuum sealer is one of my favorite small appliances.
#13
#14
I've always used the regular FoodSaver brand bags. Maybe I should try the off brand ones. I was always afraid that they would "melt" in the process & ruin my FoodSaver and since I only have one machine right now I didn't want to take of chance of ruining it. Sounds like the cheaper brands work just as well in the FoodSaver machines.
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,515
For some reason Food Saver boxes of rolls were on clearance a year ago at Target. I bought every box, even the steam in a bag boxes. I have enough to last a long long time. They are cheap enough at Walmart and seems to always be in stock. I like the roll so I can cut the size of bag I need.
#19
These are the ones I bought, as they came in different sizes and they work great. (Of course, they cost a lot more in Canada. What else is new?)
Watson
Vacuum bags
Watson
Vacuum bags
#20
For all of you who are interested & love their vaccum sealers, here is an old thread from 2016 with a lot more information that might be helpful.
Vacuum sealer for food?
Vacuum sealer for food?