FoodSaver Vacum Sealer

[kristi96]

I plan to start making meals and freezing them. Is the vacum sealer a good investment?

[kaaris]

I use one, but I tend to use it more for freezing produce, as opposed to cooked meals. With juicy stuff, it's a little annoying - you need to use a paper towel, or pre-freeze it and then vacuum seal it. That works pretty well, actually. What I've done before is make 3-4 pans of enchiladas, freeze them in the pan (inside aluminum foil), then pop them out and vacuum seal them for longer term storage. I did that when I was expecting a baby, and it worked perfectly! I took out enchiladas months later and they were good as new.

[Pinoikoi]

I really like using mine, but I think "reusing packaging" is a bit of a stretch.. that only works if you can open it the first time completely straight, wash it, stick something else in it, and then reseal the new item.. my bags tend to curl too much after cutting them open the first time.. so it means new bags for me every time..

if someone in your family hunts or fishes, though, i would say it is a necessity.. I would like to get to the point I can cook meals for the month in advance, and seal them and freeze them but I am not yet that organized..