Foodsavers

troutbug · #1 07-26-2016, 06:48 PM

Can I get some recommendation for good food-savers out there?

Now that I have a garage I might butcher my own deer again.

After shopping around online there are quite a number of different kinds of food-savers out there so I would like to hear from someone who has a model and experiences with one.

HalfBreed · #2 07-26-2016, 07:36 PM

Probably not what you're looking for but I bit the bullet and grabbed one of these.

https://harvestright.com/product/freeze-dryer-black/

I also have a foodsaver from Cantire on special to pack up what I dry. I would recommend getting one with the hose attachment to vac seal other containers.

My dehydrator only does jerky now.

Pheasant buster · #3 07-26-2016, 07:40 PM

Go to Costco. We bought ours a few years ago and it has done 5 hogs, quite a few deer and countless other stuff. Plus they have a great return policy if anything goes wrong.

Masterchief · #4 07-26-2016, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pheasant buster

Go to Costco. We bought ours a few years ago and it has done 5 hogs, quite a few deer and countless other stuff. Plus they have a great return policy if anything goes wrong.

I bought one from Costco 10 years ago and it is still kicking, but bought a new one there this spring and like it much more than the old one

wmd · #5 07-26-2016, 07:53 PM

yup the Costco one rocks and if it craps out there warranty rocks.

Maghunter · #6 07-26-2016, 08:04 PM

Costco ones work good but the bags are pricey. I bought mine at Butchers and Packers. The bags are half the price.

sewerrat · #7 07-26-2016, 08:37 PM

Picked up a foods saver as well, it wouldn't vacuum anymore, called the company and they send a new one out at no charge.

MRM · #8 07-26-2016, 08:42 PM

Got the Basic Foodsaver brand from Canadian Tire a few years ago. Gets used all the time and it has never let us down. Not sure if it as good as the Costco one, but I don’t know what it could do better. They are still less than $120.

Redfrog · #9 07-26-2016, 08:51 PM

Anywhere cheaper than costco for bags for the Foodsaver brand sealer?

I-Love-Eyes · #10 07-26-2016, 08:52 PM

I have a food saver also. I love it! I buy the really big blocks of cheese and cut them into thirds. Vac seal two pieces in one quart size bag and they keep for a very long time. If I cut the bag open carefully, to get a piece of cheese, i can reseal the last piece.
Also works GREAT for sealing fish fillets for later use--they don't freezer burn as they would in a regular baggie.

troutbug · #11 07-26-2016, 09:50 PM

thanks guys!

J0HN_R1 · #12 07-26-2016, 09:52 PM

I bought this specifically to do the moose I was given... It has the hose attachment to do Mason-jars and proprietary FoodSaver containers.

It's pretty slick ! http://www.costco.ca/FoodSaver-Autom...100115705.html

jcrayford · #13 07-26-2016, 10:40 PM

I bought a FoodSaver brand basic a few years ago to pack away some ground deer. Opened up the deer last fall and did an impromptu jerky mix with it; was just like I had ground it the day before.

As long as the bags keep airtight, the food will last incredibly long in the freezer. The next trick is to keep it at a constant temperature once frozen.

Easily worth the money. I usually wait for the sales on the rolls of FoodSaver at Walmart or Crappy Tire; I tend to find them at least twice a year.

J.

Divert · #14 07-27-2016, 04:03 AM

I have to add, iI bought the foodsaver from Costco a couple of weeks ago. Overall not impressed at all. I found it would vacuum the first bag fairly well however any subsequent bags were very poorly vacuumed. Also I found after doing 3 or 4 bags it would over heat. Not condusive to doing a full moose. After a ton of research I decided I am just going to bite the bullet and get a weston, at least I know it wont overheat near as much.

J0HN_R1 · #15 07-27-2016, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divert

I have to add, iI bought the foodsaver from Costco a couple of weeks ago. Overall not impressed at all. I found it would vacuum the first bag fairly well however any subsequent bags were very poorly vacuumed.

Also I found after doing 3 or 4 bags it would over heat. Not condusive to doing a full moose. After a ton of research I decided I am just going to bite the bullet and get a weston, at least I know it wont overheat near as much.

You must have a lemon...

I sealed 85 lbs of moose in a couple hours when I got mine. No issues whatsoever.

sns2 · #16 07-27-2016, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redfrog

Anywhere cheaper than costco for bags for the Foodsaver brand sealer?

Walmart carries bags and are reasonably priced. I actually like Cabela's bags. They all work just fine.

Map Maker · #17 07-27-2016, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HalfBreed

Probably not what you're looking for but I bit the bullet and grabbed one of these.

https://harvestright.com/product/freeze-dryer-black/

I also have a foodsaver from Cantire on special to pack up what I dry. I would recommend getting one with the hose attachment to vac seal other containers.

My dehydrator only does jerky now.

You bought one of those eh?
I debated it but couldnt justify the cost.
Is it as good as the mountain house stuff with less salt?

teledogs · #18 07-27-2016, 08:28 PM

[QUOTE=Divert;3288045] I found it would vacuum the first bag fairly well however any subsequent bags were very poorly vacuumed. Also I found after doing 3 or 4 bags it would over heat.

I had the same problem with mine and the instructions said to wait 20 or 30 min if it overheats. I haven't decided on a replacement yet...

threeforthree · #19 07-28-2016, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redfrog

Anywhere cheaper than costco for bags for the Foodsaver brand sealer?

this is were we get ours.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Deluxe-FOUR-...QAAOSwvUlWrtk7

BrownTrout · #20 07-28-2016, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sns2

Walmart carries bags and are reasonably priced. I actually like Cabela's bags. They all work just fine.

I usually buy the less expensive bags from can tire. Half the price for the same bags essentially.

I've gone through a couple food savers, will only buy from Costco due to return policy.

Piker · #21 07-28-2016, 07:06 AM

I use one from Costco and it tends to overheat but if you go a little slower it works fine. Like do not cut all the bags and try to seal one end all at once. Cut and seal a few bags start to fill and seal and start over again. I can do about 60 lbs. of meat in 45 minutes which is good for me. Piker

MountainTi · #22 07-28-2016, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piker

I use one from Costco and it tends to overheat but if you go a little slower it works fine. Like do not cut all the bags and try to seal one end all at once. Cut and seal a few bags start to fill and seal and start over again. I can do about 60 lbs. of meat in 45 minutes which is good for me. Piker

If I'm sealing much with mine, I just use a damp rag and rub it on the sealer after each bag, helps to keep it cool, usually never overheats that way

HalfBreed · #23 07-28-2016, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Map Maker

You bought one of those eh?
I debated it but couldnt justify the cost.
Is it as good as the mountain house stuff with less salt?

I got it as a bit of a retirement gift to myself, will pay itself off in 4 more years in my estimation, have had it for a year.

I think it really depends on how it's used as far as competing against known trail food companies.

My first runs were all unseasoned and likewise quite bland. Fruits and veggies are brilliant. Ive taken to marinating steaks to season and cubing them for packable protien, much better than plain as while adventuring it's sometimes too much to think of seasonings while cooking/ reconstituting.

I think if I were to do it again, I likely would have stayed with buying the large bulk cans of mountain house and the other companies fares and breaking them down to meal size in snack baggies then foodsaver the remainder until the next trip.