FoodSavers
 

I was watching this infomertial on the FoodSaver TM Food vaccuming and storage machine. They said that you could keep meats and veggies for a very long time, refrigerated even frozen because the air is gone.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Are they worth it? Do they zing you on the bags? The reason I ask is because I want to prepare meals for less, and I want to save alot of leftovers and bulk purchases.

Also to ask another whacky question. I like canned foods in steel cans. Beans, Carrots, Asparagus, Baked Beans. It seems alot of stuff comes in a can. I remember seeing plastic snap on lids for pet food. Say fluffy only can eat half a can, no problem, snap on this plastic lid and put it back in the fridge. Problem is I can't find these neat lids! I also want lids for say like 28oz tomato sauce size cans. Does anyone know where you can find this kinda stuff?

Thanks.

Re: FoodSavers
 

The food saver is great. You can re-package food and add years to self life. Just yesterday I thawed and use some hot-link sausages I packed back in 2003. Steaks that have thawed to a nice red have been as old as 5 years. I freeze all products in a 'deep-freeze' that maintains at least 10 deg. (that is also key).

Don't purchase the one on TV. Go to their web site and order at the very least the 'game saver'. Make sure the one you buy has the bag storage built-in the unit. It makes making bags much easier. Costco carries the bags, as do other larger stores.

I have sealed ammo, coins, things that go into my BOB .... it really is endless.

Some folks here have even gone that extra step, and have purchased smaller commercial units.

It is a great tool .... go for it. :smokin:

Re: FoodSavers
 

Yes, it's a great little machine. I buy brown sugar 25 lbs. at a time, put a pound or so in a small bag, and it lasts for years. Comes out fresh as it went in. You can also cook in the bags. Drop some frozen veggies in boiling water and voila, freshly cooked and no mess. Wouldn't be without one.

Re: FoodSavers
 

:applause_:applause_:applause_:applause_:applause_

Re: FoodSavers
 

I have one and it's fantastic. Got it at sam's club. My favorite thing to do with it is marinate stuff. Mine came with a jar specially designed for it. Put some chicken breast in that and just enough marinade to cover it, then vacuum the jar. Will marinate in just a couple of hours to the juiciest, tenderest chicken you've ever tasted. It's awesome!!

I even vacuum seal my junk silver so it won't corrode further =)

The bags are reusable as well and dishwasher safe.

Well worth the money in my opinion.

Re: FoodSavers
 

Love mine. I got the "Professional III" and I use it all the time. If you do it right, frozen items have no freezer burn, and you can buy in bulk to save money.

Get the biggest one you can find. My model has a strong pump, I'd recommend it. Check newegg.com

Re: FoodSavers
 

I just wanted to thanks Dave Thomas, and and rest for you, for this thread.........

I read your posts - then called Food Savers and spent alomst an hour on the phone asking questions and, finally, got a nice deal on a Food Saver Gamesaver Pro.........

I figure, I can go back to buying in bulk but not worry about freezerburn on my foods - plus I can reseal my rice, beans, nuts, etc and get them to last longer.

I also figure, within a year, the money I save buying in bulk, and the food I don't have to toss for freezerburn, will pay for the unit in a year!

And if I add the other things to my Mountain House supplies - I can build provisions that will last a lot longer and a lot cheaper.

So my thanks to you all for this!! :D

Cheers!

Re: FoodSavers
 

Okay I'm sold. Thanks for posting all.

Re: FoodSavers
 

I purchased one about 11 months ago, works as advertised!

Frosty

Re: FoodSavers
 

We love ours too. Besides the nice 'freezer burn no more' aspect, any weevil eggs in your grain or beans don't hatch in that vacuum. I got some of the rolls of untrimmed bags for storing long items in a moisture free way.

Rats can chew through the bags, so I put the vacuum sealed bags in metal trash cans. We got a plague of critters when I stored in heavy plastic barrels that chewed into even that. The price of greening our space, I guess... raccoons, possums, things with some mighty teeth came calling till we got our great pound puppy, red wolf the magnificent. (Actually a solid liver german wire haired pointer.) She ran off a possum who wanted to move in just recently. Responding to her 'serious' bark (with light and gun), I got to see what she had treed.

Her active dusk and dawn patrols lately indicate it still tries to get past her from time to time. Or something nocturnal is.

I can add ours works great after many years of quite a bit of use. And just trimming one edge to open it lets you reuse a bag only a little smaller. If it had meat and I thawed it in the bag I sanitize it intensively. If it kept beans weevil free or brown sugar from petrifying, I just reuse as is, unless it looks messy or dusty.

Re: FoodSavers
 

rat piss will corrode the metal cans. make sure to check on the ones stored further way every so often. i like metal shelves to store metal cans

Re: FoodSavers
 

Seems like all bags of grian have larva that hatch - we put all ours in the freezer for two days to kill them off - I will do the same before using the Foodsaver to give it double protection.

Glad to hear it works so well....I got a model they just upgraded that is a bit more expensive but able to handle more sealing without waiting for it to cool down.........the FoodSaver Gamesaver Pro with 3 additional rolls of bags..........and I figured I could leave larger ends on my bags and reseal after pouring out what we need short-term - glad to hear I was right and thats worked for you!

Re: FoodSavers
 

I have dehydrated food in cans in boxes - we laid rat poison all around them hoping it would help.........having a cat doesn't hurt either..........

Re: FoodSavers
 

Wait till you use it!! They pull an impressive vacuum. Bean and sugar bags go from floppy to brick-like when you get all the air out and the seal. I leave the original packaging on grocery store items but just add a few perforations to let the air out.

But the larger the bag the longer it takes to suck all the air out. The wife prefers the precut quart size. Both for that reason and she just wants smaller packages because she thinks I make sizes that are too heavy. So I just use the rolls for special items.

A quart bag holds 3 grocery store 1 pound bags of beans easily. But I wanted to put 20lbs of rice in one bag and she nixed that.

edit - upon rereading, no cracks please. :D I realized it sounded like spam.

Re: FoodSavers
 

I am really excited about this tho - probably more so than any time in the last few years except when I bought my PMs because, while I have put away a lot of stuff for when TSHTF, like the dehydrated foods, nuke meds and water pruification stuff, THIS is something I can make great use of NOW!!! The rest sits ready to go IF we need it (except the foods we rotate.)

See, I hate our supermarkets - they raise the price of foods 20%, then for using their card give you back 5% and have to make a big sink at the register about how much they have saved me!! ("You haven't saved me anything you f'king a-hole........you charged me more and gave me back a token amount - I did NOT just fall of a turnip truck!!") but when I go to places like Costco, you have to buy in bulk, which is much cheaper - but the freezer burn on foods in the freezer make it less of a savings.....NOW I can get more stuff there, seal it up and not only will meats not go bad, but I can seal grains, cerials, nuts and other things and pay less, and waste less!!

YES, I am excited.........first thing I am going to bag is my wife!!!!
(She swears the air is making her age!) :D

But why do you keep the original packaging instead of just getting rid of it........the small air holes make sense but I would think things like rice would fall out!

And I got a huge deal on the bags - 50% off three long rolls.........I figured I could cut them down if they were too long........

Any other tips???

Re: FoodSavers
 

You know you messed up the heat seal (I do maybe 1 time every 200) if it does not stay brick like before you put it away.

It makes buying beef by the side or whole steer (a huge price savings) fine because of the way it keeps frozen meats nice. Though you need a manual defrost to get good as new steaks 5 years in the freezer. But sealed meats are as good after a year or 2 in even frost free as ordinary packaging in a month or 2. Our refrigerator is frost free but we got a manual defrost freezer, so we have experience.

The tip above on marinade is true in our experience too. i guess the vacuum forces the marinade in sooner.

We keep a lot of grain and beans and rotate and it does mean, in this inflation situation (which I think will get a lot worse), you keep old cheaper prices longer, and can load up during sales. I get most bulk heavy items from a local coop to miss the sometimes high net shopper shipping charges, but some things are not much cheaper in 25 or 50 lb bags and some are a lot. But if you have, or can arrange, the space, I'm pretty sure 50 lb bag prices now will beat 2 years from now.

I write month and year on each bag with a sharpie and cross it out when I empty one and reuse and put the new month and year purchased. The wife digs like a mole in my nice organized rotation. :haha:

I guess you can tell she does not read GIM. But that is why I have to date it. Oldest to the top or front are just not her style. She is sure maaaybe a can of mandarin oranges is way back in that soup or tuna row and if she just....

Anyway

Things you want to take less space and stay clean... for us extra guest sheets for example (most of the room they take up is air, and by the time you use them if they were just on a shelf, they don't have that extra nice clean smell or are even kind of dusty) and a really odd assortment of things you might like to keep safe from moisture or insects... we use the gadget for more than food. because anything airtight is obviously watertight too. Important papers even.

Anything that is degraded by oxygen is another category.

The concept spread so that there are reusable near vacuum bags for packing -- if you don't mind a heavy bug out bag (we use big wheeled ones) a lot more stuff like blankets and parkas and clothing fit without air included. The foodsaver one won't hold a parka... I use the packing kind for that, but the foodsaver ones will hold a lot of clean socks, etc.

I found the corn and oat products from Honeyville to be good prices for 50 lb bags and low shipping and high quality food. We like steel cut oats and grits and both from them were some of the nicest cleanest grain I have bought. I found I could use the slow cooker (and a timer) to avoid standing around stirring and they stopped being rare treats. Rolled oats taste like dust by comparison. Quick grits are not that great either. But they have many corn products if you are more inclined to polenta or masa.

So depending on your storage space you can be well set for food plus save money buying in bulk, and at today's prices. And in other areas you can use less space and protect things from moisture, oxygen, and insects.

Re: FoodSavers
 

oh! The original package.. a wifely request. She prefers to open a sealed quart bag of 3 1 lb different kinds of beans to cook a variety of foods that month or so. Then sugar is less inclined to have a grain or 2 suck in and mess you up if it is mostly contained in its original packaging. Rice in big bags and anything in over 5 lb bags I remove from the original packaging. Which brings up another tip. Very small granules will suck into your vacuum device sometimes if you fill too close to the top. Things like sugar or salt. Rice is not a problem, or beans.

I can't find the long rolls locally anymore. I wonder if you have to buy the device to get the 50% off. I'd like more long rolls.

Re: FoodSavers
 

Incredible tips - I would never have thought about the important papers one!! And more room in the bug-out bags makes a lot of sense!

If it extracts oxygen - I wonder what happens if I try to seal water?? :wink:

Re: FoodSavers
 

You can order the long rolls and they have a discount on quantity. What happened to me was the guy who sold me mine was bored a couple of weeks back, and he discovered some inventroy in the comp they had all forgotten about...........700 bags of the largest size........listed for $6.66........he told me the entire office was laughing cause they had no idea they had it......but hsi boss said they could sell it if they wanted.

Trouble is - there is no way to get any specific person on the phone - so best to just call and get the regular bulk special cause half the employees do not know about the found stock!

Re: FoodSavers
 

So the bags technically aren't proprietary? I mean I guess it's using a heating element to seal the bag then eh? Hrm. Sounds like it has almost unlimited uses. I was just a bit concerned on it's durability, and or if it was constructed er, "cheaply".

Thanks for all of your input.

Re: FoodSavers
 

I have one of these foodsavers and they work ok. If I could do over I would get a commercial heavy duty one, one that has a thick sealing strip. The foodsaver seals with just small width and if there is any dust where the seal is, the bag will not hold.

I would not heat anything in the bags or any plastic for that matter. I have read that at least some plastics mimic estrogen and heating gives off more. This may or may not be true but I always try to heat stuff in cast iron, stainless or ceramic ware.

Re: FoodSavers
 

I found using a coffee filter or paper towel at the end of the bag, it makes sealing sugar, salt, and pancake mix alot easier operation.

Re: FoodSavers
 

what about this one.. http://www.alcoa.com/reynoldskitchen...ac/en/home.asp

they have it in walmart for $9.50

Re: FoodSavers
 

I make chili and other soups in bulk and then vac-pack them in family sized portions for freezing in the deep freeze. We keep ours at -10 F. They stack up real neat and it's amazing how the vacuum motor sucks out the air but not the liquid.

Food savers are the best kitchen gadget around. I seal clothing for backpacking, gun parts, 90% etc.

Re: FoodSavers
 

GREAT TIP! Thanks!!

Re: FoodSavers
 

I agree Frosty. Thanks!

I love nature and the wife loves hotels. That comment 'Outside is where you go between your taxi and your hotel' could have been her. :wink:

So I try to make camping very easy on her. Those frozen meals you mention... they kind of act like ice in the cooler if you are just out a few days, then you can boil in bag heat the meal for no washup and she is happy with the food that way too because it is a nice, home cooked meal.

They are great for days you are too busy to cook, too, which otherwise presents the temptation of takeout which wastes money and only a few specialty items are better than our home cooking anyway.

Re: FoodSavers
 

Did anyone get their foodsaver yet? :smokin:

Re: FoodSavers
 

I just got a coupon book from Costco and they will be having 25.00 on their food saver which is around 135.00 regular price. Not sure the dates. flippped through it at the store. I will have to fish the coupon book out of the garage garbage. Accidentally threw it away :rant:

Re: FoodSavers
 

I got mine but it had been dropped at the factory and it jarred something loose so they are replacing it - should be back today or tomorrow!

Re: FoodSavers
 

When i talked to Foodsaver on the phone - the young man I talked to (who was very honest and frank) said that that unit has a tendency to heat and have to cool....so you lose a lot of time waiting for it to cool.....and its nor REALLY designed for heavy use - more for lighter jobs, like saving leftovers.........

For $40 more - you might consider the Gamesaver Pro........designed for more heavy-duty use.

Re: FoodSavers
 

You are not rich enough to buy these cheap things

Re: FoodSavers
 

I think there was talk of the SnorkelVac here before. It could use normal bags, which could mean smooth mylar--mylar is important to stop O2.

http://www.sorbentsystems.com/sinbosealer.html

I've found that the foodsaver bags get pinholes far easier than you'd expect, and although even pinholed they're pretty good, if something is in wet conditions, it fails.

Uses for bags. Besides papers, maps, perishable oils like seedcake treats, hunters seal bullets in packs of 10 (or whatever your load is). You have an exact count, safe in pocket, and can return to the shelf if unused. I hear this was issued in VietNam and is a good idea.

Cans are irreplacable and good advice on mice and critters vs plastic--even cans and buckets. It might be worthwhile to package in cans instead. There are quart paint cans, reusable but expensive, or commercial roll canners, I think are available at Lehmans.

Bags are wonderful, but then you depend on the integrity of your cupboard vs mice. A single mistake on that could cost you all your food savings, esp given the cost of vac bags.

Anyone thought of wrapping the item in cloth before sealing to prevent pinholes? It seems as often it's the seal point instead.

TS

Re: FoodSavers
 

Thanks for the info. I will get the better unit. The gamesaver or the pro III which I think is there top of the line. newegg has the pro III now for 189.00 . $10 less than the last time I checked. Sweet!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16896123001

Re: FoodSavers
 

I asked about the Pro 3 - I can't remember now why it was suggested I get the Gamesaver Pro for the same price - I think it had to do with the heating and 20 mins thing. I was told once it heats up - and overheats - you have to give it 20 mins to cool down - not helpful more more than a few food-saves at a time.....and the Gamesaver Pro doesn't do that.

((Here's what I have in my head - it might not be right - but the Pro 3 is the highend personal use model and the Gamesaver Pro is the entry commercial use model - same price!))

Re: FoodSavers
 

Thanks again!! Doing more research on the Gamesaver Pro. Looks great so far!!

Re: FoodSavers
 

Just want to say - our Foodsaver arrived today - works like an charm........

And especially want to thank all those who posted tips for using the unit.....they were invaluable!!! Especially the tips for sealing powders and sugars and stuff!

We are in love with the unit and can see where it will save us tons of money down the road.

AND ONE OTHER THING NO ONE MENTIONED.............

This sucker seals things so tight - that a bag of sugar becomes a solid. lethal lump..........you can use it to kill attackers!!! :D

Re: FoodSavers
 

And I have to say, I did find my can lid pop ons. However I had to purchase them at a pet shop. I wish someone would invent "Can Savers" for all different can sizes. Apparently there are two sizes, one for alpo cans, the other for fancy feast. And as I have come to find, lots of food cans come in a wide variety of sizes, so maybe that would be a great business for someone to pump a few plastic lids out making some money. Foodsaver is on the way btw, thanks all.

Re: FoodSavers
 

Kohls has Foodsaver vac 825 with extra containers for 79.99 regular 138.xx

http://www.kohlscorporation.com/maps...re_locator.htm

find a store close to you. check the ad that is listed for your store. my ad has the foodsaver in question on about page 50

Prices effective Friday, Nov 23rd - Saturday, Nov 24th (except as noted)

Re: FoodSavers
 

On that pinhole issue: When I seal metal object, I use bag scraps to cover the sharp points before sealing. Gun Parts, etc

You may need another set of hands when sealing liquids.

In the 3 years I've had this one I have never gotten into an overheating situation and I have been in a few 2 hour vak-paking sessions.

Re: FoodSavers
 

Melbo, can you please specify model number

Re: FoodSavers
 

Have to say thanks to all who have contributed to this post. Picked up my food saver today and about to start bagging up my supplies.

So thanks

Re: FoodSavers
 

Food saver V825
It has the roll storage and hose hookup

When I did my research on all the foodsaver models, the description of the pump was a little misleading; the more expensive models talked about heavy duty but they all carried the same pump. Sealing strip heater may be different but I've never had a problem with mine.

When I seal bags of soup or chili for freezing, I just turn my dial to "extended seal" and the heater burns right through any liquid or dust. I then rinse off the rest of the bag if I made a mess and chances are that I did make a mess.

YMMV but I'm sold on this one. Wal-mart special and I have used a bunch of different bags. I only buy the rolls so I can make my own sizes. i usually cut and make a bunch of bags the same size before I start to pack. The only bags I don't like are the Black and Deckers. They have some fely-like material on the edges (to allow for suction) and they get in the way sometimes.

Re: FoodSavers
 

Thanks Melbo

http://www.buymebuyme.com/retail/cus...37&cat=&page=1

here is the v 835 for 65 dollars online and do not need to wait for Thanksgiving crowds

I am getting one here. lets see when I get that

Re: FoodSavers
 

Looks exactly like my 825.
You'll love it. I buy herbs and spices in bulk, coffee beans in 25 lb bags, I vac-pack it all.

Re: FoodSavers
 

https://www.buymebuyme.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Products Ordered
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SKU: 45037
Product: Tilia FoodSaver Vac 835 / V835 Vacuum Sealer (BRAND NEW)
Quantity: 1
Item Price: $ 64.99

SKU: 45058
Product: 2 Count - 11-Inch x 18-Feet Roll for use with Tilia FoodSaver & Other Vacuum Packaging Systems (BRAND NEW)
Quantity: 1
Item Price: $ 20.99

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Order Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Payment Method: Credit Card
Delivery: Standard Ground
Subtotal: $ 85.98
Discount: $ 0.00
Coupon Saving: $ 20.00 (SAVE20) <-- This coupon works on orders over $80. So it is like free bags or something like that

Shipping Cost: $ 15.85
Tax: $ 0.00

Total: $ 81.83

Re: FoodSavers
 

Melbo have you tried these bags?

http://www.vacmesh.com/

Re: FoodSavers
 

Having just bought my first - I am curious - hold many years did your first one last?

Re: FoodSavers
 

Butting in to add to others... ours is at least 10 years, but maybe more important, used a LOT.

Re: FoodSavers
 

Thanks to you BOTH.........

We're already using ours a lot and at the price it costs - hate to think I'd have to replace it in 3 years!

Re: FoodSavers
 

I have a refurb Pro II I bought 7 years ago and looks like that Pro III. Use it a lot at home. It flew from Houston to Minnesota for 5 years to seal 100 lbs. of sausage we make each summer. After one flight, the plastic shaft for the knob bent, but it still works great. Told my Dad to buy one to leave up in MN. He got a smaller one that needs a bit of a cool down time periodically. Get the big one.

The higher price of groceries have forced my favorite grocery store to cut 50% off the higher priced meats at 2 days prior to the must sell by date - I'm presuming folks can't afford it. I'm eating better than before because sealing and freezing has no ill effects on the quality if eaten in a timely manner.

Tempted to try those bags Infidel mentioned in post 47. Thinner bag, however. Anyone try them yet?