COMMERCIAL-GRADE VACUUM SEALERS

Babalooie

Babalooie

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I'm looking for a well made, dependable food grade vacuum sealer. The more I look at what's available, the more confused I get.

Currently, Cabela's has some high end sealers on sale. Looking at the reviews, it appears to be a "roll of the dice." People either swear by them or at them.

I don't mind paying an initial high price for one if it will work and last. Of course, I'd rather keep my investment to a minimum, but know that's not always possible.

I'd appreciate input on brands and models available. Thanks in advance.
 
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Price the bags! Most consumer grade can all use the same bags but prices are high and vary widely. It's easy to spend more on bags than the machine itself.
 
I have been using the "Foodsaver" brand for a few years and love it.I think mine cost around $99. Stand-up models take up less space on the countertop.Anytime I see a sale on meats or fish I load up.I also bought some containers.Keeps coffee fresh a lot longer.If you buy a sealer make sure you buy the uncut bag rolls.You can customize the length to your needs.

Sure beats unwrapping that freezer paper and finding out the food is freezer burnt!

Shop Our Selection of Vacuum Sealers and Food Sealers at FoodSaver.com
 
I also use the "Foodsaver" brand. As a matter of fact I just bought a newer model after the first one I bought 10 yrs. ago gave up.
I buy my bags by the rolls on e-bay. I also recommend the canning jar attachment.

SWCA #1834
 
Commercial grade vacuum sealers are quite pricey. Unless you plan on using it for non-food stuff and selling the item then a simple home vacuum sealer is enough.

I've used both Foodsaver and Deni. The Foodsaver is by far the best of the two. The Deni is a lower priced model and replacement bags are thinner. The Deni bags are only factory sealed on one side so you have to size the bag both by width and depth. Makes for a clucky system with a lot of wasted edges.

Just remember to use 30 seconds between heat sealing. Its important or else you'll burn the heating element out. I generallly heat seal then go off and do something then come back a minute later to finish.
 
My Food Saver is almost seven years old and sees a lot of use. I use it for long term storage of meats bought in quantity when on sale as well as storing individual servings of cooked foods. Basically, my frozen TV dinners are homemade. The bags and rolls are expensive, but I buy in bulk from their website and generally get free shipping and 30 to 40% quantity discounts. If you get on their mailing list they will send you special offers a couple of times a year.
 
quneur said:
Commercial grade vacuum sealers are quite pricey. Unless you plan on using it for non-food stuff and selling the item then a simple home vacuum sealer is enough.

I've used both Foodsaver and Deni. The Foodsaver is by far the best of the two. The Deni is a lower priced model and replacement bags are thinner. The Deni bags are only factory sealed on one side so you have to size the bag both by width and depth. Makes for a clucky system with a lot of wasted edges.

Just remember to use 30 seconds between heat sealing. Its important or else you'll burn the heating element out. I generallly heat seal then go off and do something then come back a minute later to finish.
Click to expand...

Good advice on the heating element.I think it's also stated in the manual somewhere.Doesn't make buying one a deal breaker.
 
Foodsaver brand works for us also. although if you want long term storage Mylar Bags work better but more expensive instead of the foodsaver bags.
 
We also use the Foodsaver brand, seems like it was around $100. We have a Sams club here so we buy a lot of meat in bulk when they have a sale. Works great on soup and chili too. Good luck.
 
Babalooie said:
What do you consider long term storage?
Click to expand...

All I've ever used were bags made from standard Foofsaver bag material. I try to use things within one year of freezing, but have found steaks that were 18 months old in my chest freezer and they were fine after thawing in the refrigerator. My freezer is set at -10 F and is manual defrost.
 
Babalooie said:
What do you consider long term storage?
Click to expand...

Well if you are a prepper stocking up food they are listed as you will be able to maintain an airtight seal for 40+ years with the use of oxygen absorbers or desiccants. They are also listed to block out sun light. These are what Wise and other long term food storage companies use. For normal use regular bags work for up to a year or there abouts we use them but if not properly sealed they will leak over time.

Regular vacuum bag are said to leach air through them so very long term storage could be a problem.

BTW We
 
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Not really a prepper.

My wife buys meat on sale and freezes it. By the time she comes around to cook it, it's freezer burned and has lost its flavor. While it probably won't kill anyone, it has a nasty taste. Guess that's why there's hot sauce.

I keep telling her I'm gonna get her a vacuum sealer and thought I'd actually do it.
 
What model Foodsaver do you all use? On their web site Foodsaver has over twenty different models.

Too many choices!
 
If you are interested in the Foodsaver brand then just get model #v3485 $99 free shipping. Models and styles change every year so what we have doesn't really matter.

Who the heck buys the wife an appliance and lives to talk about it? The first thing you vacuum seal better be a ring or necklace and put it in the box before gift wrapping.
 
Babalooie said:
What model Foodsaver do you all use? On their web site Foodsaver has over twenty different models.

Too many choices!
Click to expand...

First decide where you will store it and decide if a vertical or horizontal unit will work better. I have a basic horizontal unit which lives on top of a counter top microwave oven when not in use.

You will want a built in bag cutter to get quick straight cuts on your bag material rolls. A lot of the other features like seal only are fluff. You can seal only by putting the bag over the heating element without inserting the open end in the vacuum chamber. Mine has a cut only setting, which basically turns it off for cutting. I've been known to set the selector to that cut my bags, and then plug in the machine. Duh:o

If you are going to pay more than around $100 for one look at the bags, bag material rolls, and or accessories that come with the machine. Foodsavers are like Gillette razors and HP inkject printers. The machine is cheap and the big money is made on the supplies.

Edit: I clicked over to the Foodsaver website and Promo Code HOLIDAY3A popped up for me. It's good for $20 off four packages of mix and match bags or rolls. If you are new to Foodsaver I'd recommend one 11" roll, one 8"roll, a package of 20 quart bags, and a package of pint bags. If you have no interest in freezing cooked foods, get a second 8" roll instead of the pint bags. In the past, when I ordered from Foodsave they included a Promo Code on the invoice that came with the shipment.
 
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coltle6920 said:
Who the heck buys the wife an appliance and lives to talk about it? The first thing you vacuum seal better be a ring or necklace and put it in the box before gift wrapping.
Click to expand...

It's actually a gift for myself, since I'm the one that eats most of the meat in my house. The wife won't be offended by this kind of gift, since she's a chef and enjoys new "toys."

Besides, when she wants something, she knows she'll get it.


Thanks to all for your input. I really appreciate it.
 
They're not just for food. I have used mine for sealing clothes, matches, toilet paper, cigars, ammunition, and lots of other things one might need on a camping or hunting trip.
Food also last longer than they claim in their ads. I Have Buffalo and Elk from at least 3 years ago that were properly trimmed of excess fat, and they taste just fine.
 
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