vacuum packing

[B. Amish]

i've seen the infomercials for years on these vacuum sealers, thought i would get some real feedback from the crowd here

anybody have one of these things, and how do you like them, how often do you use them, do you use them for fish, fowl, venison, and anything else you can say about them?

thanks

[nuts]

I've had my FoodSaver for years now and use it all the time. Fish, ducks, geese, pheasants, deer burger, or whatever it works great. Not only does it work great for meat, I've sealed up peas, pea pods, and other veggies and they come out just as fresh as you put them in the freezer. As a matter of fact, I had sweet corn last night that tasted like it just came out of the field. Yumm!

The bags are spendy, so reuse them as much as you can. Another pointer for you - things that you put in the bags should not be dripping wet. If too much water (or blood) gets pulled into the vacuum, the bags don't seal quite right.

Hope this helps.

[Borch]

I use mine a lot too. In fact I just wore my first one out this past fall after butching deer.

Just bought a new one. They work very well. The moisture thing has already been brought up. I toss my wet dtuff into the freezer for about 20 minutes and then vacuum seal it. Most of the moisture freezes and you get a good seal.

Also great for marimating food. Cuts the time down dramaticly.

Borch

[dlskills]

i have fish from last summer and there is no frezzer burn!! if ya get one spend as much as you can aford the more money the better the sealthe only way to buy stuff is like apperts burgers 10# at a time split them up in to meals!!!!

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Dwight Skillings
[email protected]

[snowgoose]

I also use mine alot. Not only for game but I like to buy other meat in bulk such as chicken and pork.
Would not be without one now.
The price of the bags has already been brought up but I would like to throw in a suggestion. You can buy the material to make your own bags. It is cheaper. Make them extra big the first time you make them. You will cut off what you need to open the packeage. Wash and reuse them. Until they get to short.

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Hunt Snow Geese, Save the tundra

[B. Amish]

thanks guys,
it's always hard to take the products on those infomercials seriously, your input is very helpful!

is the FoodSaver one the best or what brands do you reccomend?

[nuts]

The FoodSaver is what I have and haven’t had any problems with it. I can’t really speak for other brands, but I would say if you do get one, get one that has a jar sealer or vacuum container (or both). Those things work awesome for marinades.

[BLACKJACK]

Borch, good idea on the moisture/freezer thing, I'll have to try that. I usually end up using a lot of paper towels patting pheasants or fish dry, plus I put one in the bag to soak up the moisture.

Nuts, I don't understand your marinade comment, why would putting meat and marinade in a vacumn packed jar be any better than putting the meat and marinade in a bowl?

[B. Amish]

i think i could answer that last question, its faster because when the vacuum sucks out the air it forces the marinade into the pores of the meat

[nuts]

You got it.

[dlskills]

ditto on the jar vacumn set-up~!! they also have a dish with vacumn sealing lid just for marinating the story on vacuming the marinate is that it takes an hr or so instead of over night!!

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Dwight Skillings
[email protected]

[backlash 1]

We use our foodsaver all the time. It's amazing how well the marinader works. The canisters keep salad fresh much longer.
It's just a good investment for the kitchen, and if your wife goes anywhere near the kitchen she'll love it too.

[korn_fish]

I use my foodsavor the most for soups in a bag. Yes, in a bag. I make a large pot of soup, then divide into smaller tupperware bowls, freeze, then put into bags and seal.

Then, you can microwave or boil the bags, cut open and presto, insta soup.

Works great for river camping trips so you can pack goodies in, and then burn the package you brought it in with.

[Leaky]

I also use the food saver to prepare foods ahead of time for camping. Heading to Basswood for opener and have made and froze enough split pea soup, barbacue beef, and spaghetti/meatball sauce to feed nine guys. Drop in boiling water and were ready to eat with minimun clean up.

[evntam]

A few thoughts on my Foodsaver brand. I love it. I do not know how good other brands are.

How I use mine:

Just to see how good it worked, I saved a laker from Lk superior last July, and left it in the bag until March. It was free of burn marks after all that time.

I use the rolls for bigger fish, but use bags for venison steaks/chops/burger in the fall. I also re-use them as best I can. I write what is in the bag above the seal line, so I can re-use the bags. I have purchased cheaper bags on hsolist, and they're ok too

My father has the one with a built in roll holder. When mine burns out, I'm getting that one.

I did buy the vacuum container for the marinading venison. It certainly works faster than an overnight in a bowl. Sometimes you get home, decide you want venison, and put it in the mircro to defrost. If you don't cook it by accident in the micro, you can get a good marinade in it in about 45 minutes in that container. One down side is that a good strong marinade if left in the bowl instead of the vacuum container will take time to break down some collagen, which will leave you with a more tender piece of meat.

Also, I have taken chili and poured it in a bag, while the bag is in a ice cream pail for support. Then I've frozen it just like that before sealing it. I've then taken it into the BWCA that way. In a good cooler, it holds frozen for a day or so, depending on the weather, and you don't have to worry about the bulk of a container on the rest of your journey.

We have a huge raspberry patch. My wife freezes her berries flat on a sheet, then I vacuum pack them for her.