FOOD SEALERS!? Which should I buy?!

[The Pol]

Thanks to Nikobrew... I am sitting on some hops. More hops than usual. I want to be able to break down my last 10oz of Cascade into say, 2oz packages. I also want to have the ability to RE-seal bags once opened.

It looks like the FOODSAVER is the most popular... but is is also the most $$$

The RIVAL SEAL-A-MEAL looks pretty poular too... and less $$$

I want to get one today, so... what are your thoughts? Used them? Heard about them? Own one?

Thanks again guys...

EDIT: HERE IS WHAT I BOUGHT!!!! Thanks to this thread.
http://www.jardenstore.com/product.aspx?bid=18&pid=5785&cid=79
Comes with (2) canisters, hose, wide mouth jar sealer, (2) 11" a 10' bag rolls, I added (1) 8" x 22' roll. With the coupon code I paid $68 SHIPPED for all of it!

The Pol

 

[alohanole]

I just picked up a foodsaver for a great deal:

Foodsaver V2830

I just got a pound of cascade from Nikobrew, and got the foodsaver for the same reason you are looking for one. I don't think you can go wrong if the discount code is still working.

 

[schneemann]

We currently have a Foodsaver and really like it. We use it a lot to seal meat and vegetables. I've not yet bought hops in bulk so I haven't done that, yet. ;-)

 

[FlyGuy]

I bought a Foodsaver, and really like it. When I checked around, everyone had praise for the Foodsaver products, and there were lots of people disappointed with the cheaper Rival version.

Note that I was also hoping to do small baggies of hops with it, but later found out that you can't seal narrow bags very easily. You need to use a full width bag, which means you need a lot of bag for a small amount of hops. But maybe someone knows some tricks I haven't figured out???

 

[flyangler18]

I use the Seal-A-Meal. No complaints.

 

[The Pol]

PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THIS!! Sealer and spare 8" wide roll.... OH can you say $68 SHIPPED???

WOW!!!

FoodSaver® V2830 Advanced Design - T000-33250

It comes with the hose, canisters, (2) 11" x 10' rolls.... add my 8" x 22' roll and I have 42' of sealing beauty! ALL FOR LESS THAN A CHEAPO model at Walmart!

THANKS ALOHANOLE!!!

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I have a foodsaver V2420 It is more than I need for Homebrew, but is terrific for wifey as she gets to save moist foods etc. I like it for marinading steaks too. If you are only going to use it for hops, grain etc, then you can go cheaper.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

oops!! I was too late!! You scored a good one!!

Edit.....since you got one, I forgot to mention that even though our foodsaver ain't even busted, we are so happy with it that we are alreadsy thinking of upgrading soon. You scored well!

 

[The Pol]

Yesterday 85% eff. TODAY this deal?! Thanks guys... I was about to go to Wally World but thought that I would post here first! Heck... with what I saved, I can buy another pound of hops from Niko!

 

[balto charlie]

I have a food saver, excellent product. I would not to break up your Cascade just yet. What I have found that works well:
Divide your hops according to the size of your freezer bags. Don't even weigh them. Why?? You are going to re-weigh your hops when you brew and reseal whatever is leftover(at least I do). So why weigh before? Most of my recipes call for 1.5 ozs or .75ozs so measure in 2 oz increment becomes pointless. I can put ~4-5 ozs. into a bag, seal it, freeze it, open, re-weigh, re-seal. I use the same bag to re-seal over and over if you open it near the sealed line. Eventually it becomes too small to re-use. Saves money and time and everything stays fresh.

 

[conpewter]

Great find! Foodsaver makes quality products.

Where did you find the one for $68 shipped? The linked one is at $99 + shipping.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Yesterday 85% eff. TODAY this deal?! Thanks guys... I was about to go to Wally World but thought that I would post here first! Heck... with what I saved, I can buy another pound of hops from Niko!

85% efficiency....good deal on a foodsaver.........Next lucky break? Your missus is about to screw your brains out when she realises how cool your foodsaver is!

 

[The Pol]

SWMBO is a nymph... she does that anyway.

What a cool couple days... I am in beer heaven. My APA is chugging along happily at 65F. All is right with the world.

This was a HELL of a score.

 

[Brewmasters Warehouse]

Looks like I found this a little too late, but I have had good luck with this one. I like that you do not have to have special bags.

 

[The Pol]

Well, you cant win them ALL Ed... isnt being like the premier brew supply store enough for you? Sheesh...

 

[The Pol]

Great find! Foodsaver makes quality products.

Where did you find the one for $68 shipped? The linked one is at $99 + shipping.

Coupon code for $40 off, plus free shipping when I added another roll of bags!... CHA CHING

 

[bull8042]

You got the same one that I have. I LOVE mine. It works extremely well and is probably more than I need, but I would buy another one in a minute.
When you get ready for bags, I can send you a link to an eBay store that has great prices and fast shipping. I just got a roll of 11" x 50' for $24 shipped.
He also has individual bags in gallon quart & pint sizes, 8" rolls, and other goodies...

 

[The Pol]

Sweet thanks Bull

 

[ajwillys]

I just pulled the trigger on this also. I got a ton of hops from various people including Niko that need re-sealing. Some of the bags I received have lost their vacuum and others just need to be resealed after opening.

 

[Nanobru]

I use the Reynolds Handi Vac. Granted it is probably not as good as a Food Saver, but it is only 10 bucks.

 

[bob1852]

we need to start a thread: How many people bought a Foodsaver after they bought bulk hops from Niko!

I'll start: 1

 

[The Pol]

#2 I Did!!

 

[dstar26t]

#3 here too. It's awesome having all the hops needed for the next 6 batches.

 

[brrman]

I bought 5 lbs of hops recently, so I went and bought this - probably didn't need the top end, but I was in Costco and there it was...

FOODSAVER V3840

 

[HopTrap]

I just purchased this one

 

[Nikobrew]

I bought 5 lbs of hops recently, so I went and bought this - probably didn't need the top end, but I was in Costco and there it was...

FOODSAVER V3840

I use the same one. It came with a cool marinade container too we use for steaks (whod'a thought you could use this to save FOOD!).. I just added some links on my equipment page to some amazon products that are useful. One is what looks like a decent price on a foodsaver. EQUIPMENT

 

[Skins_Brew]

Does anyone ever get a crappy seal sometimes? I have had the FS4360 for a few months and while rare, occasionally the bags will not be air tight.

 

[Nikobrew]

Does anyone ever get a crappy seal sometimes? I have had the FS4360 for a few months and while rare, occasionally the bags will not be air tight.

Every once in a while they seem to for no good reason. My guess is little bits of powder in the seal. They seem to seal and then within a day or so sometimes it seems to lose the seal. Is this what you mean?

 

[pen25]

i can only suggest you dont have to buy the tilla bags. the walmart bags work just as good.

 

[Nikobrew]

i can only suggest you dont have to buy the tilla bags. the walmart bags work just as good.

Just make sure to calculate the number of bags you get. I was at walmart and I don't remember the exact details but the price per package of the quart bags was less, BUT there were less bag, a little math on the cellphone calculator showed it was still cheaper to get the foodsaver bags there.. Of course this may not always be the case, but walmart does a great job of a perception of value, its there most of the time, but sometimes isn't.