Anyone have a Seal A Meal?

**FrugalWitch** · 12-26-2007, 03:30 PM

DH bought me a Rival SAM vs106 for Christmas. I've not tried it yet, the starter bags were missing from the box. Is this machine good? Easy to use? If anyone has personal experience and/or tips I would be very grateful!

**Backtoreality** · 12-26-2007, 06:03 PM

I do have one, not that brand (I think); but I love mine. It's handy for those bulk meat sales, I just divid it into 2-3 servings and seal it. The only problem I have found is the bags are soooo expensive! But I found them thru ebay really cheap. Well worth spending some time checking it out. Used it alot this past summer when I couldn't put up the tomatoes fast enough.

**CampCrazyMom** · 12-27-2007, 08:28 AM

I have a different brand as well. I've started using the WalMart brand bags. Actually the ones that come in a roll. I've had success with them. (Just don't boil them) :surprise: (The seam came undone and my food leaked into the water)

**Jamauk** · 12-27-2007, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Backtoreality

But I found them thru ebay really cheap. Well worth spending some time checking it out.

That's good to know! I've avoided using mine because they are so expensive! Thanks for the tip!

I have a Food Saver brand and I love it! A few tips: To avoid drying out the meat (the vacuum is so strong it sucks all of the juices out of the meat - I just seal the bag closed at the very top, then stick it in the freezer. Once frozen, I cut off the seal and then vacuum seal it - the juices stay in the meat that way. I do this for soups, too. Then I don't have to freeze them in one container and then transfer them to the bags in a big chunk, they lay flat this way.

For baked goods, I have a manual button on mine, so I freeze the bread, muffins, whatever, then I manually vacuum them so they don't get crushed.

We bought ours because DH goes on a salmon fishing charter with his friends about every other year or so. He came home last time with 80 lbs of salmon. We didn't want it all to get freezer burned, so we bought a food saver to keep it fresh.

**lwlynch** · 12-27-2007, 12:09 PM

i love mine.. i use it all the times.. you can also cut the chip bag even and seal it again.. saves us lots of money on stale chips

**oct2667us** · 12-28-2007, 01:14 PM

I have the seal a meal . I love Mine!! . My bags a are 6.00 but last for a while.

**FrugalWitch** · 12-28-2007, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the replies and tips!

**missyali** · 12-29-2007, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Jamauk

That's good to know! I've avoided using mine because they are so expensive! Thanks for the tip!

I have a Food Saver brand and I love it! A few tips: To avoid drying out the meat (the vacuum is so strong it sucks all of the juices out of the meat - I just seal the bag closed at the very top, then stick it in the freezer. Once frozen, I cut off the seal and then vacuum seal it - the juices stay in the meat that way. I do this for soups, too. Then I don't have to freeze them in one container and then transfer them to the bags in a big chunk, they lay flat this way.

For baked goods, I have a manual button on mine, so I freeze the bread, muffins, whatever, then I manually vacuum them so they don't get crushed.

We bought ours because DH goes on a salmon fishing charter with his friends about every other year or so. He came home last time with 80 lbs of salmon. We didn't want it all to get freezer burned, so we bought a food saver to keep it fresh.

Good to know! Thanks! I was always grossed-out while packaging meat!