Whats the best food sealer ?

[jmc1ny]

Looking to buy a food vacuum / sealer . Whats the best one out there? Not going to be sealing a whole cow, just a few bags of perch fillets here and there and some venison during deer season. Never had one before so any advice would be good.  Thanks  Jeff C

[Whopper Stopper]

Food Saver (brand) is very popular. I would not say they are the best necessarily, but after reading hundreds of opinions, they are always well represented. There are others that are more commercial oriented but it doesn't sound like you have a need for that. I would go Food Saver.

               WS

[Iceman07]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Home-Cabin/Food-Processing/Vacuum-Sealers%7C/pc/104798880/c/104723280/sc/104668380/GameSaver174-Silver/752052.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2F_%2FN-1101302%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104798880&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104798880%3Bcat104668380

I have this one. The thing that really makes this unit stand out is,..... it handles the moisture very well.

[frozengator]

I have the food saver. The one that lays flat.  It works good, I just wish it would let you seal without cutting a two inch longer bag.  Them bags are not cheep. I usually freeze my meats about an hour before I seal them too. Cuts down on the liquids going to the seal.

[Doubles Shooter]

Cabela's CG-15

[Whopper Stopper]

Cabela's CG-15

Can't beat their return policy if you don't like it.

          WS

[fishon35]

I know your in the market for a sealer, but let me share a trick I do that might hold you over. 

1.  After you fillet your meat, put it in a ziploc freezer bag.
2.  Put water in your bag so it covers all fillets and a little more.
3.  (CRUCIAL STEP)  Zip the bag toward the middle from both ends.  You should leave about a 1/2" gap in the middle that is un-sealed.  Purge the air out as much as you can, but as you are doing this, hold the bag over the sink a little past parallel so excess water can go in the sink.  Watch for air pockets and slowly work them out.  As the air leaves, water should follow as there is no air left.  When this happens, seal the bag WITH water slowly pooring out.  The bag will then be vacuumed sealed.
4.  How to know if it is right, there is no air left in the bag, and the fillets are covered in water.

Hope it helps!

[BIGCREW]

I used to freeze my fillets in milk cartons,it worked well and never had any get freezer burn,zip loc has a small hand held food sealer but you need to buy special bags for it I have a food saver now and I like it,it also saves room in the freezer,but if your going to buy one there all about the same anymore just differant prices

[roostertail]

We have a foodsaver brand sealer. We first had a white one that laid more or less flat, but it quit working very well so we returned it and upgraded to a black one that stands upright, not sure of the model, but it has a setting for wet or dry food and works very well. We use it a LOT, buy 10# of burger at a time on sale, steaks, etc in addition to fish, game whatever. We use it for cheese, nuts, rice, you name it. It also came with a set of storage jars that you can seal, plus an attachment for sealing lids on mason jars. Well worth the price in my opinion.

[jmc1ny]

Thanks for the replys everyone. The way ive been hitting the perch this year i need one soon

[frozengator]

If its for perch, I agree with fishon. I have kept a lot of blue gill from the winter and had a big fish fry in the summer that way. I wondered if it would work on fish like steelhead and salmon.

[sr1bearcreek]

 I agree foodsaver is the best works great for everything including deer meat.

[kasilofchrisn]

Personally I will NEVER buy another food saver again EVER.
If you can afford it I would buy a chamber sealer. If you seal a lot you will save money on bags alone.
I went through 3 foodsavers before I wised up and went wih a chamber sealer. Cost more in the beginning but the 3- $200+ Foodsavers
weren't cheap either.
I have done over 200 pounds of fish at one time without stopping in the chamber sealer.
The food saver bags cost more and if you seal a lot you need to give them a rest every 20-30 minutes or so so they don't overheat.
Buy a quality chamber sealer once or several foodsavers over the years your choice.

[osiris]

Ive had a few of the 100$ models different brands and ended up buying the commercial one from cabelas it was a great investment seals everything the first time wet it not so that's my vote

[Ice Dog 67]

I've had a Deni Magic Vac for 10 years and it's still going strong.

[RIVERRAT2]

i like the westons bags i think they hold up better
just a thought
 
RAT

[CGS3]

I've used a lot of Foodsavers, another brand and finally use the heavier duty Cabelas unit mentioned above.  You have to get the correct bags, but the Cabelas unit is a world of difference.  Look for a sale or coupons as they sometimes have pretty good deals.  It is worth the extra money.

[mpike2day]

This is one item where your gonna want to spend as much as you can afford.  Whatever ya do stay away from the rival ones at walmart. The sealing bar is not thick enough and air gets in.

[IceHutt]

I like the ziplock bag and water idea.  That makes sense.  The idea is to isolate the meat from the air and protect with plastic.   Thanks.

[fishinhard]

vacmaster chamber sealer.  The lowest model is awesome for personal use. You Save the extra cost in cheaper bags.

[Channel Z]

I have a white flat Foodsaver for venison, cow, yardbird, pig, etc. and always wrap in plastic wrap before vacuum sealing  with great results as long as you don't compress the sealing area during storage but for my perch, crappie, gills,etc. its all aboot packing it a ziplock bag with water, get all the air out and all is good.

[Redneck Fishfinder]

I bought a foodsaver and got the cheaper one, my uncle has the bigger, more expensive one. I wish I spent the extra money on the larger one because the smaller one does not vacuum as well! It gets the job done but there are still some smaller air spots in my freezer bags whereas with the one my uncle has there aren't any.