Home use food vacuum sealers are quite a common subject on the forum, until recently their availability in the UK has been limited but a search of the net now reveals several different ones are available.
I bought a Foodsaver 550 vacuum sealer 12-14 months ago at a cost of around £120 and had to get it from Germany. In the intervening months the availability in the UK has increase dramatically and the price dropped. >:(
The same unit can now be bought from Empire Direct for a little over £80! ;D although it is now available through several other outleys. This seems to be the best price at the moment.
www.empiredirect.co.uk
or
http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/index~modelcode~FSR-FS550.htm
The foodsaver bags are still overpriced in my view and I continue to use different vacuum bags:
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=2306.0
I have had so much use out of my vacuum sealer, would thoroughly recommend them.
I have to agree with you manxman about the sealers being usful. I would never be able to save all the fish I do without one. I bought a commercial sealer here in Alaska so I didn't have to pay for the high priced bags that food saver has. The commercial bags don't have to have the pleats so they are only a third of the cost and at a few thousand a year it adds up fast. Have fun.
Quoteat a few thousand a year it adds up fast.
Even at a few hundred a year I can save over £130/USD200 by sourcing non Foodsaver brand pleated bags, so the savings on the non pleated bags for several thousand must be very significant.
There are a couple of low cost vacuum sealers that just use very cheap non pleated plastic rolls but they seem almost too good to be true!? In which case they probably are!
http://images.tchibo.de/eCS/Store/uk/images/kw15/kw15_5826_detail.jpg
http://www.sausagemaking.org/acatalog/High_Quality_Vacuum_Layout.html
I have seen the commercial models in local butchers but even second hand they seem to attract a premium price. >:(
manxman I have a unit like the ones you link us to. What a pain in the shorts to use.
Anyone in North America have a source for those cheaper bags that manxman talks about?
T2
Quotemanxman I have a unit like the ones you link us to. What a pain in the shorts to use.
Thanks Olds, a couple of people have asked my advice on them, think I will tell them to stear clear and invest the extra £/$ in a Foodsaver type model with the pleated bags.
QuoteAnyone in North America have a source for those cheaper bags that manxman talks about?
Hi tsquared, the difference in price may well be due to the fact that the cheaper ones are European (Italian I think) compared with the (imported from US) Foodsaver bags.
Bear in mind we pay around $26 for 48 bradley bisquettes and $56 for 120 bradley bisquettes here in the UK. The cheaper bags here could well be a similar price to the foodsaver bags if sold in the US/Canada so I suspect it is not worth them being marketed on the other side of the pond?
Quote from: tsquared on April 25, 2006, 10:04:22 PM
Anyone in North America have a source for those cheaper bags that manxman talks about?
T2
T2,
I have purchased some bags from this company on eBay. Very good prices and bags are very good quality.
http://stores.ebay.com/All-Vacuum-Sealer-Supplies (http://stores.ebay.com/All-Vacuum-Sealer-Supplies)
Bryan
Thanks Begolf and manxman. I will have a look at ebay's site tonight and see. Salmon season is almost upon us and I'm going to need some.
T2
This ebay site looks good, good choice and good prices for foodsaver (type) bags compared to normal prices for those buying in the US.
Here in the UK I can now get foodsaver compatible bags for £15/$24 per 100 (size: 8x12inch/20x30cm) whereas the genuine foodsaver bags are £20/$36 per 48 bags, a saving of £27/$43 per hundred which is not to be sniffed at given I use about 500 bags per annum!
Imagine someone using 5000 bags per annum..... savings of £270/$430 to be made.
And the next time I am in the US I plan to bring a spare suitcase and bring a few 120 packs sizes of various bisquettes back to the UK!! ;D
QuoteImagine someone using 5000 bags per annum..... savings of £270/$430 to be made.
My maths is rubbish sometimes, I blame the "several" glasses of wine I had drunk when I posted this! :-[
Savings for someone using 5000 bags would be £1350/$2160 so I can understand when Iceman says he uses several thousand bags per year there are considerable savings to be made and it would be worth considering a commercial sealer.
We forgive you. I myself have never partaken and then made a mistake. :D I'm going to search around on some Canadian sites for bags as I find from experience buying south of the border that shipping plus "brokerage fees" (whatever the h%$$ that is) can turn what looks like a good deal into a bad bargain.
T2
A store in illinois called linens n things has them and with there discounts in the mail there cheaper then ebay.Too much shipping cost on those ill keep ya updated when i get my next supply.And that will be very soon. ;)
Thanks Rat. 'Preciate it.
T2
Quote from: icerat4 on April 27, 2006, 05:08:10 PM
A store in illinois called linens n things has them and with there discounts in the mail there cheaper then ebay.Too much shipping cost on those ill keep ya updated when i get my next supply.And that will be very soon. ;)
You must sure get some HUGE discounts rat because Linens n Things prices really aren't even close for what you could get from the eBay store. Linens n Things is offering a 2 pack of 11" * 18' bags(total of 36') for $18.99 plus around $6.00 shipping. On the eBay store I pointed out you can get a 2 pack of 11" * 50' for $34.75(total of 100') plus around $8.00 shipping. When you do the math the savings is not even close. Linens n Things is around .69 a foot and the eBay store is around .42 when you include shipping prices. Plus the bags are as good if not better then Foodsaver brand bags.
right now without the discount i get 48 bags for 18 bucks.Some times they have in store deals and ya dont have to pay shipping i live right by one.I will keep ya posted.The problem is see is the shipping .Well i dont to that deal just go pick them up my self that saves a bunch right off the back. ;D
Ok, I understand liking to just pick them up when you need them. I was just confused since you said shipping is too high and they were more expensive. Id rather just go ahead and order a higher quality bag for a better price since I usually receive them within 3 days.
http://images.tchibo.de/eCS/Store/uk/images/kw15/kw15_5826_detail.jpg
Asked by a friend, who had already bought it, what I thought of this model (Tchibo TCM Vacuum Sealer).
After having a chance to have a play with it (the vacuum sealer that is before Chez zooms in on this comment! ;) ) the answer is not a great deal.
Pros:
Cheap, about £15/$24 which includes 2 rolls of "foil" for making bags.
Efficiently seals bags, good for reducing cross contamination between food whilst in the fridge.
Wall mountable
Relatively easy to use.
Clear instruction manual including freephone helpdesk and email address.
3 year guarantee.
Cons:
Only removes about 90% air from bag, moving and fiddling around with bag does improve matters but the vacuum is NOTHING like a Foodsaver type pleated bag vacuum.
After each sealing process the machine must be left for 80 seconds to cool, given each individual bag requires 3 sides sealed it is a SLOOOOW process.
Warm welding wire looks like is may easily be damaged.
Not clear from manual where further bag rolls can be purchased, presumably website or helpdesk enquiry would sort that?
Conclusion:
People expecting a Foodsaver type vacuum sealer will be disappointed. The tchibo is good for sealing left overs for storage for a couple of days in fridge to avoid cross contamination but for long term storage of food in the freezer it will not perform as well as the more expensive (about £80) Foodsaver model.
Cheap, but even the £15/$24 buys quite a lot of cling film/plastic wrap or zipper bags!
If serious about vacuum sealing food go for a "Foodsaver" type model with pleated/channelled bags, a much improved vacuum seal will be possible.
Tchibo have some great stuff at great prices but in my view this is not one. May be OK for light occasional use.
I have the food saver 2840 and its awesome.O yea Sams club has the bags at 28 bucks 6 rolls not a bad price at all.
I've just been to Makro, and they are now selling the Foodsaver 550 machine for £74.99, they also had a selection of bags and rolls (Foodsaver brand) i bought 4 @ 280mm rolls for £15 which isn't a bad price i think?.
I always look for Foodsaver stuff when i'm at Costco, but i haven't seen anything as of yet, maybe the U.K. Costco haven't started stocking yet? ::)
QuoteI've just been to Makro, and they are now selling the Foodsaver 550 machine for £74.99, they also had a selection of bags and rolls (Foodsaver brand) i bought 4 @ 280mm rolls for £15 which isn't a bad price i think?.
I always look for Foodsaver stuff when i'm at Costco, but i haven't seen anything as of yet, maybe the U.K. Costco haven't started stocking yet?
That's a good price, I paid well over £100 for my Foodsaver not that long ago and had to buy it from the continent. Good deal on the bags too, vacuum sealers seem to be coming a lot more available and the price is dropping. :D
I only get to Costco once in a while when I am on the UK mainland, trouble is I always spend a fortune there and usually wait until I have taken a car away on the ferry so I can get everything home.
I see that Arden Smoker Supplies are now selling an Italian Tre Spade Ariel vacuum packer for £129.25, inc sales tax. (I was looking around, because Empire Direct, mentioned earlier in this post, don't have the Foodsaver 550 in stock.) I've got some questions, if anyone can help.
Has anyone used this machine since it came out in July, or Tre Spade kit before? Is it good value, or should I wait for the Foodsaver to come back in stock? What about the bags? Are they good value? Can you use other make bags with it?
Sorry for basic questions - just learning the ropes here!
Fizzog
Sorry, I should have added a link to my last post: http://w3t.org/u/ymt.
Fizzog
I have never used the vacuum sealer you mentioned so can't comment on it, the only direct experience I have is with the FoodSaver 550 which I would personnally recommend.
The best site I have found for bags is:
http://www.culinaryinnovations.co.uk/
These bags fit all the vacuum sealers that require the ribbed type bags, they also sell a range of vacuum sealers and seem to have free spice sheets on offer at the moment as well. I have bought bags from this company which work with the FoodSaver 550 and found them excellent to deal with. However, have no experience of these vacuum sealers either, maybe someone else has?
The FoodSaver generally seems around £40-£50 cheaper than anything else available in the UK as yet, a sum not to be sniffed at!!
HI Fizzog,
The only TreSpade kit I have is a sausage stuffer and I am well pleased with it. It is very solidly built, made for easy cleaning and never gives me a problem. Afraid I have no experience with their vacuum gear.
Tom
Thanks, both. Perhaps I'll just think of my pocket, exercise patience, and wait for the Foodsaver to come back in stock.
Fizzog
Hi Fizzog, i bought the Foodsaver 475 recently, it's a nice machine and i'm very pleased with it:
http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/index~modelcode~FSR-FS475.htm
If you definately want the 550, you can get one here:
http://www.bestdirect.tv/src/ADFS/product-FoodSaver-550-BDA06425.htm
Or Makro for £74.99 if you have a branch near by, and obviously membership.
I don't know much about the Tre Spade machine, only what i've read, but imo you can't go far wrong with the Foodsaver machines ;)
Thanks. LilSmoker. Most helpful. Foodsaver it is, I think!
Fizzog
I bought from Best Direct TV and they were fine other than charging my credit card a different amount (higher) than advertised on the website so it may be worth keeping an eye on that if you do buy from them. However, it did get it sorted quite quickly though.
They have an offer on the bags at the moment, 3 for 2, that make them slightly better value although the Culinary Innovations ones still work out a lot cheaper and work well with the FoodSaver models.
@ Fizzog, no problem, you're welcome ;)
As for bags & rolls, as manxman says Culinary Innovations are very good manxman recomended them to me a while back, and i ordered some bags and rolls from them, very good prices and i only had to wait 2 days before they arrived.
http://www.culinaryinnovations.co.uk/osb/showitem.cfm/Category/14/
Anyway hope you get sorted, the vacuum machines really are very good, i couldn't be without one now.
Bye for now..........LilSmoker(http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Tip-Hat.gif)