Poll: Bread machine vs. Foodsaver

[Shirley Panek]

Okay -

I've read all the write-ups on both bread machines and foodsavers. Now for the dilemma. I'm considering getting one of these 2 appliances and am wondering which one, if any, I should choose.

I'm not sure how much I'd use the breadmaker to actually bake, but it'd sure be nice to dump in the ingredients and forget about it until the time to shape the loaf and put in the oven. I'm a bread-aholic, though, so am not sure if it would be a good thing or a bad thing to have one of these around to supply my habit.

However, the foodsaver sounds pretty good, too. I like the idea of less waste, and more storage room. But I'm not sure if I'd use it all that much.

I'm also a little concerned that either of these items would get used a lot in the beginning, and then relegated to my storage shelf in the pantry - much like my food dehydrator, pasta maker ... (am I a kitchen appliance junkie as well? - you bet! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)

Thanks for any advice you can give.

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif
Shirley

[Mamasue]

Shirley,

If I had to make a choice it would be the Foodsaver 100%. The breadmachine is nice and convenient too but you always have your hands to knead the dough. Actually I love kneading the dough because I can feel and play with it. I have a breadmachine, but must admit that I hardly use it. The foodsaver is a must if you are sick of throwing out freezer burn food and also want your food to last longer. As I have stated before, I love it and should have bought one years ago. If you do decide to get one make sure that you get some extra rolls because you will be repackaging food already in the freezer and you will be surprised how quick that extra roll or two that you get with machine is used up. You know Christmas isn't too far away and maybe you could put the other appliance on your wish list for Santa. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Perk]

What is a food saver? How much do they cost? Are there many happy owners out there. Thanks Perk

[Jewel]

I've had my Bread Machine for three years. I've had my FoodSaver for three weeks. I've used my FoodSaver more in the three weeks than I have used my Bread Machine in three years!

Depends on what you're after. Most of the appliances you mentioned DO end up in the Appliance Graveyard after a while because they're not everyday items, and you have to lug it out every time you want to use it. Could you imagine leaving your Food Dehydrator on your counter and using it all the time? Same thing with the Pasta Maker. In my case, my Juiceman Juicer is wonderful in theory, but not too practical on an everyday thing. It never gets used because of it! On the occasions that I want homemade bread I prefer now to put my hands in it and create. I didn't have room for the FoodSaver on my counter, but I MADE room, because I knew if I put it away I'd never use it! That thing gets used at least 3 times per day, whether it's re-sealing the 2.5 qt canister we keep our salad in once we've dipped into it, or resealing the cheese we just took a hunk off of. I'm not afraid of freezing meat anymore! I know it won't go bad anymore.

DH didn't think we needed one until he saw how much stuff we were throwing out of the freezer and how long we could keep that same stuff if it had been vac-packed. Mine is the Vac 550, which is also known as the Compact II in some stores. Here's the best price on the 550, and accessories I've found! http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodli.asp?Keywords=food+saver&Home=prod&Advanced=spine

Just my opinion... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[BosunsWife]

IMO I could not do without my breadmaker. I make at least two loaves a week for daily consumption by DD and myself. That doesn't include the pizza dough and occasional foccacia that I make. Being the mother of a toddler, its not always convenient to be kneading the bread by hand.

I just use ziplocks for my freezing and suck out the air with a straw LOL! Maybe one day when I have more expendable cash I will buy a Foodsaver, but its not top of the priority list now. Also, my parents bought one a couple of years ago and used it a lot but now its been shoved in the back of a cupboard.

[SoCal]

Perk, here are a some threads that talked about Food Savers. It sounds like a very useful kitchen gadget to have around!
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/001381.html
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/005217.html
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/006778.html

[funnybone]

Well, I really don't think this is a good question to give a one or other answer to. It's not like they are similar appliances - like a toaster vs a toaster oven, or a blender vs hand blender.

I have a bread machine and am going to get a food saver in the near future. I don't use the bread maker all that much, but when I do, I enjoy it. I don't enjoy making bread any other way, and I have a KA mixer and a food processer that can handle dough.

As for the food saver, do you throw out a lot of food? Do you freeze food - fresh, leftovers, etc? You have to consider all this before you decide.

Breadmakers are very inexpensive these days - you can get models for less than $50 (I think that's half the cost of the cheapest food saver), so does it really have to be a "one or the other"?

[karen w]

I vote for the food saver. I had a bread machine for several years, and finally gave it away just recently. I used it quite a bit in the beginning, but the more I used it the more I disliked it. I did not like the results compared to just using your hands and baking in the oven. The crust always got too hard, the center was never quite as tender. Maybe it's because I love getting my hands in the dough so to speak and doing my own kneading, but my bread maker just ended up as a dust catcher.
My food saver was from Costco. I bought it (very reluctantly) this past year. My husband convinced me to get it. I grumbled that it was just another gadget to waste money on, but I must admit...I do like it now. I kept it in the box for several weeks thinking I'd return it, but once I started using it I really enjoyed it. Although I do not keep it on the counter and I do not use it daily, it is great for freezing meats, breads etc... and no ice build up or freezer burn. So I vote for the food saver.

[KValley]

I vote for the Food Saver. My bread machine continues to gather dust and I plan to sell it later this summer at a yard sale- I'm tired of moving it around. DH and I have cut way back on our bread consumption, but this fact notwithstanding, I think the Food Saver is a better investment.

Although funnybone is right- bread machines are so inexpensive now- a cheaper model would pay for itself in 50 loaves or fewer! Ours was a wedding gift back in the early days, when these things were $300/pop and still a novelty...

I'm waiting until we can purchase a separate freezer to buy a Food Saver, as we simply don't have the storage room now. The posts on the BB and "testimony" from my brother and SIL have convinced me that a Food Saver is a must!

[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 06-16-2001).]

[Cindy Rafferty]

For me, it is the bread machine. I live in a town with (gasp) no grocery store and no bakery! My family likes fresh bread every day, and this has helped a great deal.

I'm with the folks that use the machine for kneading and rising, and than I bake it in the oven. Also, it's great for pizza dough and focaccias.

On the other hand, I don't see a need for a foodsaver. I guess it depends upon your interest and lifestyle. I don't have a separate freezer, and don't freeze large quanities of food. If, however, you only go food shopping once every two weeks, I can see where these would come in handy.

[Curleytop]

I have both appliances! I have had the foodsaver for many years and I use it at least once a day! I mainly use the mason jars. I do have the bag material, and it is fine for some of the things I freeze. The
bag material is quite expensive. The jars, once you buy them you have them forever. The tops don't wear out in vacuuming.
I am on my 3rd breadmachine. I use it at least once a week. I make sourdough bread, and use it as a doughmaker. I have an inexpensive Oster from Costco, under $50.00.
It even bakes a 58 minute white bread, that is the complete cycle, from dumping in the ingredients, to taking out the complete baked bread. It is a very acceptable bread, sure beats the packaged kind in the supers.
I suggest you get the foodsaver first, and then aim for the breadmachine. It is crazy to spend a large amount of money on a breadmachine, since they do the same thing.
The very prizey Zojiroshi has 2 paddles instead of one, (it makes 2 holes in the bottom of the bread). I almost bought it the last time, but it is huge and takes up too much space!