Are vacuum sealers worth the price?

[pscot]

Renate thinks we need one, but I'm afraid it will just take up space. Do you have one? Do you use it often enough to justify having it?

[PoliticAverse]

1. Do you buy in bulk at places like Costco and would benefit from being able to vacuum pack

or freeze stuff you get cheaper?

[pscot]

3. We do

And we occasionally cook ahead and put up leftovers

[PoliticAverse]

6. The prime advantage of the vacuum packing before freezing is to prevent freezer burn.

Freezer burn for some people makes leftovers much less desirable.

[Major Nikon]

2. I use mine very often

However, I make a lot of stuff at home in bulk and I also do a fair amount of sous vide which requires a vacuum sealer.

Ziplock sells a system that uses bags with one-way valves and a small hand operated pump that would easily fit in a kitchen drawer. I've never tried it, but that might be good for infrequent use or just a cheap way to try it out.

[Jenoch]

9. Reynolds used to have

a poor man's version of a vacuum sealer. It was battery operated and worked pretty good. Then they stopped making them and stopped making the bags. The Ziplock version has a handpump. The seal works for a few weeks and then the seal is broken. I would skip the Ziplock cheap version. We still don't have a real vacuum sealer, but will probably buy one soon.

[flamin lib]

4. I have one and use it a lot.

I buy in bulk if prices are good and the vacuum packaging keeps frozen foods a year or more. I also cook sous vide which requires a vacuum sealed food. On occasion I cook in bulk and package in serving size portions for evenings when I don't feel like cooking. This is a great way to package meals for camping or sailing. Just drop in boiling water, open the bag and serve plus they keep drinks cold.

If none of those applications appeal to you perhaps it's a gadget that isn't worth the money or space.

[MuseRider]

5. I use mine a lot.

It is an older one that I bought a long time ago. I love it. During harvest time I use it so much. The rest of the year I use it mainly to store food I cook in quantities to store, especially soups. I really like it but the new ones do come dear!

I would say yes, they are worth it at least it is for me.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. Yes but get the best one you can afford.

The less expensive one I owned was really tempermental and finally died after about three years. Took the next step up and it is better but still overheats if you try to do too much at once and you have to give it a rest before you use it again. When this one dies I will go full commercial grade.

[The empressof all]

8. The VacuVita is going to be release soon....I am waiting for one of those

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vacuvita-vacuum-food-saver-system-kitchen-technology-and-design-combined


They are attractive on the counter and allow you to seal in bags as well as in their containers. I like the "bread" keeper function that doubles as the base of the unit. Plus the color selection is really nice.

[annabanana]

10. I use mine all the time.

I cut meat into family meal sizes and shrink wrap them and freeze them.

[pscot]

11. I just want y'all to know that

Renate will be really pleased with our new vacuum sealer. I had no idea.

[pinto]

12. One's on my to-buy list. Like to hear suggestions on makes, models, prices etc.

My sister has one, uses it all the time. Bulk buys and into the freezer stock.

[spinbaby]

13. We had one once

Wasn't worth the space. Maybe if we bought meat in bulk or something, it would be worthwhile.

[pengillian101]

14. I have used a vacuum sealer for many years.

The very first one I had was not a vacuum sealer per se, but we could seal leftovers and then boil-in-the-bag to re-heat after freezing, so that was cool in the early 1970's.

Daisy Seal-A-Meal.



But now I use a new vacuum sealer, which I love. It really vacuums! Foodsaver - I am on my second machine as I plum wore out the first one.

The cheeses alone that we vacuum have paid the price of the machine. We have not thrown out any hard cheese in over 25 years. That more than pays for (2) Foodsavers.

[rdharma]

15. Vacuum sealers can be used for more things than just food

Almost anything (of sealable size) that you want to protect from moisture can be vacuum sealed.

I currently have Foodsaver (I'm on my second). They were reasonably priced. But knowing what I know now.... I should have gone with a better quality (more expensive) sealer.