Many threads on the value of vacuum sealers, and I bought one a couple years ago (FoodSaver Professional). I like it, but, quite frankly, it does not always perform the way it should. The suction is minimal, and there is always air in the sealed package. I have used both FoodSaver bags and generic ones with the same results. The air leads to freezer burn, which pretty much refutes the use of a vacuum sealer.

So, after the long intro, curious what specific brands and models you folks who have vacuum sealers use as I would like to update to one that really sucks and does what it is supposed to!

I have a food saver, and I have a generic I bought at Alco. I like the cheap one better. If you have air in the bag, I would look for a hole or a poor seal. Any liquid will prevent a proper seal, and dehydrated foods often puncture bags.

What I like in a food saver is the ability to stop the vacuum and seal,with a bit of air in the bag so I can better seal dehydrated foods of stuff like chex mix..

Over the years we've had a couple FoodSavers, but they usually loose their sucking powers. Before this years fall harvest we bought a Cabelas. It seems to have more power. With some foods you need to manually pulse the vacuum or it pulls the moisture out too quickly, and moisture in that seal line will prevent sealing. So far so good.

I have always used the FoodSaver system. The current one I am using is well over ten years old and working fine after I replaced the vacuum chamber foam seals that tend to dry out and deteriorate in time. Replacement seals were only a few bucks online. The bags are soft and dehydrated foods can puncher pin holes in the bag. I fold up parchment pouches to protect the bag from sharp edges. The parchment can then be used to line dishes for easy cleanup or it can be used for fire kindling. I have never researched any other system.

Right now I am not sealing anything dehydrated; all meat. Time for a new machine...and it will not be a Food Saver.

I love our Food Saver, but the bags are a little (ok, alot!!) pricey.

I have the food saver model V3820, and have had no problems at all. I have long underwear and heavy socks that have been sealed for two years that I keep in the truck in the winter and the bags are still hard as rocks, no leakage at all. in my opinion very simple and dependable.

quote mutz: "I have long underwear and heavy socks that have been sealed for two years."

MMmmmmmm. Tasty!

Again, will not buy another Food Saver. Plenty of other options out there. At this point, I would like to hear from someone who has something other than a Food Saver as mine does not suck, and I want one that does suck

quote Frenchy19: "Again, will not buy another Food Saver. Plenty of other options out there. At this point, I would like to hear from someone who has something other than a Food Saver as mine does not suck, and I want one that does suck"

My Food Saver did not suck. I tried to make sense of the directions and finally got it right. Its the V222 or something

There is a little removable bar in the channel.. Put lots of the top of the bag in so it makes a U then reinsert that bar... Voila it sucks..

And that should end the "it sucks" problem.

I ran through a couple of Foodsavers in a hurry many years ago. Then I figured you had to spend more $ to get a good one so I bought Cabelas commercial grade or whatever they call it for $350. That thing was a huge disappointment as it was all cheap plastic with some thin steel covering it. It was not at all stronger than a $50 Foodsaver. I now have a commercial grade from LEM. It is much heavier duty and has decent suction. I've yet to see one that would give you the suction that could crush a pop can if you let it go, which I would like to have. Maybe the $1000 ones where you put the whole bag in a chamber would work great but I'm never spending that much on a sealer.

I have VacMaster Pro 350. Very nice, no issues, pulls 26" hg vacuum, extra wide sealer bar. I use it occasionally for fish, venison and some other meats we catch on a good sale. It's not used continuously but, I would recommend it for household use.

I purchased a Nesco American Harvester last spring with a Food Saver Jar Kit. I have been drying in preparation for assembling meals for this coming camping season. At a total of $90 for the two items I am very pleased with the performance of the two. I can only say I have put up awful lot of food to date.

Thinking about a Wesson Pro 2300. Anyone have this machine?

Just bite the bullet and get a chamber sealer. I have been using the VacMaster VP 215 for years and don't regret it one bit. I bought it when I was living in AK, and up there I sealed hundreds of pounds of fish, a handful of moose, some caribou, etc. I paid 1000 at the time, they can now be had for 800 or sometimes even less. By the time you burn through a bunch of foodsavers you could have had one, not to mention they do an exponentially better job of sealing and your food will keep longer. You will also save money on the bags in the long run. Consider you can get 8x10 pouches for about 4 cents a piece, compare that to foodsaver bags and you will realize the savings in a hurry. Not to mention you can seal non-stop for hours if you want without having to worry about the machine overheating. Just my thoughts.

quote wykee5: "Just bite the bullet and get a chamber sealer. I have been using the VacMaster VP 215 for years and don't regret it one bit. I bought it when I was living in AK, and up there I sealed hundreds of pounds of fish, a handful of moose, some caribou, etc. I paid 1000 at the time, they can now be had for 800 or sometimes even less. By the time you burn through a bunch of foodsavers you could have had one, not to mention they do an exponentially better job of sealing and your food will keep longer. You will also save money on the bags in the long run. Consider you can get 8x10 pouches for about 4 cents a piece, compare that to foodsaver bags and you will realize the savings in a hurry. Not to mention you can seal non-stop for hours if you want without having to worry about the machine overheating. Just my thoughts. "

Excellent points, and I have considered this. Just my wife and me at home now, and I do not know if I would use it enough to justify the cost.

Hello, what kind of food sealers can you recommend? At my work we have a vacuum chamber (Minerva I think) but I really can't afford a vacuum-chamber at home, so I have to settle with a sealer. Hope you can help me, so that I can start sous vide'ing at home!

Thanks,
Kyle

quote Frenchy19: "

quote wykee5: "Just bite the bullet and get a chamber sealer. I have been using the VacMaster VP 215 for years and don't regret it one bit. I bought it when I was living in AK, and up there I sealed hundreds of pounds of fish, a handful of moose, some caribou, etc. I paid 1000 at the time, they can now be had for 800 or sometimes even less. By the time you burn through a bunch of foodsavers you could have had one, not to mention they do an exponentially better job of sealing and your food will keep longer. You will also save money on the bags in the long run. Consider you can get 8x10 pouches for about 4 cents a piece, compare that to foodsaver bags and you will realize the savings in a hurry. Not to mention you can seal non-stop for hours if you want without having to worry about the machine overheating. Just my thoughts. "

Excellent points, and I have considered this. Just my wife and me at home now, and I do not know if I would use it enough to justify the cost."

Yeah but Mark, you have an extra room now to put it in. And as a side job you can vacuum seal all our stuff. I quit vacuum sealing, I have better luck with portion ing out my let's say... hamburger into the snack or smallest ziplock that I can... then put these together in freezer bag ziplocks. Don't see any problems and the food packs better volume wise. I agree though, the food saver is not the greatest, but for most people it works good enough.

We use the Weston based on Cooks Illustrated recommendation. Always works perfect, plenty of suction.


Weston Food Sealer