topic Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand? in Kitchen

Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

SouthernBee — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 10:49:17 GMT

I purchased a food saver eal a Meal in August of this year for $47 from Walmart. Love it and saves space in my small freezer . Used it the other day and then it stopped working. I only used it for 3 packages of meat. I let it cool and tried again and didn't work. In process of sending it back and will get a refund. I have been researching vacuum food sealers and the reviews are very mixed. Trying not to spend a whole lot. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

grandma2pkmh — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:16:33 GMT

@SouthernBee I have used the Food Saver since they first came out. I think I'm on my second one. Since I live alone it's perfect to divide the packages of meat I buy at the store. Everything seems to come packaged with 2 or 3 per package. I divide them up into single serve.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

Wiskota — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:21:05 GMT

I also have used the Food Saver since they first came out. The one I am using now is about 10 years old and going strong. I would not be without one and would stick with the Food Saver.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

SouthernBee — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:27:57 GMT

@grandma2pkmh wrote:
@SouthernBee I have used the Food Saver since they first came out. I think I'm on my second one. Since I live alone it's perfect to divide the packages of meat I buy at the store. Everything seems to come packaged with 2 or 3 per package. I divide them up into single serve.

@grandma2pkmh : Thank you for taking the time to respond .

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

SouthernBee — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:28:46 GMT

@Wiskota wrote:
I also have used the Food Saver since they first came out. The one I am using now is about 10 years old and going strong. I would not be without one and would stick with the Food Saver.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

spent2much — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:47:29 GMT

We're on our 2nd Food Saver brand. We use it every day. It's a life saver. Never tried another brand. When it dies, we'll quickly replace it.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

Icegoddess — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:58:57 GMT

I don't use mine as much as I should, but I do love it. I am also on my 2nd one. The first one I had came in two pieces and I continued to use the handheld vacuum part after I upragded to a newer machine. I couldn't really advise on which model is better.

I like mine because it is upright and can sit on a narrow shelf my husband installed underneath the bump-out for a bar-top that we never used in that manner so don't need the space for stools. There happens to be a plug there, so I can just go over there to do smaller things, but for larger items I can move it to the counter. It has a sensor inside to detect when the bag is inserted all the way and starts automatically. The one downside of that is that you can't double seal without tricking the sensors.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

SouthernBee — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:10:34 GMT

@spent2much wrote:
We're on our 2nd Food Saver brand. We use it every day. It's a life saver. Never tried another brand. When it dies, we'll quickly replace it.

@spent2much : Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

SouthernBee — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:13:28 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
I don't use mine as much as I should, but I do love it. I am also on my 2nd one. The first one I had came in two pieces and I continued to use the handheld vacuum part after I upragded to a newer machine. I couldn't really advise on which model is better.

I like mine because it is upright and can sit on a narrow shelf my husband installed underneath the bump-out for a bar-top that we never used in that manner so don't need the space for stools. There happens to be a plug there, so I can just go over there to do smaller things, but for larger items I can move it to the counter. It has a sensor inside to detect when the bag is inserted all the way and starts automatically. The one downside of that is that you can't double seal without tricking the sensors.

@Icegoddess : Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will do more research. I still have 4 rolls of the bags.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

Boehm Collector — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:18:23 GMT

I have always purchased FoodSavers. My current one has to be at least 10 years old. Love it!

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

Meowingkitty — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:33:50 GMT

I buy all my meats at Costco and use a Food Saver I also bought from them. Works great.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

Mindy D — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:39:37 GMT

Some Food Saver models seem to last longer than others. Check the ratings for current models from people that have had theirs for many months or a year or two.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

Zhills — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:50:31 GMT

Foodsaver. My son was gifted one recently that did not have a removable (washable) overflow tray.

You want that feature!

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

Mz iMac — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 19:11:47 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
The one downside of that is that you can't double seal without tricking the sensors.

@Icegoddess I double seal w/o "tricking" the sensor. My I thought all FS have a "SEAL" button.

My first FS lasted approxiimately 15 years till the motor died. My current is the "upright" version & is approximately 9 or 10 yrs old. Both w/a "SEAL" button.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

DrBabs — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 19:39:26 GMT

I have a Seal A Meal unit that I just love. I keep it tucked away in a cabinet and its slim design doesn't take up much space. Use it on a regular basis and until recently had no problem finding Seal A Meal bags in different sizes. Now those are hard to find so I switched to a different brand of bag I don't like as well. I don't "do" the rolls but prefer a variety of bag sizes for my needs.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

chickenbutt — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 19:59:03 GMT

I've always found Foodsaver to be a good brand. I have a couple of those (must have a back up).

One year Amazon had a deal I could not resist on a LEM machine. Now, these cost more than FS but I could afford it at that time and it was a great purchase. I've had it for quite a few years and at one point it stopped sealing. It would sukk out the air but not seal. Since, as I mentioned, it wasn't cheap I decided to call them to see if there was something I could do to fix it.

The guy verified that it was out of warranty (knew that, but it was nice of him to check) and he stayed on the phone with me while I took it apart (no major deal at all - just a few skrews) and we found that it was exactly what he thought, initially, it was. He said they have a kit that you can get with the parts to fix it. I even asked him if, when I get the parts and forgot what to do, I could call again and get help making it work. He said no problem.

Fortunately, I was able to fix it and it continues to work really well. I always appreciate when a company has good, caring, and knowledgeable customer service.

One thing I'm bummed about is that it got way harder to get 6" rolls. I can get 6" pre-cuts, and do, but I also like to have rolls. I stocked up on the rolls and am good now, as well as the bas and the other 2 sizes (8" & 11").

As for bags/rolls - I have a lot of FS brand and also found the Weston brand to be good quality.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

SouthernBee — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 20:23:40 GMT

@Boehm Collector wrote:
I have always purchased FoodSavers. My current one has to be at least 10 years old. Love it!

@Boehm Collector : Thank you for taking the time to respond. I am carefully reading all the reviews and features of each model.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

Mz iMac — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 20:23:50 GMT

FWIW....

I also use my FS to "reseal" snack bags like potato chips, pretzels, etc., etc., etc. if I don't eat all in one seating.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

SouthernBee — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 20:26:16 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
I buy all my meats at Costco and use a Food Saver I also bought from them. Works great.

@Meowingkitty : Thank you. DH is retired military and we can shop the commissary and normally make special trips to purchase a variety of meats.

Re: Do you use a food vacuum sealer and what brand?

SouthernBee — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 20:28:57 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
Some Food Saver models seem to last longer than others. Check the ratings for current models from people that have had theirs for many months or a year or two.

@Mindy D : Thank you. Hoping that Amazon will offer a good deal. I checked and signed up with Food Saver and they have some on sale and sent coupon for 15 % off.