I bought a Vacuum Sealer yesterday.

[jvs]

After toying with the idea for a few years, I finally broke down and bought a Vacuum Sealer yesterday, and I put it to use twice already.

First I bought some Stuffed Tolapia in bulk and portioned them up in meals.  Then I did meat that I bought in bulk.

I know this will come in handy when the veggies come in later on.  These gadgets prolong the life af any stored or frozen contents.

Although I am a big fan of Home Canning, making it easier for freezing is also a big help.  I can buy in bulk alot more now and split it up in meal packs.  The Vacuum packs are microwavable and can just as easily be dropped in boiling water for cooking.

For $50 I thought the Seal-A-Meal was a good buy. And since a local Provision Company deals directly with the Public at reduced prices, buying in bulk is the way to go.

No more Plastic Bags, Freezer Paper or Freezer Burn for me.

http://www.seal-a-meal.com/why/

[quickdtoo]

I've been using a Foodsaver for about 20yrs, I've never been disappionted in it, it's money well spent. 

Tim

[jvs]

Where is the best place to buy the rolls of that plastic material ?  I see alot of places are getting about $10 a roll and $7.97 on sale.  Walmarts has the rolls for over $10 and Sam's isn't much better.  I haven't been to Kohl's or Target yet.  So far K-Mart was the cheapest because they were on sale.  I will try the internet next but the price of shipping may become a problem.  I might be better off getting the vacuum bowls for some things and use them instead of the rolls.

Since I bought that thing I have used it on bulk purchases of Cod, Haddock, Hamburger, Pork and Chicken.  I also vacuum bagged some left-over homemade soup.   Home grown veggies are  on the list when they come in.  We like String Beans and home made Stewed Tomato's.

[quickdtoo]

I used the endless rolls of bags and the jar sealers, bags are $7-$10 for each roll and are reuseable, so I don't use a lot of em, cut them long to begin with, then you loose about ½"-¾" each time you cut them open. 

Tim

[jvs]

This weekend I went searching the net for rolls.  I have found that there is plenty of 8"x50' rolls available for commercial use.  These rolls will work on the home units, according to the sellers.  The price of these rolls vary from $14.95 to $29.99, and just about any price in between, plus shipping.  50 Feet is a good length for $14.95.  At $30, they are no better price, possibly worse after shipping, than buying them in the store.

I even found a case of 12 - 8"x22' for $71.

I hadn't planned on washing them out and reusing them, but that may well become the practice.

At least it isn't as bad as buying ammo.
 

[GregP42]

JVS,

Where did you find the 50' rolls of bags? I have a vacuum sealer too, it is just a basic one, no options but to do bags. I love it, buy in bulk and parcel it out and then freeze it up! I think it is one of the better things I have bought for the house.

Greg

[jvs]

ebay.

I think I punched 'vacuum sealer rolls' in the search.

[GregP42]

JVS,

Thanks, time to go surfing in the bay I guess 

Greg

[striker525]

I have as well been using the seal a meal for seems like forever. I think my mother bought one of the first ones that was ever sold. I have used mine for everything from food preservation to Sealing up my Daughters Softball uniforms when she travels. I utilize the Marinator the most I think, but have finally got to put in a garden so hopefully the SAM will be working overtime.

[jvs]

I could kick my self.

I went to a Semi-Annual Flea Market that the 4H & Grange holds. The next one will be in Autumn.

While walking around I found not one, not two, but three different vacuum sealers.  One S_A_M was like brand new for $5, and had a box of gallon bags to go with it.  One of the other two was slightly used and also had gallon bags and a jar sealer for an asking price of $20.  The third one was used alot more than the other two and $12.  Since I already had a new one, I talked myself out of buying the one for $5, and continued to walk around looking at stuff.  The second time around, the $5 one was still there and I decided if it was still there on my third round I would buy it to keep as a spare.

Well.....  I probably don't need to tell you what happened on the third time around.  The $5 one was GONE !

The second one was marked down from $20 to $10, but I didn't want that one, or the third one.


I could kick my self....  But I can't reach the spot where it would do the most good.