vacuum sealer for home use -- Foodsaver v. Vacmaster?

[mkmk]

I'm getting ready to buy a vacuum sealer for home use -- will use for portioned meats, stock/demi-glace (I know I'll have to pre-freeze), etc. Mo tomato and basil crop are coming in, and I've been blanching and freezing those, too, which I like better than canned. I'll probably experiment with sous vide, but this is mostly for freezer storage.

I'd like to keep it <$200 if possible, and have been looking at the Foodsaver V3880 and the Vacmaster Pro 260.

Any thoughts about the merits of either, or is there something else I should consider?

Thanks!

[boomchakabowwow]

for me it is less about the machine and more about the bagging material.

i've used a food saver alot for wild game. i'm only guessing here: but i think as the stuff freezes, the ice crystals stab tiny holes. i found alot of meat with compromised bags. even stuff my pro butcher gives me sometimes has air in the pouches. i left the unit at my mom's house. i ended up cursing it and calling it bad names.

i think choose the machine that handles the heaviest plastic. my friend has a Weston, and he loves it.

[Mucho Bocho]

MK, If you serious, I'd suggest the VP-112. I've had mine for over a year and love it. I have has several bad lenses but I use it maybe three to four times a day. Sometime twoenty times in a row. I guarintee you that once you get it, you'll have hundreds of other uses for it like Infusing fruits, making pressure marindes as it has a ball jar attachment. I got mine from Quality Matters and I think I paid $580 shipped. They'll give you a bag discount too. Believe me, it will be the best money you ever spent. I feel naked when i cook without it. Would you like a photo to prove it? LOL

[mkmk]

I should have figured it wouldn't take long to get upsold.

;-)

I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to it that much, but I do appreciate the suggestion.

[Mucho Bocho]

Its just that the differences between the clamp style and a true chamber vac are miles appart.

[daveb]

Depends on your application. Good non-chamber models are around 200. The cheapest chamber I found was 650. For my use, mostly freezer, some sous vide, the non-chamber works well. Cabela's has a selection of both at: http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/brows...%3BBRprd727606

I've had good luck with a Foodsaver and another more recent one that was a piece of crap. Current unit is a Cabela's branded model that I like a lot. I've been told Weston makes them.

There are a couple of other threads on here that discuss this a bit.

Regards,

Dave

[Line cooked]

Also keep in mind if you ar going to be using it heavily, bags for chamaber machines are typically cheaper than food saver or channel style bags. I think in some cases cahnnel bags are 3 to 4 time the cost of bags that you use in a chamber vacuum stlye machine.

[Bill13]

And with a chamber machine liquids are no problem. I have a Foodsaver someone gave me and now I know why I only get a good seal about 30% of the time and that is with doing the seal 3 times on both sides.
I have been looking to upgrade too; but a chamber is heavy (which means my wife won't use it)and takes up a bit of space. On the plus side it seems as though all the chamber models are pretty good

[Ucmd]

does anyone have the vac master 215. this is a chamber sealer but i am not sure if it has a ball jar attachment. does anyone know? i am pretty sure that the vp112 has the same motor.

[rahimlee54]

MK, If you serious, I'd suggest the VP-112. I've had mine for over a year and love it. I have has several bad lenses but I use it maybe three to four times a day. Sometime twoenty times in a row. I guarintee you that once you get it, you'll have hundreds of other uses for it like Infusing fruits, making pressure marindes as it has a ball jar attachment. I got mine from Quality Matters and I think I paid $580 shipped. They'll give you a bag discount too. Believe me, it will be the best money you ever spent. I feel naked when i cook without it. Would you like a photo to prove it? LOL

I am about to pull the trigger on a chamber unit from them. What bags are your most used as I am having a difficult time deciding on what to keep around the house. I thought about the variety pack but figured since we were talking about it I'd mention it here.