Vacuum sealers for food - money-saving or not?

Slonik_2

Crisp_£_note wrote: »

Ive just treated myself to one from JML direct can't wait for it to arrive. But is there anywhere I can get more bags from cheaper than JML?

Thanks

You don't need special embossed bags - see my post on the previous page.

mixedlot_2

I have had a Bifinett bag sealer..... BEWARE..... mine although was switched off still heated up causing plastic to melt around the bag sealing element. This potentially could have caused a FIRE.


AVOID this model

irishwexford

Last year our allotment neighbours bought a vacum sealer to store veggies and this cost £49 but sounded a good investment but I happened to see one on price drop tv, started off at £49.99 and ended up £9.99 plus postage so I managed to grab one. I use it a lot and it takes freezer bags from the pound shop. Keeps my allotment veggies fresh in the fridge as well as useful for the freezer.

jenster

this is one of those items i thought about getting
it was the fact that it needed special bags that always put me off
but if u all say u can reseal ordinary frezer bags then - i might think again and get one

shopndrop

I have been thinking about one of these for ages. Has anyone tried the Lakeland one or this one from Amazon?

Vedder2008

I have the foodsaver one and you do need the more expensive bags for it to work. It will seal any bag but it won't take the air out of ordinary food backs.:):):)
However I also have the cookshop vacuum which I bought from Ideal World with 20 reusable bags and I think this is better, I use it all the time and it makes a really good seal. It has a one way valve, and they last forever.-Well almost]:j:j:j

mynameismo

Vedder2008 wrote: »

I have the foodsaver one and you do need the more expensive bags for it to work. It will seal any bag but it won't take the air out of ordinary food backs.:):):)
However I also have the cookshop vacuum which I bought from Ideal World with 20 reusable bags and I think this is better, I use it all the time and it makes a really good seal. It has a one way valve, and they last forever.-Well almost]:j:j:j

Hi Vedder. When you say that the bags last "almost forever" do you mean that they are re-usable many times? For example could you freeze one with veg in, defrost/cook and then use the bag again for something else? Sorry if this sounds simplistic but the bags are obviously special because of the valve so I am just wondering how often (roughly) you can use/re-use them.

Also, how long have you had yours?

Thanks
Mo

macma

I haven't got one of these but have been tempted.
mynameismo when I've seen these demo'd on the shopping channel they wrap the food in ordinairy bag then put it in the special bags thus keeping them clean

Peartree

macma wrote: »

I haven't got one of these but have been tempted.
mynameismo when I've seen these demo'd on the shopping channel they wrap the food in ordinairy bag then put it in the special bags thus keeping them clean

I'm on my second machine - another Eiffel Freshpak pro fan - and can't believe I haven't thought of this. Seal it in a cheap bag then use the posh vacuum bags with the vacuum pump. Duh! I already wash out and reuse the bags but sometimes fish, for example, taints the bag. Also, if the contents are a bit wet, you don't get such a good vacuuming. From now on that's what I'll be doing.

By the way, there are a few e-bay sellers that do the bags at a decent price if you buy in bulk (I wouldn't say they were cheap but they are certainly cheaper!).

Polly

I've bought the JML one and am very disappointed with it. It only vacuums some of the time due to moisture being sucked out out of the food making it too damp to seal. The tip above regarding double-bagging may solve this but I'm so disappointed with it, I have it packed up already to return to them. It also melted other freezer bags (Sainsburys) when I tried to use them making it necessary for me to use only the JML ones, which are really expensive. Has anyone else had this experience with the JML model?