Vacuum Sealers

[jvanderlinde]

I like the Cabela's 15" Commercial-Grade Vacuum Sealer.
The double seal features work really well. Cabelas warrenty is also easy to work with.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Whatever sealer you end up buying, my advice is to get the widest one you can get. Also there is a difference between the good bags and the cheapo bags. It's the thickness of the bags so you get what you pay for. It's much easier for ice crystals to poke a hole through the thinner bags and loose vacum.

 

[MT_elk]

I have the 3880 food saver model and really like it. It is easy to use and no problems so far (in my 2nd year).

 

[opyff]

I've processed 13 elk and dang near just as many antelope and deer in the last 7 years, if you want to go really cheap steal a hand full of straws from McDonalds the next time you are there and invest in some Ziploc bags. Haven't lost any meat to freezer burn since.

 

[kydeerhunter]

I have heard that you put the bag in water and it will force the air out than seal it.I have never done it,so I cant say how well it works.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Great thread Dave! I too have been wondering the same thing. Is it worth the extra $ to get one that lasts and does a better job. I have a FoodSaver Vac550 that is probably 6-8 years old but it hasn't been worked that hard. I have tried to do meats and vegetables and fish with it but about 2 out of 5 packages will get sucked down tight and sealed and then several minutes later they have air in the package and have to be redone. I want to buy a new one but I'm not wanting to go through that hassle anymore. Maybe this is a common problem?

Muskeez, try freezing your meat/fish before vac-sealing. Then it WILL suck out all the air. Sometimes I will partially freeze meats, then place a folded paper towel in the bag just ahead of the meat/fish to soak up the liquid before vac sealing the bag. Either one works. I prefer to freeze the items hard before the sealing though.

 

[MT_Fin]

I bought the foodsaver that Costco sells on sale, it works great so far and if it craps out I'll put Costcos return policy to use and get a new one. I packaged about 60 butchered chickens this spring and random stuff since then and can't wait to use it this fall.