Anyone else have a FoodSaver?

[Love Bug]

I just replaced mine with a new one because I burnt out my first one ( I think I sucked up liquid into the motor one time too many). ;(

I gotta say, tho, they are great gadgets for keeping the freezer burn off meat and chicken.

[Shakespeare]

1. I'd LOVE to hear "testimonials" on this...

I'm thinking of getting one to package produce for the freezer this summer/fall. Has anyone here ever used one for that?

[Love Bug]

2. I have. It works really well.

The trick is you have to blanch veggies first and make sure they are dry so you don't suck water into the machine (that's how I ruined mine)! There are instructions for dealing with different types of produce. For example, they recommend you freeze berries first on a cookie sheet then put them in the foodsaver bag. Other foods or leftovers you can freeze first in a plastic container then pop the frozen block into a bag to shrinkwrap.

I think these machines are worth it, which is why I just bought a second one.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. How do you handle meats and fish? And also, what brand do you

have?

Funnily enough, I was in Kohls earlier today and they had some on sale. I don't recall the brand or even the price ..... just that they were on a clearance cart in the middle of the aisle.

[Love Bug]

5. I have a FoodSaver -- the kind you see in the infomercials

For meat and fish you just place the uncooked meat or fish in the bag and suck 'n seal. Works for frozen, too. If the meat or fish is juicy you place some papertowel in the bag with it to soak up the liquid.

[cmf]

4. I really want one

We buy a partial share in a community supported agriculture program every summer. I'd like to get a full share this year and freeze all of the leftover veggies and berries for use in the winter. Does it work well with veggies?

[Love Bug]

6. Yes, it works well with veggies.

[wildeyed]

8. I saw one today at Costco

for about $130. It looked fancier than mine, included three canisters and some bags. Seemed like a decent price.

How do you find out about community supported agriculture? I have been looking to buy a share in one locally, but I can't find any after multiple google searches. Any suggestions? I hate grocery store veggies, they are stored too long and usually don't taste so fresh.

[cmf]

15. I happened upon mine by chance

Pike Place Market in Seattle does a CSA and they deliver to office buildings downtown. I got an email asking if people wanted to sign up for my building, so I did. Last summer, I switched to a farm closer to where I live, but I think I will go back to the Pike Place one this year.

Have you tried this database? http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/csastate.htm

[NMDemDist2]

16. ummmm Pike Place Market -- Market Spice Tea---- YUMMM n/t

[wildeyed]

17. Thanks,

I will look at the site later.

[Nicole]

7. I have a FoodSaver, Tilia brand

I absolutely love it. I'm single & it has saved me a LOT of money because I can buy meat items on sale, that are usually family sized, and freeze in smaller portions.
I do the same with crackers & seal in the canisters. No more old, stale crackers for one.
Even saving 1/2 an avocado is now possible without it turning to black mush overnight.

I make my own tv dinners by putting left overs on a heavy duty paper plate & then sealing the whole thing. The Chinanet plates is what I use.
You could probably use plastic or styrofoam but I don't because I microwave the plate.

I don't buy the bags. I buy the rolls & cut the bags the size I want.
I also reuse the bags I make over & over. They are washable if you do it by hand. I don't reuse ones with fish though, just for the smell factor.

The one I have has built in storage area for the rolls so that's another reason I never buy the bags.

[wildeyed]

9. Do you freeze the tv dinners?

I haven't tried that yet, but sounds like a good idea.

I put the bags in the dishwasher inside out on the upper rack. Doesn't seem to hurt them.

[Nicole]

10. yes, I do freeze them.

It works out great. It's hard to cook for one sometimes.

I have never tried the dishwasher for my bags. I should have wrote that, instead of hand washing is necessary. It's good to know you can wash them that way.

I seldom use my dishwasher because I am single. It takes too long to get a full load.

[wildeyed]

11. Good for you.

I hardly ever bothered to cook when I was single.

[Nicole]

13. I go through phases

Sometimes I cook everyday. Other times I eat out for weeks & have to dust my stove off before I can cook. :)

[NMDemDist2]

12. hint on avocados, leave the seed in place and it won't turn brown

cut the section out you want to use and leave the seed in the rest. The worst that happens is a small amount by the cut edge may dry out, just slice that off and the rest of the avocado is as good as new :D
edit speeling LOL

[Nicole]

14. Thanks!

That's a new for me, I never heard of that.

[Sparkly]

18. I have a confession to make...

I've seen those infomercials. And just like you do in any insomiac state of infomercial-watching, I truly start to think, "Hey, that's not a bad idea... Actually, I could use one of those... In fact, one of those could really change my LIFE! ... Look at those average people there testifying to its greatness-- why, it saved their lives!! Glory BE, gimmee one of THOSE!!" You know how it is... At 2:00 am, you think you're brilliant.

I went through that with a foodsaver. The next morning, I gave a weak pitch to Husb, like, "You know, we could vacuum our food into plastic things and it'd make our leftovers last longer."

(Husb: Blank stare.)

"I saw an infomercial on it when I couldn't sleep last night."

Husb: "You've got to calm down about this election!"

So don't tell him I said so, but that's one appliance I've actually considered buying. He's out of town right now, so shhhh... I'm trying to curb his appetite for appliances. He so loves his copper pots and zesters and grill pans and God knows what (and I mean he reeeeeally loves them -- sometimes he gets this look of smiley nirvana just stirring and washing them). And since he got his way with that sweet little sorbet maker for Christmas, and since I know he's now got his eye on some sort of home-wrecker breadmaker now, I almost hate to mention my willingness to go along with a foodsaver.

So don't tell him I posted this... I want to see if he notices! ;)

[NMDemDist2]

19. ahhh sparkly,

we'll never tell, but not much in this forum escapes H2S lol

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Notice? Notice what?

Has anyone seen my wife, the Sparkly Fairy Princess? Ya can't miss her. She's the one with the vacuum packed tiara ........

[Sparkly]

21. huh?