Food Vacuum Storage Bags

Hobo,NC · Nov 9, 2017

I have had a vacuum food storage bag system for quite awhile that my wife brought before she passed I gave it to my son he said it did not work. Not long ago this topic came up so I tried it out. I spec the reason it did not work is because its so hard to latch to start the process. OK I got it to work about to run out of bags can Y'all give me some tips on were and what size bags to buy.

Switchflicker · Nov 9, 2017

I always buy the wider ones. Eleven inches I think. I buy them from Canadian Tire, but that doesn't help you in NC does it. Probably Menards or Lowes, but I'm just guessing.

BigDanT · Nov 9, 2017

Wife said she got ours from Wally World. She buys
a roll of them and we cut them to length.

Switchflicker · Nov 9, 2017

We get rolls too.

Greg1959 · Nov 9, 2017

I have a FoodSaver System and get my bags, rolls or
pleated rolls at Wally World.

stonerock · Nov 9, 2017

we dont go to wally-world but we gon to sam's club to get them

kcm.MN · Nov 9, 2017

We got a vacuum sealer last year and LOVE it!! We also get additional rolls from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CDY8SOK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) These rolls are too big to fit in our machine, so I'll always unroll part of the new roll onto an empty core. Is much less expensive to buy it that way.

We use the 11" size more than the 6", but keep both on hand.

Hobo,NC · Nov 9, 2017

Ok does that mean you have to seal off both ends.

johndeere720GA · Nov 9, 2017

Here are some bags on Amazon: Three sizes pint quart and gallon. See what fits your needs most and buy just that size. I find we use quarts and gallons most frequently. No screwing around with having to cut and seal to make a bag.
https://www.amazon.com/FoodVacBags commercial Foodsaver machines Cooking/dp/B00BL8KZ6O/ref sr_1_12?s kitchen&ie UTF8&qid 1510285006&sr 1 12&keywords vacuum sealer bags

SodBuster87 · Nov 9, 2017

Bought a big "value pack" from costco a while ago.

Dopp Creek · Nov 9, 2017

I buy the rolls of material and cut them to length. I have had trouble getting the first edge to seal. Couple things- FoodSaver (my brand,) says to
put the rough side down. I put it about a 1/2" past the heat bar and push down on the "paddle" with one hand. My machine has an "Instant Seal"
button which I push with my other hand. It snorts and pumps for about 5 seconds and the first side is sealed.
Then I fill it with whatever and put the unsealed edge in the machine. I usually do fruit and jerky so the stuff lays flat. If you do produce or
grain (bulky) you have to cut your bag a bit longer so what lays on the heat bar is flat, not puckered up. The bag is usually curling so I put the
curl into the slot that is right behind the heat bar. Close it up and push down. The vacuum does its job and it will quit when it is sealed.

Hope that helps. Son and I are drying apples and jerky this weekend.

kcm.MN · Nov 10, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:59:04 11/09/17)
Ok does that mean you have to seal off both ends.

When making a bag from the roll material, you have to heat-seal each end. The first end there is no vacuum; just heat.

Our machine is FoodSaver brand (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OPIYH3O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1), but last December it was $75. Anyway, with our machine, it doesn't really matter which side is up when sealing or vacuuming. Not sure about other makes/models, but ours has a drip tray, and you're supposed to center the end of the bag in that drip tray in order to seal the final end. It will suck out the air to a preset amount of vacuum, then will seal the plastic together. You can interrupt the vacuuming process early if you're sealing up, for example, bread.

Don't know about you guys, but when we buy head lettuce at the store, it's turning brown and limp within a week. And, we usually only go to town about once a month. We have learned that we can cut a head of lettuce in half and seal each one really good....really suck that air out! Work off of one and, when that bag is empty, then open the other. The lettuce stays green and crisp for several weeks.

This little gizmo has already paid for itself in less than a year!

coshoo · Nov 10, 2017

I've got a Rival, too. I think you just press down on it while its sealing, and it tells you when to let up. No "latch" to it. I find it works better than the Foodsaver I had previously, although the Foodsaver may have just worn out- it got so the seals would not maintain a vacuum in the freezer. I buy the bags instead of the rolls, on the theory that having to seal both ends will wear your machine out twice as fast. 11 inch bags are big enough for most everything.

Bruce from Can. · Nov 10, 2017

We also have a Foodsaver vac wrapper, and it works well . We also use the rolls of plastic, and create
the bags the size we need. The rolls are not cheap to buy , but the plastic is tough.

Hobo,NC · Nov 10, 2017

(quoted from post at 15:18:37 11/10/17) I've got a Rival, too. I think you just press down on it while its sealing, and it tells you when to let up. No "latch" to it. I find it works better than the Foodsaver I had previously, although the Foodsaver may have just worn out- it got so the seals would not maintain a vacuum in the freezer. I buy the bags instead of the rolls, on the theory that having to seal both ends will wear your machine out twice as fast. 11 inch bags are big enough for most everything.

I will look it over again the instructions do say push on it till it latches. Its a bear to latch it takes a man to do it are a strong woman it will not do its thang until its latched. I brought the roll and an assortment of bags. Thanks guys for clearing this up.

My house keeper said she slightly freezes her meat then seals it she says then the juice in the meat does not run out when you vacuum pack it. The man in me says I don't have time for that :lol:

WNYBill · Nov 10, 2017

Have you tried putting it in a canister? We put 3 heads of romaine in a canister, remove the air and it
will keep for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Bill

WNYBill · Nov 10, 2017

E-bay

Determined · Nov 10, 2017

We have a couple of the old food saver brand sealers, temperamental for the first few bags after they sit unused for a few months, otherwise good machines.

I don't bother with the locks, just put the bag in and press down lightly on the lid with both hands, a finger from right hand on the start button.
Only takes a second or two until the vacuum sucks it down then I just keep a finger on the button while the cycle completes.

We buy 2 different size bags from a butcher supply shop, way cheaper and easier than dealing with the rolls.

You do have to make sure you get the ones that have the little dimples on one side of the bag as the smooth ones made for commercial sealers will not work.

When we make a big batch of bacon, sausage, jerky etc, we will only use the vacuum bags for longer term storage.
No use wasting expensive bags for something you are going to open up and use in a month or two, that's what meat paper is for.

cityboy · Nov 10, 2017

"My house keeper said she slightly freezes her meat then seals it she says then the juice in the meat does not run out when you vacuum pack it. "

We have the food saver version.
To avoid juicy meats from ruining the seal,
use a piece of paper towel, tear it to the width of the bag.
Maybe 2" wide, fold it in half length wise.
Place it above the meat, folded side towards bag opening,
but below the sealing area.
The vacuum will suck up the juice, paper towel stops it.

HTH...cityboy

Eldon (WA) · Nov 10, 2017

We have used the same one for years. We buy the rolls for bags and cut them longer than we need and reuse them until they get too small (cut them open right next to the seal to save length). For juicy stuff like veggies I bag and pre-freeze overnight and then seal.

GordoSD · Nov 11, 2017

I've sealed hundreds of packs of fish, fowl, steak, burger, ALWAYS freeze it first in the real flimsy cheap "baggies", not ziplock. Your meat will keep for 2 years no dehydration

Hobo,NC · Nov 11, 2017

The one I have I can say is free I tried to yard sale no takers, gave it to my son he said don't work.. I guess it comes down to how much effort are you willing to put into it. I use to wrap meat in wax paper and put it in a freezer bag, so far so good. I do like the numerous ways you can work with the food in this type of bag.

Week one took a Ribeye out it looked as good as the day I packed it... I washed and saved the bag no problem I am the head dish washer...

Food Vacuum Storage Bags

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