Bag Holder Open Thingy

[Smoker_Boy]

What do you all use to hold a vacuum bag open while you put meat or other stuff in it?

Something that would help prevent meat from leaving traces that affects the sealing ability.

It would be nice to have 4 hands...

[jlazar]

Funnel for canning jars.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019TUWY0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[jlazar]

I place the vac bag around the funnel and hold both with one hand. Then use a ladle to put soups sauces in the bag. Just use my hand to place ribs, large pieces of meat in the funnel. With soups and sauces, you want to rest the funnel on a paper towel or cloth when changing bags to avoid transferring anything to the vac bag opening.

[Troutman]

Don't think you're going to get a 4# chuck roast through that funnel but maybe Houdini may come back with some magic trick

[Steve R.]

Troutman , I think Houdini coming back to do anything would be his greatest trick ever. 😁

[Smoker_Boy]

jlazar - For some reason I can't see your reply.
Can't see my post on the "Recent Posts" either.

EDIT: I can see your reply now!!

[barelfly]

that funnel looks like it would be great for soups, beans, things like that. For the years I’ve had my vac sealer, I haven’t used anything, but I do fold over the sealing edge so that it does not get contents on it. once I’m done, I wipe down the bag then fold back over and clean up anything else that is needed. Then I double seal, and usually on gentle cycle. For the large cuts of meat, like flank, skirt, pork chops and such, this work really well.

But thanks for posting that link jlazar - that will go into my amazon list.

[Steve R.]

I just roll the open end down a few inches, with the added benefit that it helps the bag stay open while I fill it.

[DaveD]

Oooo, I like this idea.

[Steve B]

Same here. 3-4 inches is usually enough to do the trick.

[texastweeter]

Same. Or use a flexible cutting board like a shoehorn... lol a meathorn

[Smoker_Boy]

Steve R. - For some reason, I can only see your reply if I click on your username.
Still can't see my damn thread on the Recent Posts.

I understand about rolling the top down prevents meat stuff from sliming the inside of the bag.
But I would like a way to hold the bag up too.

EDIT: Now my thread magically appears. (rolls eyes)

[Steve R.]

You have to give "Recent Posts" several minutes to refresh. If you're impatient, like me, then you can click on the username of the person who replied most recently and it will be there. I suspect that you could also go to the specific channel that the thread is in and the new replies will be there immediately, but I've never tried that.

[Smoker_Boy]

Steve R. - No, they weren't showing in the channel.

[Donw]

Over the years we have collected a bunch of plastic pitchers in different sizes. I select the size that works, push the bag into the pitcher, fold over the top to hold the bag in, and add the food or ladle in the stew or soup.
Some similar examples from the internet:

[Smoker_Boy]

Yep, that's what I'm looking for!!

[Huskee]

I just shove it in with a slimy gloved hand.

[Smoker_Boy]

So how well does the bag vacuum seal??
Seems like it would leak.

[Huskee]

Smoker_Boy works fine as pie. I double seal one end, slide the meat in, spin around, vac, seal, and double seal again.

[captainlee]

Just took an old plastic drinking cup and cut the bottom out. Plenty wide enough. Works well for liquids and solids.

[Skip]

+1 I did the same thing.

[captainlee]

Brilliant minds think a like.

[smokenoob]

me too!

[mgaretz]

This: https://www.vacmasterfresh.com/vacuu...-stand-holder/

[tstalafuse]

I fold the bag half way inside out. The stiffness of the fold in the bag holds it open for solid foods like meat, which then doesn't touch the sealing area.

[jlazar]

Whatever you get/do, make sure you can control the vac bag. The pouring hand is no issue but you don't want to lose control of the bag or you will have a mess. A lot of ways to do this, but some are much easier, and safer, than others while achieving your original goal of keeping the sealing edge clean. By the way, I always double seal everything, whether using the Nesco or the vacuum sealer..

[DaveD]

I've just used my other hand, and then wiped off the inside of the bag where the seal will happen. Hadn't thought of rolling the top back, that sounds very nifty and I will definitely try that next time I seal stuff (which will be the pork butt I'm smoking on Saturday).

I have not tried to vac-seal liquids like soups or stews though. I just put that kind of thing in a sealable container (we have both pyrex and plastic tubs with snap-seal lids) and put them in the freezer. I remember Kathryn fzxdoc saying she would freeze such things, then put the frozen slabs into the vac seal, which would also work. (I believe once she got her chamber vac sealer that was no longer an issue but my memory is, as usual, hazy and vague).

[Troutman]

Hand. Wipe the end with a paper towel. Of course I'm a cheap bastard so there's that

[Huskee]

I guess I'm not alone. On a couple levels.

[texastweeter]

But di you wash and dry the papertowel?

[Huskee]

texastweeter how else would we save that paper towel for later use?

[fzxdoc]

I use what RonB recommended in July, 2022, a quart plastic container.

Here's the link to Ron's post and a photo from that link

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/accessorize-your-pit/vacuum-sealers-foodsaver-vacmaster-etc/1249898-a-quick-tip-on-filling-vacuum-bags

Ron's Spaghetti Escapade:

I use a Red Plastic Party cup for narrower bags.

This works great, BTW, and I've been grateful to RonB ever since he posted this.

Kathryn

[Troutman]

Yea but then you have to wash the plastic container.

[Smoker_Boy]

You don't HAVE to.

[RonB]

I just went downstairs and took a photo of mine - ya beat me to it.