Food Savers

[Lynn B]

Hi! I know some of you have (and LOVE!) your Food Savers. I am seriously thinking of getting one. Where do I get it, and what kind do you recommend?

My main worry is not being able to find extra bags. Are the bags "standard" among different brands?

I have seen some kind of Food Saver in Chef's catalog, I think it's about $150. But they don't sell refill bags. So can I get the bags anywhere?

Any other info/advice would also be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!
Lynn

[Norma]

The bags are all over. I just got some on sale at our local discount drug store. No problem finding bags.

[TamiK]

If you have a Costco in your area, they sell a multi-pack of the bags at a very good price. Also, you can use wide-mouth mason jars. (Don't I sound like an expert after my 3 1/2 days of ownership?) I love this thing, and am using the mason jars for many of my staples. They store and stack nicely, and can be used much longer than the bags.

I have seen the bags here in several grocery stores, as well as Target. I've never purchased anything that I felt would pay for itself so quickly. Go for it!

[Jewel]

Lynn, I'm gonna start sounding like a broken record, but here is the site I buy my FoodSaver stuff at:
http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodli.asp?Keywords=food+saver&Home=prod&Advanced=spine

The Vac 550 is the one I have, also known as the Compact II. It's cheaper on this site, as well as the bags and rolls of bagging material. They're out of the square canister (grrrr...) and the set of 3 canisters, but they'll email you when they come in. All are about 10% cheaper than retail or at Tilia's website, that's why they can't keep stock. Also, Costco sells the 'professional' for $159 complete with the 3 canister set, and a few other bells & whistles. Check that one out if you have a Costco near! I have had nothing but good luck with Cooking.com. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Lynn B]

Thanks for the info!

Jewel, you certainly don't sound like a broken record! I, on the other hand, probably sound like a total moron... BUT...

1. What do you use the Mason jars for??! I don't understand! Do you put food in the jars and then plastic bag-seal over the jars and freeze?!!! Isn't that overkill?! Why use the jars at all?!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/confused.gif

2. What are the "canisters" and why do we need them?!!

I hope some kind soul will give me a much-needed "Food Saver 101". I'm obviously challenged!!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Thanks so much!

Lynn

PS No Costco around here... in fact, until this BB, I never even HEARD of it!!! Is it a members-only type store, like Sam's Club? Can someone give me a phone number or website of Costco and I can check to see if there are any stores anywhere that I might be near sometime? Thank you!!!

PPS Am I correct that refill bags are readily available and will fit any model of Food Saver?

[heidibowman]

Originally posted by Lynn B:
1. What do you use the Mason jars for??! I don't understand! Do you put food in the jars and then plastic bag-seal over the jars and freeze?!!! Isn't that overkill?! Why use the jars at all?!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/confused.gif

2. What are the "canisters" and why do we need them?!!



Lynn,

You can put all sorts of crushable items in the mason jars, put the metal top on it and then the Food Saver has an attachment that fits over the metal top and vacuum seals the top to the jar. It's very convenient!

The canisters look kind of like Tupperware round canisters. You use the jar attachment with the lids on these also. These are great for marinating meats! (See my earlier post "Oh no! I did it!".

I believe Costco's website is costco.com.

The bags can be used with any of the Food Saver models.

[Lynn B]

I have been busy!!!

I checked out Costco's web site. There really isn't any Costco near me; and therefore it wouldn't pay me join. So, I guess that's not really an option.

I also checked out cooking.com. (Thanks, Jewel!) It looks like the less expensive model comes with a video - but the more expensive models don't. Isn't that kinda weird?! I like the idea of a video!

Also, from you experienced users -- what features do I need vs. those that I really don't? (Remember, I am STUPID about these things!!!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

THANKS AGAIN!!!
Lynn

[Jewel]

Lynn, as a side note to the canisters, originally I didn't think I'd find much use for them. I think it's going to be more of a 'seasonal' thing for me. Because it's now summer and there's lots of perishable produce out there right now, I'm using a couple of my canisters for berries! Raspberries lasted for nearly 10 days instead of their usual 5.6 hours before rotting on me! I also have the 2.5 qt canister filled with bagged salad that DH and I dip into daily and re-seal.

After summer is over I'm sure I'll find some kind of winter thing to use them for! Cool part is that they can be used in the fridge or in the pantry, so the possibilities are endless. Right now I know I use the bags more, but as I discover more uses for them, I'm sure the canisters will see more use! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Jewel (edited 06-25-2001).]

[Jewel]

OK, Lynn, we're posting at the same time...great minds do think alike http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

As for the features, I originally had to choose between the 350 (300?) and the 550. The main difference I saw was that the 550 had one button and stopped when it was done. I like the idea of that bad boy getting all the air out of that bag or canister and shutting itself off, instead of me wondering 'is it done yet?' and shutting if off too soon. It also came with more. Definitely worth the extra $30 or so. As for the video, I think they all come with one, if not, it's got a very good instruction manual with it. There's also a really good infomercial floating around that can answer questions. Main thing the video taught me that I didn't realize before was that in vac-packing and freezing veggies like cob corn and green beans, they need to be blanched first. Just a quick 1 or 2 minutes in boiling water, then cooled, then packed. Video said that if you just vac-pack them raw they will have a funny taste later. If you end up getting one that doesn't have a video, let me know! I'll send you mine. I don't need it anymore! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Whether you have a different model or not doesn't make a whole lot of difference, they all work basically the same. The 550 just seemed to have more power and that 'one touch' design.

What I've also found out is that what Costco has Sam's Club seems to have also, so if you have a Sam's around, check them out. If not, that 550 for $129.00 on Cooking.com is exactly what I got, and I paid $129 at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Check their site too! They may have one online.

[Lynn B]

Oh Jewel, thanks for taking so much time to explain all this to me! I really appreciate it! And what a sweet offer to send me the video! Thank you! <hug!>

I think I am at a major disadvantage here because I have never seen the infomercial! We don't have cable TV!!!

What's the difference between your 550 and the next one (the 1050)? It's $30 more, but I wouldn't mind spending the additional $ if it had features we could use. What d'ya think?

Thanks again for everything!!!!
Lynn

[Shirley Panek]

Well, I've decided to go get one too. It was up in the air between a breadmaker and food saver for my birthday present (I know it's like comparing apples and oranges), but everyone talks about their food saver, so I've decided to wait on the breadmaker.

I saw on Sam's Club website that they have the 550 for $129. Target has it for (I think) $120, but the Sam's Club one comes with 2 universal lids. What are these lids? Do you just use them on regular jars? For instance, our applesauce tends to get moldy quickly for some reason - do I use the universal lid to keep it fresher longer - or do I need a canister for it?

Thanks! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Shirley

[Jewel]

Lynn and Shirley...regarding the 1050 model, Lynn, I'm not sure. I think it's the one that can be stopped manually so you won't crush certain items like berries or the like. You don't get a true vacuum seal, but good enough! I didn't think it was that big a deal for me, so I opted with the 550. It also might have more attachments.

As for the Universal Lids, they're for exactly what Shirley said. You can vac-pack something in its original container, like the applesauce jar, pasta sauce jar, or even a can. Personally, I remember my mom telling me to never store anything in an aluminum can in the fridge, so that didn't appeal to me. You only get two lids, and they're pricey to buy more (I think $25 for 2) when the mason jars will do the same thing. Applesauce is a biggie in my house. I use it mainly for baking, but only need a cup or so. By the time I bake again my 1/2 jar is growing stuff on the top. Same with jarred Salsa! I haven't done it yet, but rather than buy those two universal lids I'd rather buy a few mason jars, and transfer the salsa and the applesauce into those, then vac-pack. Lynn, you asked about the jars earlier. You know regular mason jars have a two piece lid, the flat part and the ring? The jar sealer that comes with the FoodSaver fits on top of the flat part, then seals it. You just put the ring around it afterwards. Much easier, cleaner, cheaper, and more sanitary, I believe, than using those universal lids.

Lynn, go to Tilia's site http://www.tilia.com/ and see if they have any more info. Personally, I wouldn't buy from them, they're pricier than the other retailers, online and offline. Still, they make the things, so you can find out the differences! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Norma]

I don't bother with the rings after the jar has been sealed. It's just another step. However, I have used them a time or two when the jar kept coming unsealed for some reason.