FoodSaver Vacum Sealer

[dmccarty]

...Vacuum pack dry clothes for float trips or other wet activities.
...

We don't use our FoodSaver to vacuum pack our clothes for trips but we do use vacuum storage bags. You don't have to hook up a vacuum cleaner to take the air out of the bags either. The storage bags have an opening with a flapper to let out the air. We put the clothes in the storage bag and roll or push out the air via the flapper. Stop rolling/squeezing and the flapper prevents air from leaking back into the bag. After getting as much air out there is a lid that is put on that prevents/minimizes any air leakage during travel. I think rolling works best to get the air out. We end up with a very small "container" of clothes which helps pack more efficiently and the clothes are protected from liquids in the storage bag. The storage bags are not as strong as the FoodSaver bags but they are larger and cheaper. When we fly, we try to travel with just back packs so minimizing bulk is important. Kinda amazing how little volume a weeks worth of clothes can take. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[GaryM]

We don't use our FoodSaver to vacuum pack our clothes for trips but we do use vacuum storage bags. You don't have to hook up a vacuum cleaner to take the air out of the bags either. The storage bags have an opening with a flapper to let out the air. We put the clothes in the storage bag and roll or push out the air via the flapper. Stop rolling/squeezing and the flapper prevents air from leaking back into the bag. After getting as much air out there is a lid that is put on that prevents/minimizes any air leakage during travel. I think rolling works best to get the air out. We end up with a very small "container" of clothes which helps pack more efficiently and the clothes are protected from liquids in the storage bag. The storage bags are not as strong as the FoodSaver bags but they are larger and cheaper. When we fly, we try to travel with just back packs so minimizing bulk is important. Kinda amazing how little volume a weeks worth of clothes can take. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

Yes, I've done that too, particularly on fluffy stuff like sweaters or fleece. It's been years since I've been on a float trip, but it's sure nice to have clean dry clothes at the end for the trip home, no matter what method you use to do it.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I suppose this is a little OT for food saver uses, but...Before traveling we save up full changes of old clothes, put them in garbage bags with a complete change per day, then evacuate the garbage bags with a vacuum cleaner. As we change clothes we simply discard the dirties, leaving more room for trinkets in our luggage that one buys on trips. One quickly learns those tips when motorcycling where space is at a premium.

As far a 'food saver uses' we also buy some things in bulk, like meat, fish, etc. and put them in plastic bags and evacuate and seal those with the food saver. Our BEST use is for canned items like blue berries. One needs to freeze the blue berries on a flat pan, then fill the food saver bag and seal that. The BBs stay 100* fresh for a year or more.

Bottom line is we LOVE our food saver. Don't see how anyone living in a rural area could possibly get by without one.

 

[PhysAssist]

I suppose this is a little OT for food saver uses, but...Before traveling we save up full changes of old clothes, put them in garbage bags with a complete change per day, then evacuate the garbage bags with a vacuum cleaner. As we change clothes we simply discard the dirties, leaving more room for trinkets in our luggage that one buys on trips. One quickly learns those tips when motorcycling where space is at a premium.

As far a 'food saver uses' we also buy some things in bulk, like meat, fish, etc. and put them in plastic bags and evacuate and seal those with the food saver. Our BEST use is for canned items like blue berries. One needs to freeze the blue berries on a flat pan, then fill the food saver bag and seal that. The BBs stay 100* fresh for a year or more.

Bottom line is we LOVE our food saver. Don't see how anyone living in a rural area could possibly get by without one.

Except for the using old clothes and then discarding them, we do the same thing with garbage bags and the vacuum, and if you just keep the tip of the wand from getting sucked into the cloth, you can get an incredible amount of compression- especially for the fluffier stuff as above.

We then knot the bag, and double bag it into another one to further safe guard against leaks, and we're good to go [or to store in the otherwise musty basement].

The old clothes thing would be a great idea, but the only wearable clothes we have that are old are too small for us to wear, all the rest are too worn to be be seen in polite company in.

 

[/pine]

Just curious...
I have been considering a vacuum sealer for a while...are the bags microwaveable? or can they be used as "boil in bag" applications?

 

[joefromga]

They are but it's not good practice to microwave anything in plastic. The boiling is probably better.

 

[MossRoad]

Just curious...
I have been considering a vacuum sealer for a while...are the bags microwaveable? or can they be used as "boil in bag" applications?

We boil ours once in a while. We only use the nuker for defrost, never cooking.

 

[FTG-05]

We've had one for over 10 years. We use it all the time, especially when we buy +100 lbs of pecans from S AL in the fall.

My biggest complaints:

- The deliberate spacing of the sealer and vacuum port that ensures you waste at least 1 1/2" of bag every time you seal something. There's no excuse for this.

- After 5-6 uses one after the other, you have to wait until the sealer cools down, slowing down the whole process. Anyone know a way to reduce the cycle time i.e. keep the sealer cooler or keep sealing for longer periods of time?

Thanks,

 

[dragoneggs]

We like it, just havent used it much. She doesnt want it kept out on the counter, so it's boxes in the basement until she wants something sealed. Usually that is cookies to send to the college boy.

Out of sight, out of mind. We started using ours much more when left on the counter. Now it is habit to use. We have had ours for several years, using it very regularly and keep finding more and more to freeze. Saves lots of space in the freezer too.

That is my favorite kind of corn.

We shuck a bunch of our homegrown and freeze on trays then vacuum pack. Tastes great months later. Also wife tackles other vegetables prepping them first and then freezing.

No one has mentioned it... you know you can vacuum freeze individual servings of soup, stew and chili, too.

Just freeze it in a Tupperware container and then it works flat on the counter with no mess. Love ours.

We freeze portions of large batches of soups, brines, broths, etc. So efficient to make a large batch and split.

Just curious...
I have been considering a vacuum sealer for a while...are the bags microwaveable? or can they be used as "boil in bag" applications?

As others have mentioned... not a good idea to nuke plastic bag type materials. Boiling is much better option. We tend to slow thaw vacuum bagged food or soak in warm water only and then remove before cooking.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Costco has refill bags on discount right now.