My Foodsaver gamesaver took a dump on me right after the warranty expired. It worked fine when it did work but I need to get much more durability out of these things. What's the point of using a vacuum sealer to save money if you just need to keep replacing it? I might just as well be throwing out the food that would otherwise be preserved by the device.
Anywho, after much research I chose to order one of the Vacmaster Pro models from Lisa B. It was a tough choice but I settled on the 110 because I wouldn't have to shell out a lot of money and I figured that it contains the same vacuuming and sealing mechanisms as the more expensive models just without all the bells and whistles.
I tested it a little when it came in last week but hadn't had the chance to use it for any food yet....until today. I made up a couple of batches of sausage and put the unit to work. One thing that I noticed right off the bat was that there is no bag cutter. It was nice to have but it's not that big of a deal. Also there is no internal storage for the rolls of bags....again, no big deal. Those aren't the reasons I got the vacuum sealer in the first place. The lid latching mechanism is also different than the Foodsaver....Instead of flipping a lever you simple push down on the corners and they lock in place. They unlock when the vacuuming and/or sealing operation is complete. It's actually a pretty nice feature. When sealing the end of a fresh cut bag the machine pulls a vacuum to clamp down on the bag, smooths out the plastic and then it creates the seal. This works very well. Perfect every time.
The next observation that I made and the most crucial is the fact that this thing is a sealing machine....It creates a vacuum that puts the Foodsaver to shame. Not only does it drive all the air from the bag it also is quick to pull any juices from the item being preserved. So having the bags the proper size and the food positioned correctly is important. This thing works like a charm.
The real test will be the units durability. If I can get a few years out of it I'll be happy.
I've also got to give props to Lisa B. The order was received in a very timely manner. I've ordered from her before and will continue to use her company (Vacuum sealers unlimited) for all my vacuum sealing needs.
Anywho, after much research I chose to order one of the Vacmaster Pro models from Lisa B. It was a tough choice but I settled on the 110 because I wouldn't have to shell out a lot of money and I figured that it contains the same vacuuming and sealing mechanisms as the more expensive models just without all the bells and whistles.
I tested it a little when it came in last week but hadn't had the chance to use it for any food yet....until today. I made up a couple of batches of sausage and put the unit to work. One thing that I noticed right off the bat was that there is no bag cutter. It was nice to have but it's not that big of a deal. Also there is no internal storage for the rolls of bags....again, no big deal. Those aren't the reasons I got the vacuum sealer in the first place. The lid latching mechanism is also different than the Foodsaver....Instead of flipping a lever you simple push down on the corners and they lock in place. They unlock when the vacuuming and/or sealing operation is complete. It's actually a pretty nice feature. When sealing the end of a fresh cut bag the machine pulls a vacuum to clamp down on the bag, smooths out the plastic and then it creates the seal. This works very well. Perfect every time.
The next observation that I made and the most crucial is the fact that this thing is a sealing machine....It creates a vacuum that puts the Foodsaver to shame. Not only does it drive all the air from the bag it also is quick to pull any juices from the item being preserved. So having the bags the proper size and the food positioned correctly is important. This thing works like a charm.
The real test will be the units durability. If I can get a few years out of it I'll be happy.
I've also got to give props to Lisa B. The order was received in a very timely manner. I've ordered from her before and will continue to use her company (Vacuum sealers unlimited) for all my vacuum sealing needs.