Info on Vacuum sealing Gizmos

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I know the name is imprecise. On one of those infomercials I saw this device for $150 that sucks the air out of a plastic bag and seals it. Has anyone ever tried one of these and, if its good, can I get one in a normal retail store rather than from a shill?

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), November 10, 1999

Answers

The one I have is a Tilia - I bought mine as a rebuild from Sportsmans Guide. (www.sportsmansguide.com) The first one I ordered I had problems with - they sent a replacement and it works great! The only thing - some of my dehydrated veggies have some sharp edges - and when the air is removed, the bag can get pierced. I also bought my dehydrators from the same outfit - and ran them all summer.

Seen this at Sam's, but it wasn't on the shelf on my last trip - but I bought my extra bags there. Hint on bags: leave extra room so you can reseal and/or reuse. I didn't do that at first and now regret I didn't leave enough room.

Works great with veggies, matches, kool-aid. Didn't try the beer cans, tho. :-)

-- mom (mom@mom.com), November 10, 1999.


I purchased the Tilia Foodsaver Deluxe. It's a great tool. I got mine from Price/Costco. They are available other places too. Last week I saw that there were some available at Costco. Around $170. Get extra bags too.

-- anonymous (anonymous@anonymous.com), November 10, 1999.

excuse me for butting in here- but don't those vacuum sealers depend on ELECTRICITY to work?

-- Midnightmom (myhouse@bigfoot.com), November 11, 1999.

No pun intended, but the ones at Sears SUCK! Midnightmom--I've been trying to think of a way to use my seal-a-meal bags for preserving things long term if elec. is a prob. We have a woodstove and I've thought about two possible ways: 1) using one of the old fashioned IRONS (they weren't kidding when they named them..rofl) allowed to heat just enough on the woodstove OR

2) maybe finding a small metal rod that could heat on woodstove and use like the heated wire on the seal-a-meal.

beej

-- beej (beej@ppbbs.com), November 11, 1999.


I have a Foodsaver deluxe that I use for everything. I'm filling up the freezer with meats and things (WE'LL have electricity, for awhile..)

also- a friend has been "vacuum-sealing" for years by using zip-loc bags and a straw. Works OK. Better than just putting it in a bag.

-- plonk! (realaddress@hotmail.com), November 11, 1999.



We got the Tilia and love it. We had problems with bags and sharp stuff, so we pretty much quit using them. We buy used Mason quarts at Goodwill for ten or fifteen cents each, and vacuum seal everything in them. Cheaper than using bags, I think, even after you buy new lids. The grocery carries oxygen absorbers, and we include those depending on the contents.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), November 11, 1999.

"excuse me for butting in here- but don't those vacuum sealers depend on ELECTRICITY to work?"

Yes of course and your point is? I think folks plan most of the use of these pre-2K but still, there's no big deal with making electricity I'm aware of. Relatively widely understood technology I'm told. Now, if one chooses not to make electricity, well, fine...but no Tilla Foodsaver for them...

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), November 11, 1999.


I don't know if you're on a really tight budget as I am, but on a recent thread on this subject where someone disliked the Sears model, but my friend and I have had great luck with it.

It is the cheapest one around at $50.00 and it vacuum-sealed the mylar bags beautifully! IT is Deni Fresh Lock, Turbo II. At that price and with time fleeting for deliveries, you can't beat running in to Sears and I neither work for them or even like them!!) and getting this model.

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), November 11, 1999.


Use the attachment hose on vacuum cleaner or your shop vac. Works great on plastic bags

-- Lumber Jack (johnsellis@webtv.net), November 11, 1999.

The Tilia is great! I use mine for putting up spices, nuts, dried fruit, coconut, marshmellows (those were fun!), matches, anything I want to keep safe (documents, etc.). I use jars for dehydrated foods, snacks, cookies, crackers, and anything sharp or fragile.

I have even put up country ham, and hoop cheese. Did that in March and it is still doing just great! Those are on my 'December Do' list. More ham and more cheese!

I do not think you will be disappointed in it.

-- Dian (bdp@accessunited.com), November 11, 1999.



Dian - when you put the hoop cheese in the vacuum-pack bag, did you refrigerate it afterwards? If so, this would be a LOT easier than cheesecloth, string and cheese wax!

-- mom (mom@mom.com), November 14, 1999.

I have the Foodsaver, too. I've been dehydrating fruits and vegs and putting them in canning jars. The Foodsaver has an attachment that fits on top and sucks out the air. Could be overkill, but I wanted the jars for next year's harvest if the sun still shines. Also, homemade jerky in the bags in the freezer is supposed to keep for 6 months after removal. I don't know the truth in that. M

-- Meandi (Meandi@food.com), November 14, 1999.

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