topic Re: Food Saver? in Kitchen

Food Saver?

autumnsunset — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 19:35:21 GMT

We are thinking of buying a food saver if you own one is it worth the money? Food is getting so expensive especially meat if I see meat on sale I like to buy extra but it does get freezer burn fast in zip lock bags. I needed two pounds of ground beef for Lasagna I was shocked at the price and I saw a larger package of ground beef on sale but I knew it would not last long in the zip lock bags.

I was worried about the cost of the bags but I know I can buy them on Amazon and get them at BB&B and I can use a 20% coupon. I bought a small box of zip lock bags about two weeks ago they seem thinner and almost $10 dollars for a small box ridiculous and they do not keep food too long. We are just trying to decide is a food saver worth the cost.

Re: Food Saver?

Perkup — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 19:38:34 GMT

I'm also considering buying a Food Saver. Can anyone tell me what the top of the line QVC carries? I'd like one, but If I can't get the best, I'll wait. Any suggestions on features would be appreciated also.

Re: Food Saver?

Nightowlz — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 19:53:19 GMT

We have a food saver. It's worth it for us since we buy bulk & when things are on sale. I just bought the cheap FoodSaver from Wal-Mart for $70. It's $80 but it had a $10 off coupon on it when I bought it. I figured if it did not last long we would not be out so much money. We have been using it for a couple of years. I usually buy the rolls & cut bags to size for what we need. Comes in handy for resealing bacon since we eat it on Sat or Sun & don't eat again until the following weekend.

Re: Food Saver?

Nightowlz — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 20:02:26 GMT

On 6/1/2014 Perkup said:
I'm also considering buying a Food Saver. Can anyone tell me what the top of the line QVC carries? I'd like one, but If I can't get the best, I'll wait. Any suggestions on features would be appreciated also.

Q does not carry the top of the line. If you look on FoodSaver site online you can see they sell one for $450. http://www.foodsaver.com/vacuum-sealers The one Q sells for $80 is the one I have & does what I need.

Re: Food Saver?

BornToShop — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 20:17:51 GMT

I have the FoodSaver, K40199 & I cannot say enough great things about this machine. DS just left the "nest" so it's just DH, me & the dogs. The pay-off for us is the leftovers that I can now save as well as meats, etc. I recently packaged our Easter Honey Baked Ham. The preservation is phenomenal & what a HUGE difference from the freezer burned ham of the past. Be sure to take the time to read the instructions carefully. This machine can do so much. I had a slight learning curve learning to judge the amount of the roll to use based on what I was packaging, but after a couple of trys, you get the hang of it. I plan on buying some of the FoodSaver containers to try out the marinating feature. I've been told this is a real flavor enhancer taking far less time than the usual overnight process. Again, you will not regret the investment.

Re: Food Saver?

debic — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 20:41:08 GMT

I have an auto start one and while I like it, you use a lot more bag. Not sure I'd buy one like that again. Also if you plan on using jars make sure there's an attachment. I especially like the bags when I'm freezing leftovers, they reheat really nice in simmering water. I freeze in a plastic container and pop it out and put it in a vacuum bag. That way it's nice and uniform for stacking. I use it more for dry goods and 1/2 gallon jars. I've been collecting them for many years. Keeps food from going stale, getting buggy, or humid if you live in a humid place. I think I couldn't live with out mine.

Re: Food Saver?

chickenbutt — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 21:33:17 GMT

Well, YMMV of course, but it's totally worth it to me to vacuum seal. I use mine frequently. I have a few Foodsaver units and one LEM vacuum sealer.

I could go on all day, but it would probably not be seen anyway, so I'll not bore you, but I'm absolutely the queen of all vacuum sealing! ha! I would write a book of tips and ideas, if I thought it would sell, because I am so seriously, weirdly, neurotically, into proper food storage.

But one main moral of the story is that your food items that are stored in the freezer vacuum sealed will last, and stay absolutely PRISTINE, or the very longest time. I've just recently cooked a couple of chicken breasts that I vac sealed and have had in the freezer for over two years. You would never know it. There is no other way to store food that is within a galaxy of being as effective. You MUST remove all the air in order to preclude the myriad of things that happen to foods in the freezer.

Re: Food Saver?

autumnsunset — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 21:52:36 GMT

Thank you all for posting we decided to try a food saver I am so tired of buying zip lock bags and the food going bad so fast and the zip lock bags are getting thinner and more expensive. I think in the long run it will be a good investment. Thank you all for answering.

Re: Food Saver?

debic — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 12:41:48 GMT

If I were ever to buy a different one, it would be the one that folds up for counter storage.

Re: Food Saver?

stilltamn8r — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 12:58:28 GMT

this is my second one- Gave the first to my son and DIL who love it- got the kind which folds "up" on the counter so has a small footprint..

Just today, I needed some chicken breasts for some chicken divan I wanted to make- I had already been to the store, so searched my freezer and found 2 breasts that I had vacuum sealed iin 2009!!!- I cooked and shredded them and guess what? They were FINE! after 5 years!

I don't recommend 5 years, but, hey , good to know...

Re: Food Saver?

autumnsunset — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:36:46 GMT

Good Morning we decided to order the one that folds up we liive in a small home so not much counter space ordered it yesterday and to my surprise it shipped today 6/2 boy that was fast. Good work QVC.

Re: Food Saver?

debic — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:52:59 GMT

Sometimes they just shock you. Force yourself to use it at first and it will become second nature pretty quickly.

Re: Food Saver?

Perkup — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:58:37 GMT

On 6/1/2014 Nightowlz said:
On 6/1/2014 Perkup said:
I'm also considering buying a Food Saver. Can anyone tell me what the top of the line QVC carries? I'd like one, but If I can't get the best, I'll wait. Any suggestions on features would be appreciated also.

Q does not carry the top of the line. If you look on FoodSaver site online you can see they sell one for $450. http://www.foodsaver.com/vacuum-sealers The one Q sells for $80 is the one I have & does what I need.

Sorry I wasn't clear. I wanted to know if it was the top of the line at QVC.

Re: Food Saver?

Soushi24 — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:02:35 GMT

I had a food saver and loved it. Had it for many years and it died. I just replaced it with another Food Saver.

I only wanted the basic Food Saver, not all the other vacuum items that you could have with a higher end purchase. I knew I wouldn't use them and it would just take up shelf space.

I bought mine on Amazon for $29.00. Works fine for me. Also bought bags there too.

Great way to buy meat when on sale and put in freezer bags for 2 people.

Re: Food Saver?

SuziQ2 — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:18:20 GMT

You will love it if you get one. Great item, and saves lots of money by buying larger packages and putting some of those in the freezer to keep them nice and fresh. The

bags that come with it are much heavier than ziplock bags too...so the frozen food will last much longer without freezer burn.

Re: Food Saver?

Cats3000 — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 19:06:46 GMT

We had one a number of years ago. Bought it from the Foodsaver website. It was supposed to be a "heavier duty" model. Used it for about a month and then sent it back. The end of each bag took up so much room in our freezer and that became a problem. Tried to use it on bagels BEFORE partially freezing them. Squashed the bagels. Too much trouble to put fresh ones in the freezer then take them out to seal them, then put them back in the freezer. At the end, the machine had trouble properly sealing bags.

I wouldn't recommend Foodsavers to anyone.

Re: Food Saver?

RASHIKE — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 06:02:41 GMT

IMHO! Well worth the money. Have had one for 20 yrs and use it several times a month.

Re: Food Saver?

Eileen in Virginia — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 01:37:43 GMT

I've had one for years and don't know what I'd do without it, especially since I do alot of my grocery shopping at BJ's. I've never had a problem with freezer burn for food I've sealed in Food Saver bags. I usually get the quart sized bags at BJ's and the gallon sized ones at a nearby outlet mall. I've got a galley kitchen, so counter space is at a premium, but my Food Saver's always on the counter.

Re: Food Saver?

Daysdee — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 01:44:07 GMT

I had one years ago and when I replaced it, the new one just didn't work right. Gave up on it. Recently bought a small one for around $70. from Target. I didn't get the color I wanted, but I don't keep it out. Happy with it so far. Ordered online with free shipping. I have to freeze food now--too expensive to let it go bad.

Re: Food Saver?

Mominohio — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 02:10:45 GMT

I'm with chickenbutt as co queen of the Food Saver. I am on my second one, wore out the first.

Like debc, I use mine and half gallon jars to seal lots of dried goods. Pasta, rice, beans, oats, other hot cereal mixes, dried soup mixes, candy (buy it the day after the holiday, and keep it for a year), flour, sugar, just anything dry. It keeps the bugs out, and keeps things fresh for over a year, so I only buy at rock bottom prices and get enough to last.

We have sealed up a side of beef at a time, and all meat we put in the freezer. When the garden comes in I dice up onions and freeze them for soups and casseroles in the winter, as well as celery when it is on sale cheap.

It has lots of non food uses as well. I've used the bag rolls to cut them to seal a change of clothing when going camping or canoeing. No matter the weather, you have something dry to put on, even after ending up in the river. It works good to seal up fire starting equipment for camping to keep it dry as well. If you are prone to flooding, you can seal up your most important papers (ss card, licences, and other important documents) and not worry about them getting wet, and all together when you have to evacuate.

The cost of the bags is considerable, but many can be used again, and using the jars for all dry goods keeps you from having to buy so many bags and rolls. I wouldn't be without mine.