https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/4030057684

ulsterman's vacuum sealer thread is in a completely different universe from what I'm looking at.
$1300 machines are not in my future.

I have an antique Dazey Seal-a-Meal that hasn't been used in years (bags no longer available). We've taken to using ziplock freezer bags but obviously neither have the benefit of air removal. It'd be nice to have a modest but reliable and capable small vacuum unit.

I see the $99 Nesco VS-12 seems to get good reviews. That said there are numerous under $200 units out there. Anyone care to weigh in here?

I've used a $200+ Foodsaver since around 1995 or so and it works beautifully, so I believe in the brand.

Here's a Foodsaver for $159.99
https://www.amazon.com/FoodSav...b3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

https://www.meatyourmaker.com/preserve/food-sealer/

I have the larger size of this one and it’s been great. To me it seems like a step up from my previous Food saver sealers.

You can get all the air out of a zip lock bag. Fill your sink with water. Put the product you wish to freeze in the zip lock. Submerge the zip lock bag into the water right up to the seal. Then seal shut. Dry the bag and put in freezer. The water pressure forces all the air out of the bag. Poor mans food sealer! Or if you just don't want another appliance cluttering up the kitchen.

Would these bags work?


I've had a FoodSaver machine for 15 or 20 years. I don't use it all the time but it's been great. Amazon has two models. One at $89 and one at $159. I like the canisters for various items - that might influence which machine I'd buy if I had to replace my current unit. Amazon search results

If you're a member of a warehouse club check prices there.

Looks like FoodSaver has a black friday sale Sometimes I freeze large items (I do hunt) so I'd look hard at the Gamesaver Big Game model. It's listed at 40% off.

We have one we bought on sale at Costco a two or three years ago. They don't carry it anymore, but it's very similar to the FoodSaver® FM2000 Vacuum Sealing System

My wife recalls we bought it on sale for around $80 and the normal price was somewhere north of $100.

Works great. Some stuff my wife buys gets split into meal-size portions, vacuum-sealed, and frozen. She cooks some stuff in large quantities and does the same.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:

I see the $99 Nesco VS-12 seems to get good reviews.

The Amazon web page for this has two answers to the question "Where is this made?"

One replay says China, the other says U.S.A.

I used the "Contact Us" form on the Nesco website and asked. Nesco customer service replied that it is made in China.

We have the Foodsaver same as the uber-picture above.
It was $99 at Costco and Tuesday Morning at the time.
I would rather have one of those high dollar units but this works perfectly well.
Supplies are readily available everywhere too.

SR,

No sadly those bags won't work. Mine uses bags that have pre-punched holes to fit on the hot seal guide. But thanks.


All,

Looking hard at your recommendations.
Jeff, sent you an email.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bald1,

Food Saver

I have had my Food Saver for a bunch of years now, and it gets worked a fair bit, as I smoke a lot of meats and poultry during the Holidays and vacuum seal it for the next year. A few years back I did have to purchase new seals ($2.00) for the lid. It does just what I need for it to do.

I may still have a few of the old Dazy seal-a-meal bags around somewhere. I am not too sure how good they would be at this date.

I have used this Foodsaver for three and a half years, and I have used it A LOT.

Works like a champ and if it lasts 4 years and dies $32 bucks a year for everything I've sealed is pretty good. The amount of food I've been able to make last pays for it.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/pr...n_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I have a Foodsaver as well, works wonderfully.

quote:

I see the $99 Nesco VS-12 seems to get good reviews. That said there are numerous under $200 units out there. Anyone care to weigh in here?

We have this unit. It does not see heavy use - we use it for sous vide and other tasks, maybe once or twice weekly. It's enough for our modest uses and seems like it will continue trucking along well enough.

Scheel's has the Nesco VS-12 for $89.99 shipped.

https://www.scheels.com/p/nesc...ler/07826201128.html

We've been using the Foodsaver sealers for years. We seal & freeze alot of fresh produce for use in the Winter, and alot of meats that we get at good prices.

We used the heck out of one of the basic $70 models, for a few years but it finally wore out this year. We replaced it with one of their more expensive models, thinking it'd take harder use, but that was a big mistake.

https://www.amazon.com/FoodSav...r%2Caps%2C575&sr=8-6

With this new $189 super duper model, we can only vacuum seal one or two items before it overheats & we have to let it sit for a minute or two, to cool down. We were much happier with the less expensive model.

Use the Foodsaver bought at Costco, it was on sale under $100, but it's not now $149.

https://www.costco.com/foodsav...oduct.100648022.html

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
Submerge the zip lock bag into the water right up to the seal. Then seal shut.

Sometimes I use a straw to suck the air out. Saw that trick years ago. You suck out the air then seal the last little spot of the seal as you pull the straw out. Trouble is ziplock bags usually don't seal all that good.

My Foodsaver gets a lot of use, both to freeze and store food and for sous vide cooking which it’s great for. It was a lot cheaper when I bought it at Costco years ago but if it broke I’d replace it at the current price. It easily earns it’s counter space here but they may have versions just as capable with a smaller footprint if the size is an issue.

https://www.foodsaver.com/food...P_FSFSSL4440000.html