Anyone using the Reynolds Consumer Product Handi Vac?
http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Consumer-Produ-Starter-00590/dp/B000XY8PDW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1243534491&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Consumer-Produ-Starter-00590/dp/B000XY8PDW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1243534491&sr=8-1)
Or the Foodsaver line?
Looking to buy something, looking for user opinions.
I have an old Food Saver 550 that is still working fine and I also have the V2840 which does a wondrful job.
Thanks
I've had one for about a year. They are handy for packaging small amounts, and are reseable with it's ziplock closure. The bag sizes are limited to quart and gallon, somewhat expensive, but reusable.
It takes a little practice to get it to vacuum properly, but once you past that learning curve it is quite simple. You do have a lot of space waste, because the top portion of the bag has to be flat in order to be vacuumed.
I also use a Food Saver and am very happy with it.
I forgot to mention I have the FoodSaver V3860. I wouldn't recommend it. It takes a while to feed the bag right to vacuum correctly.
I have the Food Saver and use it alot. I will have to look and see the model#
My wife bought me one about 10 years ago and it took s**t last year.
I then got a bigger model around Sep. Then around Jan or Feb Cabellas had a sell on a new model so I had to get that one also. Now I have 2.
My wife has the Handi Vac. It is OK. She uses it for short term storage. I had looked at the Food saver that Habs got. The saleman talked me out of it and I went with the 2840 instead. Basically the same machine, just not automatic start. You have to press a button to start it. Absolutely no problems with it.
Got a foodsaver also, this is the second one in about 6 years.
gonna have to get another one soon..poor little thing just cannot deal with the
stress i guess.
plan on going with a pro model.
I have the V3840 and had the same problems as Hab's at first, but love it now. I cut my own bags from the roll. I buy from a couple of ebay sellers now that Yard & Pool does not stock. It get used many times a week for packaging stuff for lunch, as I always cook too much. Gotta hold the ends tight, curl side down and off she goes!
I don't know about the handi vac, but I recently bought the food saver v2830
http://www.foodsaver.com/Product.aspx?id=s&cid=0&pid=1181
I love my foodsaver. Its real easy to use and built real well.
I don't think I would like the stand up model V3840 or v3860 much, seems like it might be alittle hard to use if vac sealing a large amount of bratwursts or sausages you just made; but the one I got is great and easy to use.
The v2830 also flips up for storage as well.
The pro 2300 is one Im eventually saving up for in time, but until I get the cash for that, this food saver does all I need for now perfectly.
I have a Foodsaver 2490 and it works fine, altho if i have a big batch to vac-seal, it needs to take a rest every 10th bag or so. I may go with a heavier duty one when this one dies.
Thats kinda why I went and got the second one, to let each one cool when I'm useing the other.
Quote from: aces-n-eights on May 29, 2009, 09:35:28 AM
I have a Foodsaver 2490 and it works fine, altho if i have a big batch to vac-seal, it needs to take a rest every 10th bag or so. I may go with a heavier duty one when this one dies.
It may not die! ;D Like I said, I still have my 550 model. It was one of the early models.
Thanks for all the input, I ended up ordering the FoodSaver V2440 Advanced Design Vacuum-Packaging System, Amazon dropped price to $119 as a Friday Special.
Congrats starship. Your really going to find your new food saver to be more valuable then you think.
Nice model too. I checked it out. You have the canister hose attachment. They sell a VERY nice marinade box. Very thick heavy duty plastic construction if your interested.
Also, keep the foodsaver site bookmarked. If you buy your rolls of bags through them on line or over phone, and if you buy 5 or more rolls you get an instant 30% off. On going deal they have to make it worth your while to buy directly through them.
They also work deals out with you. My dealing with them when I purchased some roll replacements, I asked about their meat marinade canister box. The salesman explained it with dimensions then the price that was exactly same on line. He hesitated then said, if I bought it with my purchase with my roll replacements he would take $10 off.
Can't beat that. Havent used it yet but its very strong.
They seem like a great company thats willing to work with you/ Thats why I place my orders with them on phone.
But the replacement rolls as their on going deal is as follows...
2 rolls 10% off
3 or more rolls 20% off
and 5 rolls or more 30% off
Pretty nice because with your Bradley your gonna buy alot of meats to save on hand for future smokes :)
Hope this helps and congrats on your new addition starship :D
You'll love your Foodsaver Starship!
I got one from Costco a few months ago and it's wonderful.
It's great to be able to vacuum seal all our fresh and smoked sausages now.
Carolyn
I Think any of the Foodsaver models need at least a "One beverage rest after 10 seals" Rules to live buy!! ;D
Quote from: Smokin Soon on May 30, 2009, 08:14:33 PM
I Think any of the Foodsaver models need at least a "One beverage rest after 10 seals" Rules to live buy!! ;D
Yeah, I think thats even in the Foodsaver manual? If not it should be :D
Roger That!!! Gazer I gotta find mine and look! I bet it's in there.
I just picked up one from Costco
I am liking it but its pretty challenging with wet things that you might want to vacum marinade
I thought the one I bought came with the marinador but the display was out dated and the newer model, although lower in price
did not have the marinador. I dont know if its worth 30 bucks for the attachment, but if I see one go on sale I will be all over it
Ive had the food saver line for over 10 yr and i just now find out they have a discount if you buy from them.
Thats just my luck.
Oh Ya I totally forgot about this page and was going to get back with the model that i have its the 2830
I found that the "One beverage rest after 10 seals" works great
Cabelas has the food saver model v2490 on sale for 79.00 and some change,usually 169.00 i think, limited quantities
sorry i do not know how to post a link yet.
comes with 2 rolls of bags an adapter hose and 3 vac canisters.
trying link. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0071787519225a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=food+saver&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1
i just got mine today and it looks like it will be a good deal.
I have found with the foodsaver, if I am packing "wet" items such as meats I take a paper towel fold it lengthwise and put it on top of the meat in between the seal and food. While vacuuming it the paper towel absorbs the excess liquid and thus doesn't foul the machine or get into the seal. I also find that I can reuse the bags I sterilize them and use them until they become too small to be useful.
JF7FSU,
i will make soup or chili, even spaghetti and vac seal it.
i usually line a single serving bowl with plastic wrap, fill it with soup, freeze it
then lift out the plastic wrap, put the soup in the vac bag and seal it.
warm it up in the microwave, or pan of hot water.....works great!
you can also season your steaks or chicken partially freeze them and then vac seal them.
when you thaw them out in the bag....instant marinade!
Quote from: Up In Smoke on August 05, 2009, 06:29:48 PM
JF7FSU,
i will make soup or chili, even spaghetti and vac seal it.
i usually line a single serving bowl with plastic wrap, fill it with soup, freeze it
then lift out the plastic wrap, put the soup in the vac bag and seal it.
warm it up in the microwave, or pan of hot water.....works great!
Great idea UIS. Sounds like an easy way to make single serving meals.
Its a great idea, except I'm usually time pressed and would forget to take it out and vac seal it :D I add the paper towel for meat type items, not pure liquid stuff, I have canisters for that.
Quote from: Up In Smoke on August 05, 2009, 06:29:48 PM
JF7FSU,
i will make soup or chili, even spaghetti and vac seal it.
i usually line a single serving bowl with plastic wrap, fill it with soup, freeze it
then lift out the plastic wrap, put the soup in the vac bag and seal it.
warm it up in the microwave, or pan of hot water.....works great!