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Help me choose a food (vacuum) sealer
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 4:45 am
by workinwifdakids
I'd like to buy a food sealer, with which to vacuum seal food (and other products). I'd like your help in choosing something.
Also, I'd like a book to go along with this purchase, so I can maximize my knowledge about this. Any recommendations on that front? Thanks!
Re: Help me choose a food (vacuum) sealer
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:14 am
by MelodyByrne
i have the basic Foodsaver and I'm not terribly impressed. The price is good for what you get, but it's bulky and wastes a lot of the plastic required. Also, if you want to vacuum seal anything soft, forget about it unless you freeze it first.
Re: Help me choose a food (vacuum) sealer
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:14 am
by Rich Jordan
I have a Foodsaver 1050; it worked great for the first couple of years of moderate use (2-3 bags a week, a few times many bags in one day). Lately its been troublesome with inconsistent results, sealing problems, etc.
I have seen the metal commercial 'gamesavers' sold by Cabelas and others, and they look pretty solid, but I have no experience with them.
Whats your expected usage, volume wise?
Re: Help me choose a food (vacuum) sealer
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 4:19 pm
by Ben Rumson
Wife has a Foodsaver b300. Seems to work OK.
Re: Help me choose a food (vacuum) sealer
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 4:22 pm
by HTRN
I would make sure you have an external vacuum port, so you can use vac seal mason jars.
Guys, keep in mind, you're paying less than a hundred bucks, for a device with a heat sealer, and vac pump. Go see what a Gast pump costs. Go on, I'll wait.
You want to know what a good vac sealer costs? Uline has a nice one.. for 2 grand. if you want a good one, expect to pay 400 bucks and up.
HTRN
Re: Help me choose a food (vacuum) sealer
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:04 pm
by Dedicated_Dad
For food, you'd be much better served with some free foodgrade buckets from bakery/donut shops (make sure the lids have gaskets) some mylar bags and some oxygen absorbers.
You can seal the bags with a cheap iron.
For... "other things"...
you can use the bags but still seal with an iron. Suck out the air with a regular vacuum adapted down to a small hose - seal all but a little bit, suck out the air, fold to keep from losing the vacuum inside then iron the last little spot.
You can buy enough mylar/o2 absorbers to outfit an army for the $400 you'd spend on a "good" sealer...
DD
Re: Help me choose a food (vacuum) sealer
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:12 pm
by HTRN
Dedicated_Dad wrote:You can seal the bags with a cheap iron.
Better yet, buy a
cheap heat sealer.
HTRN
Re: Help me choose a food (vacuum) sealer
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 12:23 am
by Dedicated_Dad
I was trying to say you can still use the roll of foodbag material - for making lo0000-ooong bags - and seal with an iron (or HTRN's sealer)...
DD