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MommyMo
Posts:
185
From:
Texas
Registered:
3/2/09
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(60 of 60)
Aug 31, 2009 5:46 PM
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We just got that vac sealer thing and it's great! I should have picked one up long ago. It really helps things to last longer.
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Worries go down better with soup. ~Jewish Proverb
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David Griggs
Posts:
930
From:
South Carolina 'smiling faces, beautiful places'
Registered:
8/13/06
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(59 of 60)
Aug 28, 2009 8:27 AM
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Scott, I yield to the KING of the handi vac.
If not for your tips and techniques, mine would have become a regift at Christmas LOL. I've been having trouble with my bags sealing of late... great tip for applying oil... thanks.
I have moved up to a Seal-a-Meal and sorta enjoy it. But the handi vac system still has its place. My grocer has reduced his display of 8 machines and maybe 40 boxes of bags - down to one machine and 2 boxes of each size bag. So you have ruined Reynolds dream with your reuse techniques.... but thanks anyway.
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....... eat mo' grits
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Momof3.
Posts:
640
Registered:
6/14/07
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(58 of 60)
Aug 26, 2009 8:44 PM
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I've had my freezer sealer about two years now... I still use it all the time and I love it... I used to be on the ball with labeling and dating everything.. now i'm lucky if I can get it in the bag, sealed and frozen... I know I have saved money.. buying in bulk and freezing it in portion size has helped a lot... Anything to save a few dollars!!
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scott eggers
Posts:
948
From:
Chicago
Registered:
8/25/07
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(57 of 60)
Aug 23, 2009 8:45 PM
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Penny,
I take the food out the bag and let it thaw in the cheep bag. It won't rip, they are tuff. I have used bags 15-20 times. They will loose there seal over time. I freeze the food in the cheep bag and then put it in the handi vac bag, seal and vac. I have something new I have tried with good success. I use double seal cheep freezer bags, once the food is frozen I place in the vac bag to get out all the air, then seal the last inch of the cheep bag and take it out of the vac bag. I now have a vac-pac cheep bag.
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Penny
Posts:
1,269
Registered:
10/9/04
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(56 of 60)
Aug 23, 2009 3:05 PM
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Scott, do you let the wrapped food in the Reynolds bag thaw out in the bag before opening it? I'm thinking that it's vacuum packed so tightly that I might rip it if I tried to open it while frozen.
Penny.
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chopsticks are the reason the Japanese did not invent custard
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scott eggers
Posts:
948
From:
Chicago
Registered:
8/25/07
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(55 of 60)
Aug 21, 2009 10:48 PM
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Penny,
I have learned about the bags is that they don't seal well most of the time. Dip you finger in some oil and rub it across the sealing service, it will seal when it gets cold. The local grocery stores no longer carry the bags or pumps. I guess we don't buy enough bags (we have learned how to re-use them). We only have one walmart in chicago, but there is one near my mother in law, in the burbs. When they got rid of the bags, they were a buck a box, I bought all that they had. It is a great product. I have saved hundreds of bucks over the year with it. The idea of putting in a cheap bag and freezing it first, works well for reuse.
David I hope you have had as good experience as I have with them.
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Edited by 2598976 at 08/22/2009 9:21 AM PDT
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Penny
Posts:
1,269
Registered:
10/9/04
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(54 of 60)
Aug 21, 2009 6:41 PM
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Just an update, I bought the Reynolds handi-vav at Walmart today and just love it. I'm wrapping food in plastic wrap then foil before putting the food in the special bags so I can re-use the bags.
Penny.
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chopsticks are the reason the Japanese did not invent custard
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Janet S.
Posts:
1,503
From:
Canada
Registered:
8/16/05
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(53 of 60)
Sep 10, 2008 10:34 PM
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I like to freeze things like chicken stock, tomato sauce and even smallish fruits and veggies in zip-top plastic bags laid flat so they're stackable. I don't have one of the machines, and the straw thing didn't work well for me (a friend does that all the time), but just folding over the top of the bag seems to do the trick well enough. David, good thing you spotted that warning about humans and pets! Ah, when lawyers write directions.  • Janet |
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David Griggs
Posts:
930
From:
South Carolina 'smiling faces, beautiful places'
Registered:
8/13/06
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(52 of 60)
Sep 9, 2008 8:08 PM
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Scott, I finally got that little Reynolds vacuum thingy and some 'overpriced' gallon bags.... along with the 3 quart bags included with the machine..... gee wizz.... it warns "don't use on humans or pets"..... DUH
Hope to have something to contribute in the future about this thingy.
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....... eat mo' grits
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Hey Lisa
Posts:
1,939
From:
Oregon
Registered:
9/27/06
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(51 of 60)
Sep 9, 2008 5:47 PM
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Viv, I'm still kind of giggling over that. I guess I'm twelve in spirit.  -- -- Lisa |
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Viv
Posts:
1,823
Registered:
12/11/04
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(50 of 60)
Sep 7, 2008 9:09 PM
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> I saw something not too long ago that suggested using
> a straw stuck in a tiny opening in the ziploc bags to
> draw the last of the air out before sealing. I have
> never tried it because it seemed to me the air would
> just go back in there as I was trying to get the
> straw out and zip the bag real quick. Has anyone
> done this? I love the idea of getting that last bit
> of air out.
>
Lisa, that is a good idea. I also had a giggle at you not being able to use the word of your choice.
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Shan Triggs
Posts:
1,534
Registered:
10/3/06
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(49 of 60)
Sep 6, 2008 7:28 PM
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Scott, your idea for homemade tv dinners is great. A lot of times we eat at various times because of all of the activities that everyone around here does. This is a great way to make sure that everyone eats something healthy and home-cooked AND a great way to use leftovers!
~Shan
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Hey Lisa
Posts:
1,939
From:
Oregon
Registered:
9/27/06
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(48 of 60)
Sep 6, 2008 10:53 AM
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Haha! That's funny - I tried to use the other word for what you do through a straw and the filter wouldn't let me post until I changed this sentence: "a straw stuck in a tiny opening in the ziploc bags to draw the last of the air out".
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Lisa
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Hey Lisa
Posts:
1,939
From:
Oregon
Registered:
9/27/06
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(47 of 60)
Sep 6, 2008 10:49 AM
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I saw something not too long ago that suggested using a straw stuck in a tiny opening in the ziploc bags to draw the last of the air out before sealing. I have never tried it because it seemed to me the air would just go back in there as I was trying to get the straw out and zip the bag real quick. Has anyone done this? I love the idea of getting that last bit of air out.
Even when I marinate meat some of the liquid tries to escape if I squeeze the bag, but I've heard of people storing everything from spaghetti sauce to soup in plastic ziploc bags laid flat in the freezer. I'd love to try it because plastic containers take up a ton of storage space.
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Lisa
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scott eggers
Posts:
948
From:
Chicago
Registered:
8/25/07
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(46 of 60)
Sep 5, 2008 10:59 PM
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I'm also looking into making my own tv dinners with the gallon bags and doing the freezing thing with sectioned paper or plastic plates then covered with plastic rap. My mother inlaw doesn't cook any more (she told me the boat left the dock after 50 years of service) so this would be ideal for her.
Sorry, I forgot about this thread. The coated paper plates work well. I fill them as you would normally (potatoes, veg., and meat, the 3 pocket plates work well), if there is no liquid I cover the top loosely with plastic rap (so I can reuse it), place inside of a gallon vac bag, add a note as to what it is and when frozen, vac seal and freeze. So far they have only lasted 45 days, they were eaten before they could go longer. If there is a sauce or liquid, freeze the plate before using the vac bag. It is perfect for left overs. Just thaw and microwave. Home made TV dinners for a fraction of the price! Too make sure the seal takes, oil the seal befor sealing.
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David Griggs
Posts:
930
From:
South Carolina 'smiling faces, beautiful places'
Registered:
8/13/06
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(45 of 60)
Sep 4, 2008 8:24 PM
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> I am very, very pleased with it. Bags are 25-30
> cents a piece for the quart size, a little expensive.
> So I have figured out how to reuse them...
> handi-vac. I normally just use a zip lock and get
Scott, I was bagging some pre-browned ground beef for the freezer and decided tonight... I'm going to get the handi-vac. Thanks for the info.
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....... eat mo' grits
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