We just recently purchased this gadget called a Food Saver; it is very similar to the Seal-A-Meal. Well so far we love it, after reading KYH's recipe for the Avacado/Fish recipe I bought a perfectly ripe & ready avacado Sat. to use for the recipe, knowing I'd not get around to using the avacado right away I stuck it in the Food Saver plastic bag and sealed it. Today the avacado still looks as fresh as the day I sealed it, and I did not apply any lemon or vinegar to the avacado flesh to help preserve it. The avacado sealed and has not turned the least bit black or brown as avacado's exsposed to air normally do. I am very pleased with this gadget, and we are adding (slowly) accessories for it. I plan on using it for freezing all our excess veggies from the garden, meats that we freeze (large pkg's that we have to break down) and leftovers that we want to freeze for later on, as well as any sun-dried tomatoes that I may manage to dry properly (in my car:)). Just thought I would pass the word on...

I guess it takes awhile for the word to get out. The FoodSaver has been around since 1987. I'm on about my 5th one now and just upgraded to their very newest one that stands vertical and is almost totally automatic. Love it! The newer one seems to have a much stronger vacuum pump than my old one, including a option to be nice to soft items so it won't crush them.

You will probably save several hundred dollars a year in food costs from not having to toss out spoiled or freezer burned food.

Congrats on your purchase. If you have access to Mason (canning) jars and lids, make sure you get the FoodSaver attachments for sealing them too.....for refrigerator storage or holding dried goods. I regularly make homemade salsa and other condiments and I vacuum seal them and store in the refrigerator for a long time without worrying about them spoiling before I get to them.

Thanks alot for the info CanMan, we have already purchased the attachment for the Mason jar lids and we are just so pleased. You are right about it saving us $$$, we already love it. I did not know there was a unit that stands upright that is a pretty neat concept. I sure know what you mean about the option that lets you be nice to soft items, I secured some cornbread the other evening in one of the bags, and it flattened out so much I was laughing about our corn flap-jacks! Hey as long as the flavor and the nutrition value remain unchanged then that corn bread is still gonna be eaten in our house flat, fat, or anyway
in-between!

I've been using the food saver for years! It definitely saves money and I love it. That is one kitchen contraption that I think everyone should have - especially the way things are going these days.

For soft items you learn quickly to keep a finger on the "seal" button and ready to push at the right moment.

If you want to have fun with the kids, put marshmallows into a FoodSaver canister or mason jar. The bigger the container the better. They squash down to nothing. When pressure is restored they puff right back up to normal. Very dramatic.

If you haven't already, check out the Food Saver website (FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealer, America's #1 Selling Brand of Home Vacuum Packaging Systems and also check eBay occasionally for good deals, especially on bags. Just be careful since not all bags are the same.

Lately I've used my FoodSaver to make water pouches for my 72-hour emergency kit by using pint-size bags, filling with water, and then just sealing (raise the machine up about 3-5 inches on a box or something so the water stays down when sealing). Bags are much lighter and more flexible than bottles.

I also vacuum seal first-aid and other items which improves their storage life and also protects them from the elements. Lots of uses for that FoodSaver besides just food.