Fed Up With FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers

[Mark V]

I have a Foodsaver 2440. If I try to do too much too fast, it won't do it. Get a blinking light. Which is every time. I only pull it out to save in bulk, that takes time. I just slow down, not a big deal, but are there others that don't do this?

[badf00d]

Just got an email from VacMaster. The 350 and 380 models are currently on sale for 30% off.

https://www.vacmasterfresh.com/vacuum-sealers/suction-vacuum-sealers

Get them while you can!

[fzxdoc]

That's a good price, badf00d . I paid $299 for my VacMaster Pro 350 through Amazon but I see today that Amazon's price is $399 for exactly the same thing.

Kathryn

[Dick Anderson]

Just what I was waiting for! Thanks. VM350 on its way. BTW, there's another 10% for new customers, and free shipping.

[fzxdoc]

Wow, that comes to $258.29. If I didn't already own a VacMaster Pro 350, I'd jump on that--additional discount and free shipping. Not bad at all.

You're going to love using that VacMaster Pro, Dick Anderson . It's a big step up from FoodSaver.

Kathryn

[fzxdoc]

They sure can, bep35 . I'm still working my way through my stock of FS rolls.

Kathryn

[bep35]

VacMaster Pro 350 ordered. $258.29. Great price.

Kathryn, where will you be buying your bags after using up the supply of Food
Saver bags? Always looking for the best price and no one researches like you do!

[Razor]

I have a functional Food Saver. I want this so bad, but I don't need it now. I know it will die as soon as the sale is over. 😂

[fzxdoc]

I have such a deep stockpile that it will be a while before ordering, bep35 . I'll be researching the best one that comes on a roll and is super food safe at higher temperatures, even though the vast majority of my VMP 350's use is for freezer storage. Just looking for versatility. I'll let you know.

Kathryn

[bep35]

Question. When using Foodsaver bags in my new Vacmaster 350 it sometimes goes to 18 vacuum and just sits there. I can't get it to go to 23 for the sealing process to automatically kick in. I read on the internet that this can be a result of the Foodsaver bags having a rougher texture on one side vs. Vacmaster bags. Have you experienced this phenomenon when you use Foodsaver bags and if so do you have any tips on how to get around it? Thanks!

[fzxdoc]

I've had this happen before, bep35 . Sometimes I just go ahead and manually seal the bag at 18mm Hg, especially if it contains a lot of liquid.

I have figured out the problem may be that the bag is pushed too far into the chamber closer to the far edge of the drip tray or that the lips of the bag are stuck together before inserting. So if this happens, I remove the bag, run my finger around the inside of the opening, flip it over (this sometimes works) and try again. It almost always goes up to 27.5 mm Hg.

I've only ever used FoodSaver Gamesaver bags in my Vacmaster 350 because I'm using up my back stock, bought on sale back when I was still using the FoodSaver vacuum unit. After that, I'll have to research for a good food safe bag hopefully made in the USA.

Kathryn

[DiverDriver]

I must be lucky. I use mine at least twice a week for over 2 years and love it. I always use moist option vac and manual seal. I just put up 4 packs of ham thinking how much I like it.

[Dan Deter]

Just pulled our FoodSaver 2440 out of the high cabinet where its sat for at least 10 years, and it still works! Lucky Lucky!

[JoeSousa]

My Foodsaver I got from Costco ~3 years ago has really been struggling the past few weeks. It takes about 5 or 6 tries to get it to vacuum properly. So based on this thread and spending way too much time looking at Youtube videos of vacuum sealers I just pulled the trigger on a Vacmaster 380. What I really wanted was the Weston 3500 but wasn't able to find any for sale. Can't wait to put it to use!

[nikolausp]

I just got a Weston 3500 delivered from Amazon. Looking forward to trying it out.

[ifican]

So awhile back i purchased an Anova, its a basic sealer but its small and does the job. If your patient you can find it onsale.

https://www.amazon.com/Anova-Culinary-ANVS01-US00-Precision-Storage/dp/B07X2LZ9XX/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=anova+vacuum+sealer&qid=1588271272&sr=8-1

[fzxdoc]

I bought one of these in January for my daughter. She doesn't use it all that often, but so far it's working fine.

Kathryn

[prepperjack]

I used to have a FS, but when I sat down to think about it, most of the money I was saving by buying larger packages of meat was being taken up by cost of the bags. Ultimately, I bought a chamber vacuum sealer and its just plain awesome. I have the AvidArmor USV32 https://avidarmor.com/chamber-vacuum-sealers/ and I have nothing but good things to say about it. For bags, I can buy 250 bags for what 20 FoodSaver bags would cost. As a bonus, it seals 7mm mylar bags, and if you're the type who likes to use Mason Jars, I can seal a 1 qt. mason jar. It is expensive - $600, but well worth the extra money. Don't buy it from Amazon, though - buy it directly from them. I got it in only 3 days with their free shipping option (shipped from KS to GA), and I didn't have to pay sales tax like I would have on Amazon.

[fzxdoc]

What's the largest bag your chamber sealer can seal?

[prepperjack]

The largest bag it will seal is 12" x 14"

[Randy-Phx]

I bit the bullet and used my stimulus funds to buy a new sealer. It’s a VP215. So far, I’m just getting it set up.

[Randy-Phx]

Not much!

[T-bone]

Congrats! We love ours and use it all the time. Mine is in a similar spot and I put a small piece of foam tape on the underside of the cabinet to cushion the lid when it hits the cabinet after auto-opening when sealing is complete.

[Randy-Phx]

We have a hot pad sitting on the lid. That seems to cushion the tap on the cabinet.

[fzxdoc]

Wow, nice purchase, Randy-Phx . Let us know how you like it when you break that bad boy in.

Kathryn

[fzxdoc]

Good point, ComfortablyNumb . Nothing not to like.

K.

[Randy-Phx]

My wife helped me pull it out of the box and set it on the counter. She had a sore back for 2 days.
I sealed a couple of Tri-Tips 2 days ago and put them in the fridge at 34 degrees. The next day I pulled them out and they looked like spider webs. The myoglobin had spread thru the creases. I’m thinking I need to change a setting. It’s currently set a the factory recommended settings. Any ideas or is that normal?

[Anabertecain]

Thanks God I read that before I order a foodsaver from a site with comparison of sealers. Their "experts" say it's a good model of sealers, but after reading this thread I'm not so sure. Now I think of nesko, but still I'm not sure. But fortunately now I know foodsavers are not good choice, thank you author for your review.

[DavidNorcross]

I think this is one of the top threads on this forum. Ton's of good information here for anyone wanting to purchase a sealer.

[Dan Deter]

Agreed. Thanks to this thread I pulled out my wife's old foodsaver, found out it still works (yay!), and have now had to order more bags from one of the sites mentioned. My wife thinks there are worse things I could be enthralled by...