Foodsaver

[Dreamgoddess]

I'm debating purchasing a Foodsaver. I've been reading the reviews on the different models and they seem to be varied. Some people say they work great, others say they are basically junk.

Does anyone here have one? Would you recommend it?

[katie in the UP]

We love ours! I've discovered 'microwave bags' we put left overs in them...and freeze. Then grab one to take to work. Works like a dream..you can buy in bulk...we have a lot less waste.



My DH loves the 'marinator' he tosses marinade in it with any cut of meat...very good.

I use the cannisters for home made granola...it usually goes stale so quick...stays fresh much longer.

With that all said....we go in spurts when we 'forget' to use it. I wish they would come up with one that fits under the cabinets (out of the way...but ready to use)

[**Tinkerbell**]

Hi DG!
Like Katie, we love our Foodsaver. i got my first one almost 13 years ago. my boys gave me an updated model about 6 years ago, and i gave the original one to a friend. Both are still in great working order. we have had several threads here on the FS, and i think the majority here like the machine. i laughed at the infomercial when it said this would be the most important gadget in the house, but for saving money, it absolutely is.
*Tink

[tasb]

LOVE mine I have the cheaper model, but still would replace it in a heartbeat. I am actually on my second one already, I burnt out my first one sealing 10 dozen corn on the cob. I didnt pre-freeze the corn so too much liquid was being sucked up and wrecked the sealing wire. I was in town the next day buying another one. I have had hamburger in the freezer for a year and it was still fresh.

[Dreamgoddess]

Thank you everyone for the help! I looked at the Foodsavers in Walmart today, but they only had two different models. One was $99 and the other was $78, I think.

Tasb, you answered one question I had when you mentioned the ground beef. I was wondering just how long meats would stay fresh in the freezer if I used a Foodsaver.

[Dreamgoddess]

I also wanted to mention an interesting video I watched yesterday on youtube.com. The guy had purchased a 10 lb bag of potatoes and prepared them for freezing. After peeling all the potatoes and slicing them, he blanched them in boiling water. Then he used a foodsaver to seal them in bags and put them in his freezer.

I've always heard potatoes were not good if they had been frozen. Have any of you tried this?

[duonyte]

I have one I bought a couple of years ago sitting in its box on the back porch. "i want to use it, it only makes sense to use it, but I have so little counter space in the kitchen that I never seem to be coordinated enough to use it when i should be.

A friend has one and swears by it.

[Dreamgoddess]

Duonyte, I also suffer from lack of counter space. I won't be able to keep it out on the counter if I buy one.

[tasb]

I store mine in the cupboard with all my aluminum foil, freezer bags, and plastic containers. I dont use it for everything I freeze as some things I need just a handful of, like frozen fruits and veggies. Mainly I use it for meats and corn on the cob.

I freeze potatoes in the form of diced hashbrowns, that I have baked. I find using yukon gold or reds are better than russets, as they hold together better. I do this in fall because that is when I harvest my garden and I have lots of potatoes that need to be used right away.

I buy the rolls instead of the bags because I can cut to size, if I an freezing Garlic Sausage I only need 6 inches, but if I am freezing steak I need like 9 inches. I only buy them from Costco because they are way cheaper I get 6 rolls, (2-small,4-large), for $38, at Walmart and the grocery store I was paying $27 for 2 rolls of one size.

[Dreamgoddess]

Tasb, would you please tell me exactly how you do your hashbrowns? I would love to try this.

I went back and looked at the video again and this guy used russet potatoes. Apparently, he scored a 10 lb. bag of them for $1.

[kseiverd]

Have an older (horizontal) model that I picked up for a "song" at a yard sale. Seller said it worked just GREAT and originally bought to take advantage of "family" packs of meat/chicken. Then she realized that even LARGE packages of chicken parts didn stay in freezer long enough to remotely get freezer burnt... 2 growing TEENAGE boys in the house... pretty much gave up using it.

I love it for portioning food to cook 1-2 servings. When boneless/skinless chicken breasts are at a good price... usually 4 BIG hunks of chicken. I repackage into single servings... they thaw in room temp water in less than half an hour.

Have an ever growing collection of the cannisters... ALL yard sale or thrift store finds. Love these for storing rice, grains, dried beans, small pasta. Also great for crackers... just HATE when I go back to an open box and they're STALE!

Found the gizmo that allows you to seal stuff in wide-mouth canning jars... only for DRY stuff. Also found a "universal" lid.. fits anything up to about 6" diameter. Use that on a big, old pickle jar to store used frying oil that can still be used a few times.

Wich the bags (on roll) would go on SALE from time to time... never seems to happen!?!

[duonyte]

I bookmarked this somewhere, probably on a computer no longer used, but I remember a post by someone on another site that you can use baby bottle liners to seal small quantities of food.

[tasb]

Dreamgoddess, I have a recipe posted for the way I make the hashbrowns. we used to use this recipe in the restaurant I used to work in, lots of work, so we had to simplify the process and go with a boiled potato hashbrown. I not only use seasoning salt, I also use Clubhouse Italiano seasoning, and sometimes garlic and onion powders. Don't be too shy with the oil as it helps crisp the edges. I actually use Extra Virgin Olive Oil now days when making them as I like the flavor.

Frozen Hash Browns Homemade - OAMC

[Bonnie G #2]

I LOVE my seal a meal. It's an older model, one of the originals and while I'd love to get a newer model this one still works fine so haven't been able to justify it. What differance it makes in how well meats hold up and love making individual frozen meals in it.