Vacuum sealers

[Julio]

The boss wants me to get a vacuum bagger/sealer.I'M having trouble working archives.I remember opinion was directed toward one specific product.Would someone freshen me up on this? Thank you Julio

[perchjerker]

I have the basic Tilla sealer, got it reconditioned from ubid.com for about $70.
Have used it for 3 years now, works excellent. Would recommend it to anyone.
I can also give you some tips on using one if you need some help.

[TBO/MN]

I agree with PJ.. The unit is excellent for freezing meats, veggies, soups, stews, almost anything you want to freeze. I bought the basis unit also, and it works super. I find that the rolls for making bags works better than the actual bags. The rolls can be cut to fit the amount needed. Things stay very fresh in them even if you don't freeze it, like cheese and lunch meat that you just leave in the fridge. I really waited to long to invest, should have done it earlier.

Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[mtwalleye]

How do the vacuum sealers work for walleye fillets? Any tricks or things to keep in mind? (Other than how to catch the walleyes in the first place). -- mark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walleyes Unlimited
www.walleyesunlimited.com

[Gumbo]

I freeze the fillets first, by placing them in a wax-paper lined cookie sheet and layering the fillets keeping them seperate. When they're just frozen but not yet bricks, I stuff them into bags and refreeze until they're solid enough that no juice will squeeze out when sealed. Then I seal. This allows you to remove just enough individual fillets from the bag and reseal it. Plus, if you don't freeze the fillets first you'll crush them and the juice will leak out and you won't get a good seal or a good vacuum. If there's frost on your fillets after freezing, you better redo it.

[Fshngyd]

I use the Foodsaver brand, very good product, been using it a couple of years now for personal use and for vacuum sealing clients Walleye filets. I cant say enough good things about these, they are very handy for anything you can imagine, such as keeping a extra set of dry socks vacuum sealed in the boat, to buying bulk items and then vacuum sealing smaller portions for later. One thing that I have done already this year is vacuum seal my shotguns with the long rolls that you can buy, I just clean and oil them up, put them in the desired length of baggy and then seal them up on at a time, excellent protection!! I advise you to get a qaulity sealer, and read all the manufacturer recomendations, and you will be a pro in no time.
Good luck!

[tbomn]

I do freeze fillets, but use a small amount of water in the bag so that the vacuum doesn't suck any of the juice out of the fish. They freeze up just perfect and are nice and juicy when I thaw them out.

[Atomic Eye]

I make my bags (from the roll) significantly large than needed. That way I can open a bag, remove an item, and reseal it several times. These vacuum sealers are really great for low fat foods, e.g., scallops, shrimp, and chicken to prevent freezer burn.

We first freeze our fish in aluminum foil, then seal them. This keeps the interior of the bag clean so it can be used for other purposes. if you use a zip lock bag first, don't zip it all the way so a vacuum can be drawn in it.

Atomic Eye -- "Gone Fission!" or is that "Fish-on?"

[perchjerker]

Great tips!

Another is when I am packing something that isnt frozen yet i roll up a paper towel and place it at the top of the bagjust under where the sealer is to catch any liquid from getting into the machine. I also reuse my bags if they are in good shape, normally for non food items, socks, batteries, flares, things that you take camping and want to protect.