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Foodsaver Tips and Tricks


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 205 Posts
February 2, 2010

Foodsaver on Kitchen CounterI have a Ziploc vacuum storage pump and a vacuum food storage machine and use them for everything imaginable! To tell the truth the kitchen is the place they're used the least! Here are some examples of what I use them for. In some of these (with the vacuum machine bags), I have to create larger bags by cutting the roll to the length that I need, then cutting one or two more lengths, cutting them open lengthwise, and sealing them together, then sealing across the bottom. Then when it's full, sealing it across the top normally.

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By Cricket from Parkton, NC

 
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January 29, 2005

I recently borrowed a friends "food saver" to freeze some meat. The food saver worked great, and I insisted on replacing the roll of bags that I had used. To my surprise, the roll cost me $10.00 at Walmart. I would like to purchase my own food saver, and remember years ago, seeing one advertised on TV that you can use on any type of plastic bag and you could also reseal plastic bags that vegetables and frozen foods were purchased in.

Does anyone know of any brand(s) of food savers that the bags don't cost so much and one that you can use to reseal all types of plastic bags with?
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Thanks!
Debbie from New Jersey

Answers

By (Guest Post)
January 30, 20050 found this helpful

not sure what kind you are talking about, mine doesnt suck the air out, I have one that melts the ends together and have used various generic freezer bags with it. After I open the bag, I then cut the edges that were melted before and seal the bag again and continue doing this until the bag is empty. I am sure I will run across a bag one day that wont "seal/melt" well but it works so far

 
By Donna (Guest Post)
January 30, 20050 found this helpful

The food saver bags can be used again and may be washed in the dishwasher. I also use mine to reseal snack bags. Seems to work quite well. The only bags I don't use again are the ones that have been used for spaghetti sauce.

 
By Margie (Guest Post)
January 30, 20050 found this helpful

I've never tried to use the foodsaver, but would't just regular FREEZER bags work with the zip part cut off, squeeze out the air, and then use the sealing device?? Just be careful and not use the regular storage bags. I've always just gotten cheap freezer bags and never had any trouble with spoilage in the freezer, though I've always REALLY thought about one of those little foodsavers!!!

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(Never thought about replacing the bags...Yikes!!). Good luck!! Margie

 
January 30, 20050 found this helpful

Check for bags and accessories on ebay. Cheaper there.

coolchinchilla

 
By dexus (Guest Post)
March 6, 20080 found this helpful

Well. I have found that using just the ziplock bags with the foodsaver does not work very well. The problem is that the pump have problems creating a strong enough vacuum in the bag to have the air sucked out without the "raised pattern" inside the original foodsaver bags. BUT, If you want to save some money, and doesn't mind a little extra effort, you can do the following: Cut the ziptop of the ziptop bag, cut open either a bag or a piece of foosaver roll, and make strips about 1 1/2" wide and 6 inches long using just the raised pattern plastic side, not the plain one. Put one "foodsaver strip" inside the ziplock bag, making sure one end of the strip reach outside the bag, and the other touches the food you're about to seal.

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Now because this bag does not have the raised pattern across the whole bag, it may take a couple or three vacuuming sessions to get all the air out, but if you press the vacuum/seal button, and then cancel before it seals, and repeat this step a couple of times it WILL make a good vacuum and then you can just press the seal button to seal the bag.

This may seem like a lot of effort just to save a couple of bucks on bags, but after doing it for a little while, you will enjoy using regular cheap ziptop bags with your foodsaver, and you can also use the "foodsaver strips" again if it's long enough to make a channel from the vacuum to the foodstuff.. Hope this helps!

dexus.

 
July 6, 20080 found this helpful

I love using the Food Saver. It stays on our countertop and we use it to seal all sorts of bags, for example potato chip bags of all kinds, saltine cracker sleeves (be careful to get all the wrinkles out of the sealing line), cereal bags (bags inside the box), when cheese gets small enough, you can reseal those plastic bags...the list goes on and on. Try it on everything...you'll be surprised! Of course I don't vacuum the above, but seal only.

Forgot to say, I wash them out good and reuse over and over until there's not enough left to use.

Hope this info helps someone.

 
October 24, 20080 found this helpful

Some advice to anyone thinking about buying a Food Saver, DON'T!!!!!!! The problem is not the unit itself, but the company. No repair parts, no repair service after the warranty runs out. Jarden, who is Tilia's parent company just amazes me with their lack customer service. My Food Saver died 3 months out of warranty, I called for repair parts, after warranty service or any help at all, any of which I'm willing to pay for. Their response, sorry, buy a new one. I read about all these folk who have had great luck with their Food Saver, hey I'm happy for you. I liked mine too while it lasted. Again my gripe is with the company selling it and the fact that a year and a day after purchase and something goes wrong, you're screwed and Jarden doesn't care, in fact they're happy, you have to spend another $100-$150 with them. I'd suggest perhaps a Sear's Kenmore, in that at least Sear's typically has parts and service for appliances and seem to care at least a little about customers. But do not buy a Food Saver.

 
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October 25, 2009

I have the vacuum seal machine for the gallon and quart size Ziplock bags, but I cannot find the bags in the stores here anymore. What can I do to get some?

By Janice from Salt Lake City, UT

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August 30, 2004

I would like feedback on the food saver machines. Do they really do what they say? Is it frugal or expensive to use the bags, canisters, etc.?

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August 30, 20040 found this helpful

I've had a food saver for about 5 years now and absolutely LOVE it. My 2 kids have grown up and moved away from home and now my husband and I do one big shopping a month at a wholesale store and separate the meats into enough for the two of us. I even freeze leftovers in the bags. Just make sure that you freeze liquids first, before putting it in the food saver bags. I really don't think the bags are that expensive, because you can wash them really well and use them over and over. Hope this helps.
sholzshu

 
By syd (Guest Post)
August 30, 20040 found this helpful

Oh, YES, they will become your new best friend.
Just be sure to get the one that you can use the large mouth jar sealer on Mason jars.

Food lasts a long time in the freezer without developing freezer burn ... like 2 years. The bags can be washed and reused, but you have to be careful when packaging meats with sharp bones, shrimp, fish, etc., because without a protective covering (an old plastic bag) you can get pin holes in the bags that will take on air.

I limit what I use bags for, since they are more expensive than jars ... you don't want to vacuum seal items for short term use or freeze relatively cheap items. Bread is not an item that vacuums well...hockey pucks!

There is a Yahoo Group for the Food Saver you can join too! Lots of nice people and good tips.

The bags can be bought at Sam's Club & Costco for a box of several sizes much cheaper than buying the individual rolls at say, Wal-Mart.

I use a lot of Mason jars for short term storage and freeze left-over soup, etc. in pints for individual servings. A few jars in the freezer is OK, don't get carried away and try to store too many!

Tilia is the distributor and does informercials ... don't buy from them; they are very high plus have shipping charges. Shop around and they have specials. Prices vary ... buy the best you can afford.
You won't be sorry.

 
By Sheri (Guest Post)
August 30, 20040 found this helpful

I have had my Foodsaver for about 2 years, and wouldn't know what to do with out it. I just this weekend went to the farmers market and stocked up on fruits and vegetables which I then came home a portioned packed. I also routinely buy meat in bulk at Costco, and then repackage into packages for 1 or 2. I received mine as a present and must say it is the best present ever.

 
By (Guest Post)
January 28, 20060 found this helpful

Mine is a lemon it wont seal wont vacuum even tried walmart GV bags - no luck with these. In my opinion zip lock bags at Dollar Generak are a better investment

 
June 4, 20080 found this helpful

Yes, definitely. If you have a Costco buy it from them. You can also buy online from them. The price is around $134.00 but you get the top of the line model with 3 canisters and two rolls of bags. If you ever have any problems just take it back and exchange it. They are GREAT about returns.

 
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November 11, 2004

That foodsaver vac 300 is useful for more than just food. I don't own one, but it would be great for packaging jewelry for a yard sale, salt for your husband's lunchbox, even as a type of laminator for precious keepsakes. I have a Christmas card from my Mother, who is now with the Lord. I keep it in plain sight in my kitchen and it gets a lot of dirt. Wouldn't the Foodsaver be great for it? By springmaid5

 
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April 24, 2009

I recently purchased a large canister for my Foodsaver on Ebay. It evidently is an older model (the lid has a white knob with a red center) and the hose for my new Foodsaver wouldn't fit on it - much less vacuum seal.

 
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March 17, 2012

I recently bought mason jars that came with lids and rings. I plan on saving salad in them with my food saver and jar sealer attachment that I just bought. Do I have to replace the lids each time I use the jars for this purpose?

By Francine from Nashua, NH

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November 4, 2004

I freeze a lot of leftovers in individual servings in food saver bags. If it is liquidy, I freeze it in the bag before I seal it. This way if I don't want to cook, everybody picks what they want. Also good for taking to work. By Vickie

 
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October 22, 2004

The Foodsaver is not just for food. I use it to vacuum pack face cloths, etc. and for travel. No more bottles spilling out onto your clothes. By Sandy

 
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October 14, 2004

After putting meat to be vacuumed into the Foodsaver bag, I then enclose the cut-out from the supermarket meat sticker/description indicating cut of meat, weight, date, etc. Then I 'seal' the meat and record the date of the sealing with a black permanent marker. By Lynn in Norfolk, VA

 

January 6, 2005

Vacuum sealing individual meals of leftover turkey and gravy, ham or roast beef and freeze, it stays fresher when vacuum sealed. They can be heated in the bags in boiling water. By Syd

 
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