Vacuum sealers for food - money-saving or not?

Angelina-M

taxsaver wrote: »

Did you then bake it with the treacle and cloves on and if so for how long and at what temp, or were they simply put on to make it look better IYSWIM?

Here you go http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/ham-in-coca-cola-171 I just smothered it on and whacked it in a high oven for about ten mins. I've done it a few times, usually at Christmas when i've got some good deals at the farmers markets.

caz739

I've ordered my seal a meal and it's been dispatched. I can't wait tyo get going (and it's an excuse to sort out the freezer :j

taxsaver

hehehe.... I've rather sorted out my freezers too, since I got my vacuum sealer!

You won't regret the investment though; best thing I've bought in a long time!

Angelina-M

Peeps I've been thinking, I want one of those jar sealers because i'm fed up of my used jars popping or not sealing in the first place.

This kind of thing http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=vacuum+jar+sealer&um=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1280&bih=598&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17435368917861569462&sa=X&ei=wIg-TrOrBoOLhQfZlOCkAg&ved=0CEYQ8gIwAA Really cheap in America and you simply pop it over the kilner jar and it seals it (has to be the screw top type) Has anyone seen one in the UK? I've been searching under vacuum jar sealer but nothing in the UK.

I think they would be fab as I could get a load of Kilner jars and at least have some sort of match going on in my pantry!

Angelina-M

Ok i'm getting into the Sous Vide side of things in a big way.... i've ordered a water bath lol.

Ive done a few things now, including lamb chops and burgers and everything has been gorgeous. Then tonight I tried an omelette and it was stunning.

As this is the wrong thread i'm going to write about it in the moneysaving arms as i'd love to hear if anyone else had tried it.

JayJay14

Angelina-M wrote: »

Peeps I've been thinking, I want one of those jar sealers because i'm fed up of my used jars popping or not sealing in the first place.

This kind of thing http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=vacuum+jar+sealer&um=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1280&bih=598&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17435368917861569462&sa=X&ei=wIg-TrOrBoOLhQfZlOCkAg&ved=0CEYQ8gIwAA Really cheap in America and you simply pop it over the kilner jar and it seals it (has to be the screw top type) Has anyone seen one in the UK? I've been searching under vacuum jar sealer but nothing in the UK.

I think they would be fab as I could get a load of Kilner jars and at least have some sort of match going on in my pantry!

If you go onto Amazon.com you might be able to get one shipped - this one says it ships outside the US near the bottom of the page

http://www.amazon.com/FoodSaver-T03-0006-01-Regular-Mouth-Jar-Sealer/dp/B0000CFFS6/ref=acc_glance_k_ai_ps_t2_t_3

It would cost nothing to email to find out.

JB_York

Angelina-M wrote: »

Peeps I've been thinking, I want one of those jar sealers because i'm fed up of my used jars popping or not sealing in the first place.

This kind of thing .... Really cheap in America and you simply pop it over the kilner jar and it seals it (has to be the screw top type) Has anyone seen one in the UK? I've been searching under vacuum jar sealer but nothing in the UK.

I think they would be fab as I could get a load of Kilner jars and at least have some sort of match going on in my pantry!

Angelina - inspired by this thread, I ordered my jar sealers from Goodmans.net in the US **WARNING : NEWBIE ALERT!!! - I WAS MAKING THIS A NICE NEAT LINK BUT THAT'S BEEN BLOCKED, AS HAS MY LAME ATTEMPT AT JUST DROPPING IN THE URL SO YOU'LL NEED TO CUT AND PASTE THIS INSTEAD, with the usual WWW tag!: goodmans.net/i/3559/tilia-foodsaver-regular-jar-sealer.htm **.
I bought both the regular & wide mouthed versions, and with the postage to total cost came in $26 - under the limit for any import duty & VAT. Delivery was surprising prompt for an international order without expedited delivery - just 10 days from the date of order. Very good service and recommended.

These aren't readily available in the UK - the cheapest I've found them in the UK after some extensive research was for £22 just for the regular jar sealer!

I have the Andrew James Pro vacuum sealer so was a little concerned that the hose wouldn't fit with the Foodsaver jar sealer. It was a little tight, but with some encouragement (and lubrication) it all fitted together quite well.

My experience so far is that the jar sealers are MUCH more reliable than trying to seal kilner jars in a container, they can be used on larger kilner jars (my containers will only take jars up to 500ml :mad: ) however they are not perfect - some won't seal at all (and I don't know why), and it's very easy to 'knock' the lid as you push on/pull off the sealer, which misaligns the top and stops the seal from being made in the first place. I've overcome this by fixing the lid in place first with a couple of pieces of tape, but can only assume that my kilner lids are just a tiny bit too wide for the jars.

All in all, I'd say that this is a good purchase. My next step is to look for some replacement lids to see if I can manage without the tape!

JB.

Angelina-M

Thanks JB. I will look into this. Its very hit and miss with trying to seal jars in the big containers. I've found that at the moment i'm managing well by bagging everything. However I'm using the cheaper Lidl bags and scrunching up the opening so I can give the machine something to grip onto.

This method however doesn't always stay sealed. I'm still liking the machine. Its great for stopping freezer burn.

treacle_toes_2

Hi all,

I've been reading through this thread for the last couple of weeks (very entertaining reading!) and am ready to get one of these too.

Something I wanted to ask, does anyone (possibly Angelina-M?) have the Vacuum Sealer - Eiffel Freshpack Pro L/N (i.e. the quieter sealer of the two sold by Freshpack)? If so, would you say it's worth the extra £20? There's a sale on at the moment at Freshpack with about £35 off the usual price of sealers, and £4 off the canisters.

brenda50

I have been reading too and thinking of buying a sealer. I have also been looking at the oxygen packs Americans add to the bag or jars. It is not easy to get hold of them here. I saw an amazing sealer but the y only deliver in Asia. The price was unbelievable! I am interested in what you find. I have been looking at the AJ and the Eiffel.