FoodSavers (Vacuum) are on sale...

[Baron von BeeGee]

Saw this on slickdeals, decided for $50 I had to try one after discussing bulk hops the other day, figure I can order in bulk and then seal them up in 1oz packages. I'm also going to try splitting up stuff from the wholesale club into manageable packages for SWMBO and myself to make this thing worth it. Looks like the ones on sale are running $35-55 down from $100-170 or so. I assume these are discontinued:

http://foodsaver.jardendirect.com//clearance.asp

 

[Truble]

I have a similiar one, and it is great. I have a full size freezer in the basement, so we can stock up when we get a chance. Also, When I make things like Meatballs/sausages or stews, I use the vacuum to seal them up. I am getting an order of fresh organic cascade from SWMBOs herbal shop, so if I like it and order more, I will be sealing it up in that too. I also use it to seal DME when not in use.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Good idea on the DME...not sure why that didn't occur to me? Could also vacuum up my leftover grains. Maybe I can adapt it to work on growlers!

 

[Truble]

Hey that is a good idea. Mine has the tube and attachment for doing containers for things that you don't want to crush, like a cake, or chips, etc. I put all my DME into ziplocs, but I cut holes in each one. I then put them all into one vac-u-suck (the daget's nickname in my house) bag. I can keep it all separate, and still only have one bag to worry about. when I cut it open, I just take as little off as possible, and then reseal. works great.

 

[kornkob]

I have one of those and love the thing-- use it for all kinds of stuff.

Leftover chili? Spagetti? Soup? Chicken? Whack it up into one serve protions and drop it in the freezer--- lunch for work (or one shot meals for those days when you 're not eating as a family)

Going hiking/hunting/whatever--- put a pair of socks in a bag and seal it up. Compacts it and will keep it a damn sight more dry than that ziplock baggie. Wait-- what about the contents of that first aid kit in your backpack or trunk? Anything you don't use all the time--- bag that thing up and maybe it'll still be dry when you need it.

Got a buddy who's been deployed to the ass end of the world? Need to send him a care package and you'd like it to show up sans sand, dirt, grime and seawater? Package the items in separate bags (like items with like items to make it easier in the event yoru box gets popped open for inspection) and those brownies/books/photos/dvds/personal electronics will show up clean and dry.

This winter I used it to take a flask of my favorite 20 year down to the keys with me. Flask went in the bag, sealed it up and put it in the checked luggage.

 

[Truble]

Yeah, I have used it when travelling and camping too.

 

[RichBrewer]

Wow! great deals. I paid much more than that for mine. I'm thinking it would also be good for small amounts of specialty grain as well. Maybe place them in an inner bag so the grains don't get sucked into the machine. You could store them in pre-measured 1/4 or 1/2 pound bags in the freezer. When you brew, just cut them open and pour in with the rest of your grains.

 

[Walker]

hey, BeeGee....

do you still roast your own coffee? yet another use for this.

I might have to get one, too.

-walker

 

[JimiGibbs]

Thanks for the tip ... Just ordered one.
Jimi

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

hey, BeeGee....

do you still roast your own coffee? yet another use for this.

I might have to get one, too.

-walker

Thought about that, too! I got the $50 version (750?) which comes with some of the cannisters you can vacuum. I'll probably roast double batches now and store them in vacuum. Need to use it every way possible as SWMBO already strongly suspects it's a homebrew oriented purchase...mustn't let her know she's right.

 

[El Pistolero]

Thought about that, too! I got the $50 version (750?) which comes with some of the cannisters you can vacuum.

Why the 750 instead of the 900?

Need to use it every way possible as SWMBO already strongly suspects it's a homebrew oriented purchase...mustn't let her know she's right.

This is clearly a food related purchase, and as such comes out of the kitchen budget. All you SWMBO's lurking here need to back off on this one right now.

 

[Walker]

I dropped this idea on SWMBO last night. She's always cooking something, and I presented it as a way to preserve the stuff she makes longer, and to allow her to preserve the herbs she grows in her garden.

She looked at me for a few seconds nodding her head, then said, "Could you also use it to keep your hops and grains?"

I acted surprised and said, "Hey! That's a GREAT idea!"

I think I slam dunked that one. I'll be ordering tonight.

-walker

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Why the 750 instead of the 900?

I didn't have the mental fortitude yesterday to really analyze what the differences were, plus the accessory kit that came with the 750 looked more useful. Maybe for $5 the bigger # is always better

 

[user 574]

I dropped this idea on SWMBO last night. She's always cooking something, and I presented it as a way to preserve the stuff she makes longer, and to allow her to preserve the herbs she grows in her garden.

She looked at me for a few seconds nodding her head, then said, "Could you also use it to keep your hops and grains?"

I acted surprised and said, "Hey! That's a GREAT idea!"

I think I slam dunked that one. I'll be ordering tonight.

-walker

Ooh, I think I need to use this tactic. SWMBO's birthday is coming up (for 1 gift) but if she's onto me I could be in deep trouble .

EDIT: Just bought the 900 - $5 more, dunno if it's worth it either BeeGee / El Pistolero. $64 with shipping.

 

[Brewiz]

Hey BeeGee, (I know this off subject but) how long you been roasting your own coffee? I 've been thinking about it for a while....

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Hey BeeGee, (I know this off subject but) how long you been roasting your own coffee? I 've been thinking about it for a while....

Since a trip to Italy in '99. I had always liked good coffee, but found out I liked good espresso, too. It was perhaps analagous to going to Germany and learning of wheat beer. By the end of the year I had several hundred dollars worth of espresso machine, grinder, and was roasting coffee in hot air popcorn poppers found at thrift shops. The espresso machine and grinder have since been upgraded, but the $1.50 popcorn poppers are still going strong.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Ooh, I think I need to use this tactic. SWMBO's birthday is coming up (for 1 gift) but if she's onto me I could be in deep trouble .

EDIT: Just bought the 900 - $5 more, dunno if it's worth it either BeeGee / El Pistolero. $64 with shipping.

Just don't get her a bowling ball with your name on it! D'oh!

Looks like the 900 has onboard storage for the rolls/cutting plus some additional vacuum settings. The 750 seems to come with more rolls. The original prices are only $10 apart, so beats me.

 

[user 574]

Looks like the 900 has onboard storage for the rolls/cutting plus some additional vacuum settings. The 750 seems to come with more rolls. The original prices are only $10 apart, so beats me.

Yea, the inside storage was what I kind of liked. The consumables I'll use up eventually and just get more. It'll probably be bigger than yours though with storing a bit more of a PITA...

 

[Walker]

question:

is it a concern to anyone that these things are listed as "discontinued"? I'd hate to buy the thing and then find out in a year that I can no longer buy the bags, rolls, etc.

-walker

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I'm hoping the appliances are discontinued, but that the new line will use the same bags. They'd piss off a lot of people who had bought these things if they didn't make the new bags compatible.

 

[mpetty]

I tried to order but there is no way to submit my order after entering credit card information. Emailed their customer support team. Did anyone else experience this?

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Seemed to work for me...at least I got to the 'receipt' page. However, I don't think I received an order confirmation e-mail which I have e-mailed them about. Perhaps they're experiencing large volumes or orders.

 

[JimiGibbs]

Same with me ... I got a receipt page which I printed but no email confirmation like they said.
Jimi

 

[El Pistolero]

I got an email confirmation in about 2 seconds...I can hardly wait to start sucking.

 

[Walker]

*ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip*

go ahead.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I got an email confirmation in about 2 seconds...I can hardly wait to start sucking.

If you got my vacuum bagger I'm comin' down there to whoop you like a rented mule! And liberate my vacuum bagger!

 

[Dude]

question:

is it a concern to anyone that these things are listed as "discontinued"? I'd hate to buy the thing and then find out in a year that I can no longer buy the bags, rolls, etc.

-walker

Walmart sells knock off bags that are pretty much the same thing, and much cheaper, of course. I tested some out and they work fine.

 

[Walker]

sweet. that's all I needed to hear.

-walker

 

[ian]

Alright - its killing me that I can't figure this one out.

What does "SWMBO" mean?

 

[Walker]

She Who Must Be Obeyed. (aka: the wife/fiance/girlfriend)