Kitchen

[CLEM]

I am in the market for a Food Saver.  Don't plan to use it on a daily basis.  I need to use heat seal bags.  Which one do you recommend?

[Mz iMac]

For 20+ years the only one I've ever used is called "Food Saver."  I am currently on my 2nd one.  The original one died.

I purchase from BBB because there is no expiration date for returns & an exchange can be had for "at no extra cost."  If there is a price change, it will be applied & you pay the difference and/or you get $$$ back.

Then there is their 20% coupon.

I use mine when I bulk buy meats.  I have a huge upright freezer.

The freezer bags I get from BJ's because you get 100/box.

[chickenbutt]

I've never had one I didn't like.   I would recommend going above a bare-bones model, though.

Get one with a bag cutter, for sure, unless you plan to ONLY buy pre-cut bags (don't do that!  You need to have rolls, too).

I also have a LEM brand vacuum sealer that I really like a LOT.    Of course, it costs considerably more (like a few times more) but it's all steel and with a much larger motor.    The weird thing is that, for al that money, it doesn't have a bag cutter or roll storage capability.   Maybe they've remedied that, though, as mine is several years old.

[CLEM]

@chickenbutt  Thanks for the info.  I have looked into some of them and definitely want one that is a bag cutter because as you say rolls are less expensive and I guess it varies how large the bag needs to be.  I want to use it for sous vide cooking hence the heat seal bags.

@Mz iMac  Glad you had good experiences with the Food Saver.  Now I just have to identify which model I want.

P.S.:  Unfortunately, in order to go to a BBB store I have to take the train.  I was thinking to either order it from Food Saver directly or from Amazon.  Wish I had a BBB near me.

[Cats3000]

Years ago we had one that was called "The Gamesaver".  We kept it 2 weeks and returned it.  Never could get the containers to seal properly.  Wanted to use it to freeze bagels.  Found we needed to partly freeze the bagels first to keep then from crunching up when we used the machine.  Used so much plastic bag to freeze the bagels that room in our freezer got short.  Also had trouble completely sealing the bags.  And, you had to constantly buy bags and/or rolls of material, and that stuff wasn't cheap.  For us, it was way more trouble than it was worth.  Wouldn't go near another one.

[chickenbutt]

That 'Gamesaver' one was a bizarre Foodsaver model.   I remember seeing it a number of years ago.  I can't even remember what it supposedly did that any other Foodsaver did.

[ECBG]

Whenever I'm making a purchase, I also look it up on Amazon because SO many people review on there!  Fantastic info, almost like reading a poll!

[CLEM]

They still have a Game Saver  $314.96.

Version:1.0 StartHTML:000000223 EndHTML:000026522 StartFragment:000026014 EndFragment:000026430 StartSelection:000026014 EndSelection:000026430 SourceURL:http://www.foodsaver.com/vacuum-sealers/best-vacuum-sealers/Best Vacuum Sealers | Foodsaver

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[CLEM]

Version:1.0 StartHTML:000000323 EndHTML:000062662 StartFragment:000062094 EndFragment:000062530 StartSelection:000062094 EndSelection:000062530 SourceURL:https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_6_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=food+savers+vacuu... Amazon.com: food savers vacuum machines - Kitchen & Dining: Home & Kitchen

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  I am looking at this as a possibility.  Saw it on Amazon.  Has great reviews mostly  $90.97.  Any thoughts?

[Marp]

@CLEM, that looks exactly like the one I have except for the model number.  Mine is V3245 which may be because I bought it through Q when it was a TSV.

I have had several Foodsaver models over the years and I like this one the best.

ETA:  Reading the description it appears this does not come with a starter supply of bags so don't forget to order some.  You are correct in thinking that you will want rolls. 

At the bottom of the description is an offer for two large rolls.  They are what I use and highly recommend them with the caveat that they will not fit in the built in holder but with the V3240 model you can leave the lid up and position the rolls behind the unit.  These rolls are a huge money saver over the Foodsaver brand.