While watching late nite TV happened to watch the show concerning a "Food Saver " . It vacuums out the air to save food items and seal bottles without the canning process. It also vaccums in a seal-a-meal type plastic bag. It shows to freeze the items after sealing. The demo showed the process of doing canning w/o heat. It seems ideal for today's needs of saving items without doing alot of extra prepartion. Does anyone on the forum have one ??? Does it really do what it says ? At 3 payments of $49.99 I feel it's a little pricey, ANY THOUGHTS ??? Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), March 05, 1999

Answers

We've been using this device for 2 years now...and LOVE it! It is a MUST for anyone buying in bulk, IMO. It it central to our Y2K food storage plans. By the way, buy the bags in roll form at Service Merchandise...best price around!

-- Buffalo Bob (buff@hal.com), March 05, 1999.

We picked one up at Costco the other day and vacuum-packed everything in the house (where is that darned cat by the way?). We made up many packages of bean-soup mix, complete with a package of spices. Really works great.

You do need to be careful though -- you CAN seal a jar and get a vacuum seal, but it does NOT replace the normal cooking process for fruits, vegetables, etc. We packed a few jars with popcorn. Would also work great for smaller portions of dry beans, rice, etc.

This is also what you need if you are using oxygen absorbers in your packing and don't need to use all 50 at once. You just re-seal them and use them later.

Dave

-- Dave (dave@nospam.pls), March 05, 1999.

A friend of mine uses this to store off season clothing, blankets & such. Saves space.

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 05, 1999.

Buffalo Bob: Where do you get the bags? I have found them to be terribly expensive - and the machine does not work at all with other types of bags. The least price I have found is at Bass Pro Shops at $25.00 for two rolls of the 8 x 11 plus about $6.00 shipping. Where is Service Merchanidise? What is their price? THANKS!!!

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), March 05, 1999.

Thanks to all comments ,and to Dave sure hope you don't hear any meowing in the freezer late at night ??? So I guess $150.00 is about right for this piece of food preperation tool. Again Thanks, Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), March 06, 1999.

The better quality vacuum sealer is made by Magic Vac. A little more expensive (especially the almost commercial quality units), but they produce a much better vacuum. They can also use almost any type of vacuum bag (the ones with the grooves). I've also sealed light plastic zip-loc type bags with it.

-- Dean -- from (almost) Duh Moines (dtmiller@nevia.net), March 06, 1999.

Has anyone else seen the late-night infomercial for the Larry North weight loss program? I fear it will be eclipsed in popularity by the Gary North weight loss program sometime next year

-- humptydumpty (no.6@thevillage.com), March 06, 1999.

Its not that I am all that poor. I am just a cheapskate. I bought a, "Pump n Seal" for $20.00 from a website that sells "Seen on TV" products. There are several on the web. It is a cheap, PVC constructed, hand operated device that vacuum seals any type baggie or jar. I have tested it with my vacuum gage and it will produce a vacuum of 15 in Hg which I believe is the commercial standard. To give you an idea, I drilled a small hole in a Army surpluss ammo box and with the "Pump n Seal" took out enough air that the sides of the steel box became concave. I thought the little devise was very impressive and does not require electricity.

Bill in South Carolina

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), March 06, 1999.

Bst price i saw, and darn they are oout this weekend, is at www.sportsmansguide.com , for US$100 for a reconditioned version. Will let you all know when they get some in as I'm gonna try to order.

Chuck

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), March 06, 1999.