Vacuum sealers for food - money-saving or not?

dannahaz

Hi All

I finally bought a vacuum sealer. Ordered it yesterday, and it arrived today. It's just... fantastic.

I was originally tempted by the £30-ish machines, but I've been down that road before where a cheap machine just doesn't do the job. I posted on here and py6km recommended the Foodsaver 550.

The best price (as py6km said) was from EmpireDirect, but I noticed one on Ebay. However, when the bidding got to over £60 (plus £10 postage) I thought that I might as well spend the extra few pounds amd get a brand spanky new one.

I noticed on a US website that the 550 is discontinued there, and then I saw on EmpireDirect that they were doing a newer one as well. It was more expensive, and came with less accessories, but I decided to go for it anyway.

Going through Quidco gave me 2% cashback.

I didn't listen to py6km's advice about buying extra bags at the same time... I wish I had, as I've used ALL the bags that came with it. I've just ordered some more and I hope they arrive quickly as I can't wait to vacuum all those things in my freezer.

I've also ordered some (much cheaper) bags from another vacuum sealer website.

I can't believe how much space it has already saved in my freezer. The only problem I can foresee is that once vac packed, a lot of things look the same, so I might start using coloured labels to help me see at a glance what is a "ready meal" etc.

The Foodsaver bags are reusable as well, as long as they haven't been used ot store raw meat. Not sure about the cheaper ones, I'll check when they arrive.

They also do bags on a roll which you seal at both ends, which would work out much cheaper as you only cut what you need. However, I've failed miserably to get it to work with the roll, I'll get DH to have a go when he gets home from work.

TBH, I'm not really sure that my version is any better than the 550, and I probably should have just gone for that and had all the extras and paid a lot less. But I'm really happy..or I will be when the extra bags get here. I have a tall freezer with 7 large drawers, which is bursting at the seams. I reckon I can free up one drawer through doing this.

Anyway, I'm so excited I just had to share. (And i feel a bit embarrassed about being so excited about it if I'm honest).

Anyone else have any vacuum sealing experiences to share?

Pal

In my humble opinion, reusable freezer boxes are the more eco-friendly option compared to disposable "vacpacs". I bit the bullet over xmas and bought 20 identical freezer boxes to replace the mix & match boxes I was using previously that didn't stack in the freezer very easily.

Like your vacpac, it doesn't half free up a lot of freezer space.

pollyanna24

I've never really heard of doing this. I was going to buy a small chest freezer and use that. Seeing as they appear to be about the same price as this gadget (but I guess I would have to pay for electricity), not sure what to do now.

Nicifer_noonoo

Hello all,

I'm considering buying a vacuum sealer so that I can make my own ready meals, the one I have in mind is the Seal a Meal from Lakeland, which is £69.99. Does anyone have one of these? Would you recommend it?

Thankyou in advance...
Nic

Nicifer_noonoo

Anyone at all?

BigMummaF

I was thinking about one of these gizmos, or those 'greengrocers secret' bags on the shopping channel. Our fruit especially, never seems to last.

Do you think someone might be out there.....

kittykat500

I bought a vacuum food sealer off Ebay a couple of years ago. I use it every day and wouldn't be without. I paid about 30.00 for it and have since seen loads much much cheaper. Lidl sometimes do one for about 16.99 (I think). Tchibo also do them sometimes.You can use all sorts of plastic bags with the sealer - although some heavy duty ones do not reseal. I use sandwich bags, or any plastic bags I can find that do not have holes obviously!As for those reusable green supermarket bags - they seem a bit pricey. I bought a battery operated ionizer and stuck it in the fridge. Does the same as the greengrocer bags but only needs new batteries every 3-4 months. Works a treat. Downside is that the fridge is now packed solid with fruit and vegetables!Am thinking of buying another ionizer and putting it in a cupboard which will have the same effect.

dannahaz

Hi, I bought a vacuum sealer some months ago, and it has been fantastic. I was tempted by a cheap one (about £25 I think) but someone on these boards recommended investing the momy in something better. I think I spent about £80 in the end, and the one I bought was made by Foodsaver.

I startwed off by vacuum sealing the stuff in my freezer. What a godsend. I have a large freezer (full size, upright, 7 drawers), and I managed to clear 1 and a half drawers, just by vacuum packing things. I can fit so much stuff in now.

Having done that, I now find I vacuum a lot of stuff in my fridge too. The bags are oversized, so when I need to open one I've sealed, I can easily vac seal it again. I've also been vacuum sealing things like coffee beans, choc drops, and other stuff in my dried food cupboard.

You have to use special bags or rolls of stuff if you're going to vacuum, although it will seal ordinary plastic bags too. However, it's the vacuuming that stops the food perishing.

I haven't tried the one in Lakeland, but there stuff is usually very good. Also, if you buy it and don't get on with it, they will give you a refund.

Hazel

[Deleted User]

Don't buy a cheapo one they are nowhere near as good. We bought one from the good food show last Nov and it cost us about £100 and its amazing. My dad bought a cheap foodsaver one and it's rubbish.

We use it for everything. Makes so much more room in the freezer to spoon casserole/bolognese sauce/chilli etc that I cook in bulk into the bags and vac up. Also we have been known to buy things like cheese and bacon in bulk from the wholesalers and vac up into portions and leave them in the fridge. Last an awful lot longer.

Also reseals stuff like large crisp bags and things without vacuuming them.

jennyjelly

The sort of thing you see advertised on the shopping channels, where you put the food in a bag and put the end of the bag in the machine and it sucks all the air out and seals it.

They look really good and are supposed to prevent freezer burn and keep frozen food in better condition for longer, so it would be great for packing bulk buys or fruit & veg gluts for the freezer, and would revolutionise batch cooking, but I'm not sure if it's worth the investment. Also I'm dubious about being able to get the bags and how much they will cost if they are available - I don't want to be tied to re-ordering from QVC for life!

If anyone has any experience of one I'd love to hear it.

Ta
JJ