Anybody out there ever used vacuum foodsavers?

[sand flea]

I ask because I've been freezing my fish for years in bags filled with water. It keeps freezer burn down but I'm hearing more and more about these vacuum bag foodsaver things.

If you do use one of these to freeze your catch, which model do you use and what do you like/hate about it?

[SeaSalt]

My wife loves to freeze leftovers. I'm also thinking about buying one too, do you think its a bad birthday gift? (I probaly need a lady's opinion.)

It says, you can keep food for a year and it will be fresh. I was thinking about all those spots I have left over, now I can vacum freeze it and use it next time I go fishing.

I saw one model sold at Costco, it was around 150.00. Warning is that those vacum bags cost alot.

[LongRanger]

I use the Professional II and I love it. Get it new from eBay if you want a deal.

[JerryB]

my fishing buddy bought one for his wife for her birthday, she was tickled. they work great, the bags are expensive, but they are reusable. so if you have some bait left you can just reseal the bag and put it back in the freezer. when you figure the cost of your fish its well worth the price to keep them filets in good shape until you eat em.

[Anthony]

I too own a professional II and I think that it's great. It keeps fish nicely for much longer than freezing them in regular freezer bags. The bags are pricey but overall, well worth it. I also got mine from e-bay.
-Anthony

[BigJeff823]

I like to use my foodsaver I use it to keep Peelers fresh for 2-3 weeks.My new name can be Mr Peeler cause I buy so mutch of them anymore.

[Kayode]

I use the bigger Food Saver and I use it a couple times a week.
I seal venison, fish, left overs, bait and even suops and chili.
One huge advantage to it is that you can even boil the bags so left over ham or chili or soup goes right in to a pot of water, still in the bag, and we can heat it right back up. Real convenient for taking a home cooked meal to cook over a fire. It will also force the juices and spices into the pores in the meat if you put your marinade in the same bag.
As far as it lasting a year, the company does brag that you can save meat 1 year if it's been vaccuumed but it also compares that to something like 4 months frozen the store bought way. I don't know about you guys but I used to freeze it the old way for that long and I know I can freeze it a heck of a lot longer than a year if it's sealed.
It pays for it self anyway. I now will buy the huge packs of beef or cook an entire turkey or ham, then cut it into small portions and freeze it for individual servings for another time.

[ShoreBird]

I have one too. we love it. When i prepare steaks for the barbi I marinate them right in the bag. It's great for buying in bulk.

[TRIGGERFISH]

I'v had mine for about 3yrs. and won't part with it, flea go out get one,I also freeze bait when it's hard to get,spot,white perch all have to freashly caught. I brought some to the Tank with me last year in the late fall(spot) and did very well on Rock and trout,blues. So flea go for it. TRIGGER

[Billr]

i have had one for over 3 yrs. you can keep meat for a long time, fish for up to over a year. i have mullet for 2years and it's still good. it recently went bad, and i called thier 800# and they sent me a shipping label to ship it back.i had to pay for shipping and send 50bucks. they told me it would be fixed good as new or send me a new one. they paid return shipping, and sent me a new one. mine is a foodsaver. black and decker just came out wiyh one and their bags are cheaper and work in the foodsaver.:cool: :cool:

[Digger]

I think I have had mine for about 2 years I love it. It took a little getting use to. But a early tip is if the fillets are wet, toss them in the freezer for a little bit, before baging(just enough to freeze the outer water). They are great.

[Digger]

One more note when I find that fish lost in the freezer and year and a half old I know I can still enjoy it.

[Sandhog]

I've had a Foodsaver for about 5 years now and The wife& Ilove it . It takes a little practice to get the hang of it but then your off and running. Also you can get bags by the roll at Cabala's, not sure about the price.
Sandhog :D :D

[TRIGGERFISH]

Sandflea - You can reuse the bags just wash them out and let dry,but you can buy the rolls of bags at the outlet malls very cheep,like the one across the Bay bridge.TRIGGER

[wizardude]

But have a bunch of Halibut and Wild Salmon in the freezer from over a year ago, that was vacuum packed and flash frozen by the guide service, and shipped back in dry ice. Amazing, no freezer burn, fresh smell, and taste just as good as it did when it arrived.

Been doing more "catching" out of the freezer this year than anywhere else ;)

[Thrifty Angler]

that I did not pack it for the move we just made. As a matter of fact, it is in the same original place I put it when I first bought it into the new house. Right in the center of the dining room table. I haven't gotten around to using it yet. But I sure will be able to find it easily.

Too bad I didn't do the same with the cordless drill and jigsaw.:mad:

I have the pro 1 model from Tilia. Cost, I believe, $2.00 at a thrift store. That was some time back. It still is going strong.

I definitely believe you will be making a good investment in purchasing one. Go with a model that is simpliest to use. Main thing is the vacuuming function and having it know when to stop automatically.