Anyone use a Foodsaver machine?

[fullauto 45]

I'm looking at getting one. Most of my deer does not last 6 months, but I have other meat that may stay longer. Just wondering who has what and any problems with any.

 

[cesna250]

I did for about 6 months. But the bags are super expensive to order.

 

[UNCLE HARLEY]

I pulled a package of bluegills out of the freezer last night from May09. Still good, no freezer burn.

 

[Rookie]

Sam's club is pretty reasonable on the bags.

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

I have used them for my deer, fish, Coffee beans and other meats for years.

 

[mrjarrell]

We use a Kenmore/Sears vacuum sealer and are reasonably pleased. I use Foodsaver bags and they aren't too costly if you buy them at Sam's or Walmart. Having access to the rolls of bags is nice, you can cut to size on almost anything. I've never had a complaint with them. They seal nicely and the contents stay fresh for ages. You can also use them to marinate meats, too. Add the meat and a marinade, seal and toss in the fridge for a day or two. Yum! It's a good investment and makes buying in bulk easier. You can save a few bucks over the years.

 

[AGarbers]

Recommend staying away from Zip Vac bags. Fully 50 percent of the ZV bags I used lost their seal.

 

[gvsugod]

My dad has one. Its great. We reuse the bags. When you open them cut them just below the seal. Havent bought bags in a long time.

 

[usaf64]

I use one for meats, storing dried hot peppers, leftovers, etc. For instance, I might put leftover barbecue in a bag, seal it, put it in the freezer. Later, I'll pull it ot and throw it in a pot of boiling water. After it heats up you have hot barbecue and you don't have any utensils to wash up.

I also make hamburger patties and cook a bunch of them. Whatever is left, we seal, two to a bag, and freeze them. My wife and I just had two tonight for supper.

I took a bunch of bluegills and pureed them in the food processor. I then sealed and froze them. When I get ready to cook them, I mix some onion and green pepper in with them. I then shape them into patties and fry them in a little oil. They hold together well and make a nice-sized piece of fish. I've never done this, but you could probably add a little filler such and bread crumbs or cracker crumbs to make the fish to a little further. You might also be able to make a nice beer batter to dip them in and then deep dry them. You'll think you're at Long John Silver's

My only issue with my sealer is that sometimes that seals fail. Even when that happens it doesn't seem to have an adverse effect on the quality of the frozen food.

 

[Yeah]

I like them for low volume pursuits, but they can't hang with a VacMaster when you have a pile to put up.

In either case I source my bags from Pleasant Hill Grain, usually. Foodsaver bags here, chamber type here. Priced right and boilable.

 

[Richwon4]

Big investment, the investment that pays off if you do it long enough. We have been using ziploc freezer bags for venison for years. Our meet lasts year or better. Put the meat in, roll the air out, then put in a paper lunch sack and tape shut.

 

[hooky]

I have one. Great investment. In Spetember, I pulled out steelhead from a few years ago. It was fine. I buy the bags by the roll. Whenever anyone has salmon, steaks or chops on sale for a hellacious deal, they end up vac packed in my freezer along with game and fish I've taken.

 

[Corbinator]

I have used one for years. You can flash fry morrell mushrooms and freeze on a cookie sheet then vac seal them after they are frozen and enjoy a year later .

 

[Kraor]

I have one and put up my deer in them. Worked great, except i marinaded some of the meat and vacuuming the "wet" meat was a bit of a messy challenge.

 

[Corbinator]

Let me add a bit to the mushroom comment. Do not fry them completely just long enough to set the flour on them. Then freeze them on a cookie sheet after they are frozen throw them in the food saver bag and seal away. At any time pull out as many as you want to eat and drop them in your grease. Reseal any shrooms you don't use. Do not thaw them out beforehand.

 

[eldirector]

Love ours, and use the heck out of it.

We break up all kinds of stuff into single meal or single serving sizes, seal 'em up, and freeze. My wife started pre-cooking meats and freezing as well. Makes meal time quick and easy.

Lots of tricks to vacuum packing stuff. We pre-freeze berries in a big bowl (just enough to firm them up) before sealing them. Keeps them from smushing (technical term). That, or use the vacuum-sealed containers.

 

[kludge]

Have one use it occasionally, worth the money. The Foodsaver(R) brand bags are much better, but not worth it for everything that I seal. Can get them at WalMart.

 

[RonnieF]

im gonna make some patties now never thought of it. you ever added beer to the bag and sealed it before cooking? to give the fish time to soak it in kind of like ribs?

I use one for meats, storing dried hot peppers, leftovers, etc. For instance, I might put leftover barbecue in a bag, seal it, put it in the freezer. Later, I'll pull it ot and throw it in a pot of boiling water. After it heats up you have hot barbecue and you don't have any utensils to wash up.

I also make hamburger patties and cook a bunch of them. Whatever is left, we seal, two to a bag, and freeze them. My wife and I just had two tonight for supper.

I took a bunch of bluegills and pureed them in the food processor. I then sealed and froze them. When I get ready to cook them, I mix some onion and green pepper in with them. I then shape them into patties and fry them in a little oil. They hold together well and make a nice-sized piece of fish. I've never done this, but you could probably add a little filler such and bread crumbs or cracker crumbs to make the fish to a little further. You might also be able to make a nice beer batter to dip them in and then deep dry them. You'll think you're at Long John Silver's

My only issue with my sealer is that sometimes that seals fail. Even when that happens it doesn't seem to have an adverse effect on the quality of the frozen food.

 

[Shootin'IN]

I'm saving a lot of $$ with mine by buying a small boneless ham & shaving it on a slicer instead of buying the shaved ham in the small packages.
It packs easy in about 3/4 to 1 lb packages & I can get it ate up in lunches before it goes bad.
I trick I found to vac seal fish that you caught, put the fish in zip-lock bag and add a little water seal the bag then freeze. After frozen you can vac-seal the whole thing or tear it out of the zip-lock then vac-seal the iced fish. Doing it this way will give you moister flakier fish after cooking & it will last frozen longer.

 

[AGarbers]

I have one and put up my deer in them. Worked great, except i marinaded some of the meat and vacuuming the "wet" meat was a bit of a messy challenge.

Freeze the whole thing first, then vacuum pack it to avoid the mess.