Food Vacuums and Bread Machines

[~MoonGypsy~]

I am looking into getting (asking for Christmas) these items to help with my home frugality. I was hoping you ladies would help with some questions.

According to foodsaver.com:

What are FoodSaver® Bags made of?
They are made of polyethylene (a type of plastic) with an outer layer of nylon for added strength and rigidity.

I've been trying to eliminate alot of the plastic in our house, but I have horrible issues with freezer burn, and things going rancid or stale before I can get to them. Polyethylene is one of the "safe" plastics. Do any of you have one and if so, what do you recommend?

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Now for bread machines... I need one. I've ruined countless loaves of bread because I just can't get it together without help. I'm looking for one of the horizontal ones to use for sandwiches, pizza dough, and whatnot. I've been thinking about the BreadMan Pro. What do you guys use?

[Sydnee]

We use both products quite frequently. I have the Oster 2 lb. bread machine, and I really love it. And then we have the Foodsaver, and use it to freeze anything and everything.

[Lisa Lubner]

I have an oster too... I make light rye bread almost every day for sammies for the kids. mmm...

[dvons]

I've got a Breadman Ultimate and a FoodSaver. The FoodSaver is used just about every day and the breadmachine we use 3-4 times a week for bread as well as rolls and pizza dough.

Deb

[dvons]

I forgot to add that the foodsaver we mostly use to seal wide mouth glass jars (a separate attachment) over and over. I got 1/2 gallon sized ones and we store all our rice, oats, cornmeal, dry beans etc in them.

Deb

[binxsmom]

i have a zojirushi bread machine and highly recomend it. it works wonderfully on wheat breads and is soooo easy. i use my vitamix to mill my grains and then just pop everything in the zojirushi.

[melamama]

I also have a zojirushi and love it as well. I make at least 2 loaves of whole wheat grainy bread each week and it does a great job.

[Nibor]

I have a Zoji breadmaker too - it makes the older style 'upright' loaves and doesn't see as much use as it ought to

I have a Foodsaver and use it it a lot with mason jars of different sizes for dry and frozen storage. For liquids I generally freeze them first and then vacuum them. I like using the jars because they are reusable and fit nicely in the freezer door

[BornInSeptember]

Use the breadmaker for all the preparation. Set it to the dough setting, and then take out the bread, put it in your own pans, let it rise and bake it in the oven. Most breadmakers make a too-crunchy crust for my liking, I like the taste the bread has after that last rise, and slow bake in the oven (20 mins?) and you don't have hot baked food touching the teflon pan in the breadmaker.