Teach me about Vacuum Packers

[roaring_stag]

Started off using a LidlSpec strip sealer - for about 4 years for sealing ‘personal consumption’ venison and game. - £30-£50 quid mark

Then moved on to a Buffalo Chamber Vac sealer for small scale commercial quantities of venison. Thought this would increase our production and speed of sealing, however very quickly found that the build quality was terrible (had to send it away within one month of receiving it for warranty repair). Sealing cycle was slow (especially when sealing 200+ bags in a session. - £500-600 quid mark

Now invested in an AudionVac double strip chamber sealer - free standing unit that just about needs a set of pallet forks to move around - can seal 6 bags of mince in about 15 seconds…. - £3,000-£3,500 mark new.

Buy once, cry once!!!!

Joking aside, sounds like you just need a small lidl type strip sealer, they are totally adequate for personal consumption levels of venison especially if you are only processing a couple of carcasses per year.

 

[nic531]

keep an eye on the bay of E's as well, just picked up a sous vide commercial one for a hundred quid instead of the 5-600 it was new!

 

[Longstrider]

Blimey ! A haul of info there. Thank you fellas, it seems a an el-cheapo will will serve my needs.

 

[eldon]

Lidl one is excellent and come in store every 6 months. Buy rolls. Also Nesbitts sell embossed bags in packs of 100s.
When freezing fillets. Cut to required size. Wrap in cling film and freeze flat on tray in deep freeze. Once frozen vacuum pack.
D

Interesting you put the process in that order, why not vac pack then freeze, what are the pros and cons either way?

Been watching this thread with interest as like the op, I know nothing about vac packing. I've mentioned the idea a few times to the wife in the past so maybe nows the time to put the above info to use.
Cheers all.

 

[VSS]

Interesting you put the process in that order, why not vac pack then freeze, what are the pros and cons either way?

Been watching this thread with interest as like the op, I know nothing about vac packing. I've mentioned the idea a few times to the wife in the past so maybe nows the time to put the above info to use.
Cheers all.

Squashy things like burgers and sausages are best if you freeze then vac pack, for obvious reasons!
Everything else can be vac packed then frozen.
I do not know why @Cyres would freeze fillet steaks before vac packing?

 

[Cyres]

I find they vacuum pack easier. Also you can VP individually and they are easier to handle as they are solid.
I do the same with pigeon breasts.
D

 

[Cyres]

Also if using rolls you can tailor bag size to fit the cut.
D

 

[375win]

Butchers Sundries Domestic Vacuum Sealer/Packing Machine with Embossed Bags

Our Vacuum Sealing Machine is a dedicated 3-in-1 multifunction home vacuum packaging machine ideal for protecting and keeping food fresh for longer. This machine is fully automatic and easy to use, removing air and sealing within seconds. Perfect to help prep food in advance or for cooking using...

butchers-sundries.com

Excellent device.

 

[gelert]

Butchers Sundries Domestic Vacuum Sealer/Packing Machine with Embossed Bags

Our Vacuum Sealing Machine is a dedicated 3-in-1 multifunction home vacuum packaging machine ideal for protecting and keeping food fresh for longer. This machine is fully automatic and easy to use, removing air and sealing within seconds. Perfect to help prep food in advance or for cooking using...

butchers-sundries.com

Excellent device.

I've just bought the above after my Andrew James vac packer shat itself after probably 10 years of use.
This one for the money seems ok.

 

[Cheviot]

Most of the cheap ones need a 40sec break between seals, this one will do 50in a row

SousVideTools® VS270P Vacuum Sealer

The SousVideTools® VS270P Vacuum Sealer allows for up to 50 bag seals in a row. Other vacuum sealers on the market require a 40 second break between bag seals, to allow the seal element to cool! It also have an easy lock handle, that was designed so no pressure is required to close the lid and...

www.sousvidetools.com

This will do 100 in a row , my next one when the one I have stops working

SousVideTools® VS520P Vacuum Sealer

The SousVideTools® VS520P Vacuum Sealer allows for up to 100 bag seals in a row. Other vacuum sealers on the market require a 40 second break between bag seals, to allow the seal element to cool! It also have an easy lock handle, that was designed so no pressure is required to close the lid and...

www.sousvidetools.com

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Have a La Va 300 and kept it immaculate that cost me over 300 Euros as it was supposed to be the dogs, and it is now back with the factory as of last week as it sucks the air out no more.

 

[tozzybum]

Butchers Sundries Domestic Vacuum Sealer/Packing Machine with Embossed Bags

Our Vacuum Sealing Machine is a dedicated 3-in-1 multifunction home vacuum packaging machine ideal for protecting and keeping food fresh for longer. This machine is fully automatic and easy to use, removing air and sealing within seconds. Perfect to help prep food in advance or for cooking using...

butchers-sundries.com

Excellent device.

It's the lidl 1 with a Butchers Sundries sticker on.
Absolutely identical and they are excellent for home use.
Had mine 7 years ,use the rolls so length doesn't matter vfm and reliable.

 

[sauer]

for those who use vak packers.... one tip ...

do not use to keep stuff sealed in fridge for days on end as botulism thrives in a low oxygen environment at fridge temps....

use them for freezer etc


FSA website has a short 5 minute or so "course" you can do for free and get a vak packing certificate you can print out at end


Paul

 

[Freeforester]

A very good pre-owned Multivac professional vacuum sealer is a bit like investing in quality optics. A new but inferior brand is a bit like wasting your money, you either want a toy or something which delivers professional results; once you have decided which it is, then you know what to go after.

No offence intended to anyone, but the pics on first page demonstrate how freezer-burn gets a hold.

 

[sauer]

No offence intended to anyone, but the pics on first page demonstrate how freezer-burn gets a hold.

for the purposes of education Steve.... wan to elaborate so folk can learn ?


Paul

 

[Freeforester]

Freezer burn occurs where frost and meat meet, in the air gaps seen.

A proper seal from a machine capable of pulling a decent vacuum should look like this:


No air gaps - no freezerburn

 

[Deutsch - Drahthaar]

Had a couple cheap Andrew James and one of the plastic hooks on the lid to hold closed broke. Bought a Buffalo few years ago and is brilliant and trouble free.

Same with mincers, had a cheaper one which was ok but struggled sometime then bought a Trespade which is also brilliant.

 

[JockStalk]

for the purposes of education Steve.... wan to elaborate so folk can learn ?


Paul

So if I read Steve’s reply correctly, it’s best for your meat if it’s a wide mouth, that forms a good seal and has a strong suction

 

[Freeforester]

So if I read Steve’s reply correctly, it’s best for your meat if it’s a wide mouth, that forms a good seal and has a strong suction

Mange tout!

 

[JimS]

Got mine from Amazon, didn’t go for the cheapest but not too expensive either. I found I needed to pay the meat dry first and have plenty of “slack” in the bag to ensure nothing got sucked into the machine.