Seal-A-Meal/Foodsaver Recommendations

[Ken Massingale]

We've decided to get one of these to reduce the canning task some on Tina, as well as supposedly not have to worry about freezer burn with frozen items. We like to buy meats in bulk and freeze.
Any comments/recommendations will be appreciated, including a source for the sealing material. ($$$ wise)
I'm looking at the Foodsaver 2420 and 1090.
TIA

[ejs1097]

We have a FoodSaver V1075 and it works great. 3 years ago we froze 10 doz corn. Put a pat a butter in each bag before freezing. Then just boil the bag or slit and microwave and it's ready. We finished the last bag a little over 2 years from freezing and it tasted like it was just cut off the ear.

Veggies aren't exactly easy to do though since you have to blanch them, then spread on cookie sheet and freeze to prepare for sealing.

never had any problem with meat either.

Just recently I started using it for brown sugar. it keeps it moist ti the next use and the bag can be resealed.

Can't help with cost of bags, we don't get them often so I don't usually shop around. Kohls or Wallmart is where I've gotten them before.

[ironhat]

We like our - sorry but model # escapes me right now - but we have an issue with failure of the heated seam. I'd estimate a 5% failure rate. I can't say that it has cost us any of the produce or meat, however. We still like it and buy chops and fish fillets in quantity, divey them up for us two empty nesters and it's easy to multiply whe you have company.

Chiz

[jAngiel]

We have a couple of different models of the food saver. We use quite a bit and haven't had any problems. We use the bags and also the canisters.

Does a great job of preventing freezer burn. We usually try to buy in bulk and divvy up into smaller portions. Even though there are eight of us the smaller portions help out when others drop by unexpectedly or the kids want their friends to stay for dinner.

There are plenty of uses... storage, marinating, waterproofing... we use for a lot of different things.

We ususally buy our bags as Sams or Walmart. I have tried both food saver and Black and Decker bags and both have worked well, the B&D bags were a little cheaper.

[Popeye]

I'm following this thread along with you Ken. Living alone it's getting harder to cook for just myself. Save for steaks, not much comes packaged for one. Pat

[Ed62]

I'm following it too. There's just 2 of us now, and we don't eat as much as we used to. That equals a lot of leftovers.

Ed

[Mrs. Wallnut]

We have a Foodsaver, not sure of the model, that my parents bought for us as a Christmas present a couple of years ago and I love it. We go to Costco quite a bit and buy large quantities of meat and also the large bricks of cheese. I love the thing. I also use mine to marinate steaks and chicken in for grilling them, works wonders.

As for buying the bags I know that we went to Costco a while back and saw a BOX of them there I believe for 40.00, but I am not sure, and even though we use a lot of the bags we are still doing great on them. There was 6 rolls in the box, 3 of the narrow ones (6" I think) and 3 (12"???). That has been the best deal on the bags that I think I have found.

[lago]

LOML saw one at SIL a few weeks ago and we did a little research and went whole hog. Ordered the Pro III along with 8" & 11" rolls. Should be here tomorrow or the next day. Did quite a bit of online research and found the best price from irwincomp.com. Also newegg.com had a good price also. We haven't had a chance to look locally for bags so we went ahead and ordered them at the same time.

Ken

[tbarn]

We have the foodsaver pro 3 I think.
It was about $180 but it is real nice.
Did a few 100 pounds of pork and beef the other month.
I did not use it but my wife said it worked well.

[ragswl4]

We have the FoodSaver as well. The wife likes it. As we are only two and she still cooks for six....., well you get the picture.

[Ken Massingale]

We have the FoodSaver as well. The wife likes it. As we are only two and she still cooks for six....., well you get the picture.

So leftovers do well as well as fresh stuff?

[backpacker85]

I understand all the glowing recommendations for kitchen use, but come on....can I really sneak it out to the shop for vacuum bagging?

[lago]

UPS delivered ours late yesterday so we spend all morning playing with the different options. Did learn one thing....There is a universal lit to be used in place of the original lid. Foodsaver says 'do not use on plastic containers'. It should state 'use on glass containers only'. We had an open can of cashews in a cardboard container. It started sucking and when just about finished, it imploded and we had a morning snack right off the top of the cabinet.