vacuum sealers

[Arduinna]

My mom has had a variety of vacuum sealers like the seal a meal and food saver over the years but they always end up breaking. I really like the concept of these and have wanted one forever but I don't want to waste money on something that isn't going to do the job and last.

How have you liked yours?

[JessicaS]

I have a food saver. I like it ok but I have only had it about a year.

[Arianwen1174]

I like to check the ratings & reviews on Amazon when I'm looking to see how well things will hold up, etc. Buying a product with plenty of good ratings hasn't failed me yet.

[Arduinna]

yea, the negative reviews on Amazon is what made me ask here. Along with my moms personal experience.

[425lisamarie]

I NEED a new one. I have gone through 2 of the costco models, and supposedly those are the best ones, and not cheap, like one was over $100, the next one was like at least $200 a couple years later. I think they are just too wimpy for lack of a better word. I have acquired several commercial quality appliances of time, and I find that the investment is just worth it. I'll link the one I plan to get, though it's not in my budget right now, probalby in the next couple months though. And for me, I don't think of a vaccum sealer as saving me money buying in bulk, really, because the cost of the unit is high, HOWEVER, just like any other very well designed, heavy duty appliance it makes my life better, easier, when I can cook things for the freeezer and pull them out good as fresh. I"m sure there are several places you can buy them but online:

http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/vac...m_sealers.aspx

http://www.cooking.com/products/shpr...cid=6461895241

[Arduinna]

I was just at Costco looking at them yesterday and the model they currently have ( same one as on their website) is 150 in store. I'm concerned over the regular need to replace them though.

Thanks for the links, that one looks great but I'm not sure I want to spend almost 500 dollars right now for it.

[425lisamarie]

Ditto. I CAN'T spend $500 right now. I'm thinking if spending is minimal over a few months maybe. Over summer I cook SO simple and fresh it's almost never necessary to feed my freezer, but I'm looking out for next fall

I keep thinking that I've spent close to $400 already for the units and all the bags. $30 for the box of bags, and the last sealer I bought was over $200.

i should also add that if you want to seal several things in a row, it's REALLY slow.

[Arduinna]

You mean the foodsver is really slow if you want to seal multiple items in succession? I am mainly looking at one for my bulk meat purchases. We have been using ziplock freezer bags for years but if I leave stuff in the freezer for more than 2-3 months I will still get freezer burn. I also like the ability to seal mason jars since I use those a lot.

[425lisamarie]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

You mean the foodsver is really slow if you want to seal multiple items in succession? I am mainly looking at one for my bulk meat purchases. We have been using ziplock freezer bags for years but if I leave stuff in the freezer for more than 2-3 months I will still get freezer burn. I also like the ability to seal mason jars since I use those a lot.

Yeah that's what I mean and it's SOOO annoying! The ONLY time I want to use one, is to like spend an hour in the kitchen wrapping up a bunch of things at once. You have to seal one end (unless you buy the bags which are more, instead of the rolls) then the sealing/suck air out part. The problem is it can't keep up. It gets hot and then won't suck right. I end up having to wait a while inbetween which gets annoying when I have an assembly line and am ready. It's more of the fact that you can't just do it quickly one after another