FoodSaver Professional Vacuum Sealer

I got my new Foodsaver yesterday(perfect timing on the shipping!) and used it first time today. I vacuum sealed 40 lbs of ground beef in 2 hours, and the unit didn't even break a sweat. No overheating issues at all. The last seal seems to be just as good as the first. I used the Foodsaver pre-made quart size bags, which were perfect for 1 or 1.5 lbs of ground beef. I think 2 lbs would work just fine, also. There was plenty of room at the top and the moisture from the meat did not even reach the seal before it stopped sucking the air out. This unit has a removable drip tray, but I got no drips in it!This unit is SO easy to use. It has 2 buttons: Seal, and Vac-Seal. I used pre-made bags so I didn't use the Seal only button. I just packed my meat in the bag, put the open end of the bag in the drip tray, closed the lid, moved the lever to the "Closed" position, then pressed the Vac-Seal button. It makes a semi-loud noise while it's sucking the air out (but not as loud as I expected), then seals the bag automatically when it's done. While it's working, there are light-up indicators next to the Seal and Vac-Seal buttons. When those lights go off, it's finished. You move the lever to "Open", let it release (about 3 seconds), then open it up and remove your vacuum sealed bag. Even my kids could do it. In fact, the big buttons and lever are perfect for a "little helper." (but obviously, it should not be used without adult supervision)I watched several youtube videos about the various models, and talked to some friends with vacuum sealers before I decided on this one. It has all the features I wanted: one-button vac-seal with automatic shut off, bag roll holder and cutter, removable drip tray. Nothing fancy, but it has the essentials. And it claims to be able to seal more times than most of the others before having to cool off. I buy my meat in 40 lb cases from a wholesale organic meat company, so I need to be able to do 40 lbs in one afternoon. It passed that test with flying colors! No more sucking air out of ziploc baggies with a straw!I did get the 3 yr protection plan for $7 which is an awesome deal. (Just in case) The price for the unit and the 3 yr coverage was less than $100. Perfect for my budget.

First I have had this saver for less than six months so it has not had enough use to completely say it has been worth the money.1)This unit is advertised as a heavy-duty model and put it to the test after a trip to Sams. It lasted about 45 minutes before it stopped working, the seal light started blinking red and not vacuuming or sealing. I then had to let it sit for about 15 min before it would start again. I did give it ample amount of time between sealing to allow it to cool down just as the direction advise. Then after the cool down period I vacuumed sealed a couple of more items and got the same issue not vacuuming or sealing. I then put everything away and let it sit for about 2 hours then started again and it performed just fine.2)I then looked on the food saver web site to look at possible replacement parts as I do plan to use this machine with vengeance. This model does not show up on there web site you have to pay attention to the model # and serial # to cross reference any information. Did not like that part.3)I have e-mailed the support team from the web page about parts list and etc. they do not want to share anything unless you ask for specific parts.4)The bags and sealing system are set up to cause you to waist bag material. So you will have to practice on getting the right amount of material for the item you are sealing it is a guessing game. I averaged about four gallon bags worth of trim (waist) that it forces you to use to get a good seal. So the bag part can be expensive for anyone doing a lot of sealing at one time. If it is an occasional use then not so much a problem.5) I also find that it is best to pre freeze any items with a lot of liquid, and I am not talking about soup. beef,chicken,pork etc. It will save you the mess and hassle of extra clean up and the extra risk of sucking liquid into the sealer.So far it has performed ok, but still find the title Heavy-Duty a little miss leading and the price a little high. This model has a seal button a vacuum button and attachment for canisters. So unless you want it to look good it would be in your best interest to not buy the more expensive models.

FoodSaver makes many models of vacuum baggers that makes it difficult to decide which to get. I chose the FoodSaver Professional Vacuum Sealer because it's said to be rugged enough for the hunter that packs a lot of meat, and isn't much more expensive than a basic model. If you don't have a vacuum bagger you must get one. Air oxidizes food and can cause frost bite. With this, air is removed and sealed out, and food lasts much longer. The unit can evacuate bags completely or be stopped at any level to prevent crushing soft items like cake.Ordinary plastic bags are expensive and you need several sizes on hand, and there will still be air in them even if you try to squeeze it out. Replacement bags are available in different lengths and widths, and you pull out just the length you need, rather then wasting money using a large zip-type bag for a small amout of food, because that's what you have on hand. I bought extra vacuum bag rolls I didn't realize were too large in diameter to fit the unit, but they were inexpensive. No problem--I simply roll up what will fit and use the built in cutter and store the rest.I wrote this to help you decide between the many models available. As I said, the model is built for the hunter that packs a lot of meat and costs little more than a basic model. I also wrote to say that if you've never had a vacuum bagger, you'll be happy to have one.