FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer

I have wanted one of these for some time and have taken my time deciding as some models have not had wonderful reviews. I eventually decided on this machine and I have not regretted my choice.Having read the instructions I eventually worked out what everything does. A roll of the plastic is kept within the machine. Very handy to make bags to the size you require. First step is to feed the start of the roll under the cutting blade (it has the plastic slider at the left hand side and it lifts to feed the end of the roll under). Pull it to the edge of the machine, shut the lid, lock and then press the seal button (top RHS). Once the light goes off, open and pull the roll through until you get the size of bag you want plus a little bit extra. To cut slide the cutter left to right and back again. You now have a bag sealed on 3 sides. To vacuum pack put the edges of the bag into the opening near the front of the open machine (once you have packed your items in obviously!) and vacuum - you can do this slowly (the tortoise), medium, or fast (the hare). There is also a pulse option to remove the air. Seal again and that's it!Comes complete with one canister and all the connections you need for vacuum packing in the canister for delicate items. Also one roll for DIY bags and quite a few made bags. Really need to read the instructions as veg mostly needs to be blanched before vacuum packing and freezing. They also suggest freezing a lot of items first before you vacuum pack. You have to watch when liquid is involved to avoid sucking any liquid into the vacuum section but a bit of kitchen towel solves that problem. I got this because I want to cook meals in bulk, portion and freeze. I am on a special diet for diabetes and was getting fed up spending a lot of time in the kitchen. This allows me to store extra portions and always have the right food available. I am delighted with this model - so delighted I have just ordered another for a gift. I suspect this will pay for itself in no time.

i did not get on with thiis machine. i do think that there was somthing wrong with it as it would not seal very well.

Well I finally had enough of food going off in the fridge. After googling for hours I finally decided on the Food Saver V2860.It's bigger brother V3840 was not very flexible in the seal making department, and had a lot of poor independent reviews, so the V2860 it was.It's so simple to use, from out of the box to sealing my first bacon slice took 3 minutes.The unit feels sturdy and well built, the seal created is wide and very sturdy.There is a moist setting on the machine which takes into account that there may be moisture along the seal and heats up for longer, making sure the moisture is boiled off before the seal.If your worried the seal may split, move the bag by 1 cm and do another manual seal which fairy guarantees no leaks.The canister that came with the unit is medium/small in size. I used it to seal a Lb of Jam sugar with no problems.I will say it's a little noisy when working but apart from that there were no issues.When not in use if flips up and takes up very little space on the kitchen counter, a big bonus in my opinion.Watch this space for further updates as I see how food spoilage is reduced.

Replaced my old food saver of about 8 years with this. I like how it works and stores easily. Time will tell if its as long lasting as the older version. I find it a lot easier on wet products, as the machine does not require you to hold the bag in place. A good tip is when you're sealing really wet stuff, try and dangle the bag of food over the edge of the work surface. Less mess to clear up. On tortoise mode it's great for sealing cakes, fruit, pasta and rice dishes. I have those days where I bulk cook then use the sealer to allow for nice and flat storage in the freezer. Food will last twice as long in the freezer without it ever getting freezer burn. I have used the sealers for over ten years now and thankfully the prices of the bags have come down. I use the food I make to take with me picnics and camping. Pop the frozen food into a cool box, it will last for days. I also bag and freeze curries and stews for Hubby to take up the road, as he's a truck driver who's out five nights a week. All in all a really cool machine.

When I bought this 16 months ago, I was struck by the number of reconditioned machines on offer. I now understand.For some, as soon as they received, they would have been struck how large it is. It is the size of a briefcase. It doesn't need to be that large + bulky. It is simply a poor design.For other buyers, it will be because of breakdowns. For me it was prone to breaksdowns and the sealing gasket is the main problem. It has now has failed completely within the 2 year Guarantee.It has not been abused or even overused - I have not yet finished the 2nd roll of bags.The air vacuum isn't working anymore at all.I see that there is now a newer model. Surprise surprise - it's even more expensive.While it's a good idea, I have no confidence in the Foodsaver product.As it's failed within the 2 year Guarantee, I am entitled to a replacement/repair. I've asked Amazon - will update.