Vacuum packers

[Fordman]

I am looking for opinions and experiences with vacuum sealers. I am looking to buy a new one. Whats everyone using out there?

 

[TAFKAP]

I bought the FoodSaver package from Costco a number of years ago. It's still holding up, although we don't use it nearly as frequently as we used to. I've heard they don't stand up well to long-term use.

 

[Robtattoo]

I've got the absolute cheapest thing I could get from Wally World, made by Rival.
I processed 84 deer last year + god only knows how many fish, leftovers, out-of-season hogs, gator etc.... & so far it's holding up perfectly!
One thing I have found, though, is that the better quality bags are definitely worth the extra money.

I'm fairly sure that I'm the exception to the rule though.

 

[WMAn]

Poser,

Here's the one Cook's Country recommends:

http://www.amazon.com/Weston-65-0201-Pr ... B001GP81R2

It's the one I'm interested in.

 

[WMAn]

The bags that Weston has on their web-site are 2 ply, 3 mil thick. Does that mean that the bags are made of two layers of plastic each of which are 3 mil thick, total of 6 mil? Or, two layers of 1.5 mil thick, total of 3 mil?

In the Cooks Country test, they found thickness of the bags to be the most important factor in maintaining a good seal and preventing freezer burn. They recommended the model I linked to because at the time the bags for it were 5 mil thick and cheaper than bags for less expensive models. Yesterday, when I looked, I could no longer find the 5 mil bags.

 

[Deck78]

Poser,

Here's the one Cook's Country recommends:

http://www.amazon.com/Weston-65-0201-Pr ... B001GP81R2

It's the one I'm interested in.

If I can just bring myself to spend $400 on a sealer...

let me know when you do. our food saver is on the last legs and we're going down the route of the Weston but not yet unless we get it for a family Christmas present.

 

[WMAn]

Poser,

How much of a difference do the 11" versus 15" models make? I like the idea of spending $200 instead of $400, but if I am going to spend either I would like the vacuum sealer to do everything I need.

What type of cuts require the 15"? Can you trim down larger cuts to fit 11"?

 

[WMAn]

Will 11" handle anything other than whole venison quarters? Neck roasts? Saddle roasts?

 

[redblood]

Poser ,do you have any experience with the 200.00 weston model. i may be interested myself, but have heard that many vacuum sealers are problematic

 

[Wildcat]

my next one is going to be a Lem.

http://www.lemproducts.com/category/vacuum-sealer

 

[TAFKAP]

What type of cuts require the 15"? Can you trim down larger cuts to fit 11"?

Lots. My Food Saver is an 11" model, and many times the bag's width isn't a factor so much for the meat's width as it is for the thickness. Picture a football roast.....relatively narrow, but bulky. In an 11" bag, it'll pooch the middle up too much, giving you trouble trying to get a seal.

We also have a lot of bag waste with grocery store steaks because we can't efficiently pack (2) strip steaks on top of each other without creating too much trouble.

 

[JSassassin]

The ziplock vacuum hand pump works better than any vacuum machine without spending way too much money. I have been using it for many years. Works great.

 

[John Harris]

I purchased the Weston 2300 a few years ago. I have no complaints whatsoever. I would absolutely purchase another one of these.