Vacuum Food Sealer...

[goblue]

I have recently moved to Alaska and love to fish and hunt. Our fish is ruining in the freezer before we can eat it. We have seen a few of the food sealers around, but are not sure about them. I need advice on a quality, but inexpensive unit. We will be sealing salmon fillets (reds, silvers, and kings). Please help. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[jimbires]

I have the foodsaver " turbo " . it seems to work pretty well . I bought it from cabelas . I have noticed that the foodsaver bags work better . they allow the vacuum to draw easier , and they seal first try . when I bought it, Cabelas had their name brand bags on sale . I bought a few boxes , but they don't work as good . the cabelas bags have a mesh inner ply with regular plastic bag . the foodsaver bags are a textured plastic with no inner mesh . Jim

[Hard H2O]

I also have a foodsaver. Works great. Remember that even sealed it has a shelf life.

[HOGWILD]

Reynolds Wrap Freezer paper is the STUFF wrap your fish in like 2 to 3 wraps and make sure you put fish on paper correctly then use a food saver and you will be amazed how long it will last!! I keep some elk meat for over 4 years along with some Oryx for same amout of time and not a drop of freezer burn. use some good freezer tape and it will last a long time!

[Mimi]

Love my Foodsaver, works great.

[DeerDope]

I also have a Food Saver brand vac machine. It is used for everything. We buy bulk food at discount then break it down to portions for feezer. Meat and fish is a must. I suggest you marinate or season your catch before you vac it. Flavoring goes into the meat in the vacuum and helps the flavor when you take it out later.
Eric S. Stacy Wide World of Hunting

[Flatcoat1]

Have to agree, a Foodsaver is great. A lady I work with said I would use it every day - yeah right. Sure enough, several times a week it is used. Nver leaves the counter - has its special place. One thing my wife said we would buy very quickly if it ever broke. We have had ours for at least four years - maybe five - and love it.

[Bucket Mouth]

I have a Game Saver model. Had it for several years. Got some tips for users.
Make sure your meat is frozen before you seal the bag.
Blood, water or any other liquid impairs sealing.
Do double seals when making the bag and when sealing it.
Put a piece of paper on your frozen meat to record the date and what the contents are.
Always make the bag extra big. It helps make a good seal and allows you to reuse the bag.
Reusing bags saves a lot of money.
The tip on seasoning the meat before sealing seems to me as a good idea.
Check your freezer temp. Keep a thermometer in the freezer in plain view.
Temperatures below 0 degrees F seem the best.
See this site for freezer tips http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC3060.htm

[Flatcoat1]

Have to agree with Bucketmouth - freezing or partially freezing the food does help is some cases. I like to freeze trout amd salmon in the bag so I cut a piece of paper towel and place at the mouth of the bag to absorb juices.