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Why do you need a Food Saver? Because it will save you money. I
was skeptical, this isn't a cheap product, nor are the needed special
Foodsaver bags as inexpensive as regular food storage bags. That
said, the Foodsaver has saved us lots of money in the past 3 months.
How does the Foodsaver save you money? It makes your food last
much longer, which in turn means less thrown out spoiled food. For
true foodies this is a huge boon. For instance, right now I have
no less than eight different varieties of cheese in my fridge, I'm
ready for just about any recipe I want to make. I could have never
afforded to do this pre-Foodsaver. We could never eat that much
cheese before it spoiled.
Cheese is just the beginning. The Foodsaver gives all your food
drastically longer shelf lives, whether the food in question is
stored in the refrigerator, freezer or at room temperature. The
Foodsaver is not a substitute for refrigeration, foods that need
refrigeration without the Foodsaver need refrigerating with
the Foodsaver. But they will last much longer.
The patented Foodsaver bags can go from freezer to boiling water.
You can also get Foodsaver Canisters and a Foodsaver Bottle Stopper,
making this a highly versatile countertop appliance.
Besides storing ingredients, the Foodsaver is also a great way
to store leftovers. I regularly use my Foodsaver to store chili,
soups, stews and pastas. All these dishes go from the freezer to
a pot of boiling water to reheat (or you could remove from the bag
and use your oven). Cook once, store the leftovers and you'll have
a freezer full of ultra quick, effortless meals at your disposal.
The Foodsaver is relatively quick and easy to use, but may take
a little getting used to. For instance, in order to create a vacuum
seal the edges of the bag must be COMPLETELY clean and grease free.
The machine is sensitive, sometimes it just won't seal until you
get a fresh, clean bag. Most times, however, you can reseal the
same bag (handy for frequently used items like cheese). The sealing
process takes seconds.
The Foodsaver is a worthwhile appliance that lets everyone (even
singles and couples) take advantage of the savings offered by buying
in bulk. Your grocery dollars will stretch farther as you'll actually
be able to use everything you buy. While we reviewed one of Tilia's
high-end models be aware they have a full line of products ranging
from $79.00 to $274.00 to suit a variety of consumer preferences,
needs and budgets.
Check out these statistics compiled by Dr. George K. York of the
University of California at Davis' Department of Food Science and
technology.
| Food |
Without Foodsaver |
With Foodsaver |
| Frozen Fish |
6 months |
2 years |
| Frozen Cuts of Meat |
6 months |
2-3 years |
| Frozen Ground Meat |
4 months |
1 year |
| Refrigerated Fresh Strawberries, Raspberries or Blackberries |
1-3 days |
1 week |
| Refrigerated Cranberries, Huckleberries or Blueberries |
3-6 days |
2 weeks |
| Refrigerated Cheese |
1-2 weeks |
4-8 months |
| Cookies and Crackers |
1-2 weeks |
3-6 weeks |
| Flour, Sugar, Rice |
6 months |
1-2 years |
| Refrigerated Lettuce |
3-6 days |
2 weeks |
| Nuts |
6 months |
2 years |
| Oils |
5-6 months |
1 - 1 1/2 years |
| Wine |
1-3 weeks |
2-4 months |
| Coffee Beans |
3 months |
1 year |
| Ground Coffee |
1 month |
5-6 months |
For
more information or about this product, or to order, click here.
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| Product Score Card |
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| Ease of Use |
7 |
| Functionality |
10 |
| Price |
6 (8 if you
can find one on sale) |
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| Overall Rating |
7.7 (8.3 on
sale) |
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| Suggested
Retail Price |
| Foodsaver 1200 |
$229.00 |
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| Foodsaver 550 |
$149.99 (on
sale $89.99) |
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| Foodsaver 300 |
$199.99 (on
sale $53.99) |
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Prices may
change |
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