Vacuum sealers for food - money-saving or not?

Angelina-M

sb44 wrote: »

Don't forget you can use the Lidl freezer bags for sous vide so it doesn't matter if you don't reuse them at that price (£1.75 for 75).

Good thought, yes, doesn't matter then if the seal only lasts a day because you will have used them by that time.

Have you tried Sous vide? I have a steam oven and bet I can do it in that. Otherwise i've heard a slow cooker on low setting filled with water will do just as well.

Angelina-M

sb44 wrote: »

Just found this but I haven't tried it yet.

That Tilia foodsaver group is great.

However, I wanted to vacuum seal some nuts and didnot want to have to
use the Tilia bags. It took some time--samples from a few bag
companies, but I did find an alternative.

I realised that most bags lay absolutely flat (unlike the Tilia which
is textured) so the vacuum can not work. If you squinch in the sides
of the plastic bag before you put it in the Tilia so that some air
"channels" are found in the creases, the Tilia can do its vacuuming
and you can use other bags. I felt like Ben Franklin g when I
discovered this after much experimenting. hahaha The Nuts are
perfect.

May give it a go later.

I'm up for trying anything!!

Going to get ready for the farmers market now (its absolutely tipping it down here) but will be reporting back later.

sb44

Angelina-M wrote: »

Have you tried Sous vide? I have a steam oven and bet I can do it in that. Otherwise i've heard a slow cooker on low setting filled with water will do just as well.

Nope I haven't tried it.

But, my microwave died on me the other day and I haven't got around to buying another one yet.

I need to defrost some liver for the dog's lunch so I may seal some in a Lidl bag and give it a quick boil as it is already cooked.

sb44

Testing update folks, just tried a loaf bag and it seals it fine, doesn't vac so you can't use it for other stuff but will be ok for general sealing.

Angelina-M

Right i'm back from the farmers market, spent just over £100 on meat. That will last us the month though. I can only eat cruelty free meat so I pay more, I just have to be more creative with the cuts I buy.

I bought a couple of rump steaks and i'm going to have a go at sous vide with them. If its good then thats another saving as I usually buy sirloin.

I bought a pork hock for £2.50 so i'm googling a few recipes to find out what to do with that.

Got a lot of lamb mince and some will become burgers that I can vac pac. Got a busy few days of cooking and vac packing ahead.

sb44

Angelina-M wrote: »

Good thought, yes, doesn't matter then if the seal only lasts a day because you will have used them by that time.

But you would only need to seal the bag to cook the food, not vacuum it.

sb44

Angelina-M wrote: »

Right i'm back from the farmers market, spent just over £100 on meat. That will last us the month though. I can only eat cruelty free meat so I pay more, I just have to be more creative with the cuts I buy.

I bought a couple of rump steaks and i'm going to have a go at sous vide with them. If its good then thats another saving as I usually buy sirloin.

I bought a pork hock for £2.50 so i'm googling a few recipes to find out what to do with that.

Got a lot of lamb mince and some will become burgers that I can vac pac. Got a busy few days of cooking and vac packing ahead.

This is a great recipe for Gyros burgers which uses half lamb and half beef mince.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/gyros-burgers/Detail.aspx

taxsaver

Angelina-M wrote: »

Have you tried Sous vide? I have a steam oven and bet I can do it in that.

I think you'll like this video (the music is just as wonderful as the food!) and especially see 2:52 mins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiIP-_Om7u8

sb44 wrote: »

But you would only need to seal the bag to cook the food, not vacuum it.

... but 'Sous Vide' means 'under vacuum' so surely you need to vacuum it for the best results?

Angelina-M

Yes I just looked at that too, sous vide is french for under vacuum. I've also got some nice lamb shoulder steaks that i'm just reading are heavenly done sous vide.

Right i'm off to watch your video taxsaver. I see you bought that Eiffel machine off ebay, very good buy, I was considering getting it and adapting the seal so I could use it with the cheaper bags. I looked at the ladys history and she only bought it in September. She bought a load of bags too so I hope you get those as well! Well done you!

sb44

taxsaver wrote: »

... but 'Sous Vide' means 'under vacuum' so surely you need to vacuum it for the best results?

Sorry, wrong term, I meant put it in a bag just to warm it up as I have already cooked it.