Reynolds Handi-Vac Vacuum Sealer

[Caslon]

The bags (both quart and gallon) are pretty **** inexpensive too.

I also own the much more expensive more powerfull "Foodsaver."

It's kinda funny to see how Foodsaver is scrambling out TV ads to
save it's product from oblivion.

FoodSaver:
1. lug out the heavy unit from the top shelf.
2.get out the roll of bags and the bag cutter device.
3.seal one end (my unit you have to wake the dead and run the unit
full blast just to freaking "seal" one end of the bag).
4.Wake the dead with the noise it makes to seal your food.
5.Rinse and Repeat everytime you want to open a bag for some cheese.

My god.

Reynolds so "owns" Foodsaver. Foodsaver is now running a pathetic TV ad campaign
to try and keep their product in front of the public.
FoodSaver WAS a good product. I didn't dig having to run the freaking unit to seal the bag end,
before I even began shrinkwrapping food. What idiot at FoodSaver thought up that for my model?

Bye Bye FoodSaver, you should at least have allowed me to seal one end of the bag without having to run your noisy unit full blast.

[pacanis]

And I'm pretty sure the name handi-vac wasn't just chosen out of the blue. For all the reasons you listed, Caslon, it's just so much handier to use than the FS. They knew who they were going after and how to beat them. Reynolds probably could have gotten away with a higher price on the unit.
Maybe they'll come out with a rechargeable unit that doubles as a flashlight, drain unclogger, aquarium cleaner....

[Caslon]

I hear there's a new Reynolds Handi-Vac that folds in two for easier storage in you kitchen drawer.
A 20 lb. unit vs. a foldable 14 0z. Handi-Vac unit.

[Bigjim68]

Why doesn't one of you engineers out there design a solar powered, stick it to the window, charger, for these batteries? Something like the solar powered trickle chargers for boat batteries? I take lots of pictures, 40 or 50 a week, in my business, and always have batteries charging. I will be glad to Beta test the device for you.

[GB]

Originally Posted by Caslon

The bags (both quart and gallon) are pretty **** inexpensive too.

I also own the much more expensive more powerfull "Foodsaver."

It's kinda funny to see how Foodsaver is scrambling out TV ads to
save it's product from oblivion.

FoodSaver:
1. lug out the heavy unit from the top shelf.
2.get out the roll of bags and the bag cutter device.
3.seal one end (my unit you have to wake the dead and run the unit
full blast just to freaking "seal" one end of the bag).
4.Wake the dead with the noise it makes to seal your food.
5.Rinse and Repeat everytime you want to open a bag for some cheese.

My god.

Reynolds so "owns" Foodsaver. Foodsaver is now running a pathetic TV ad campaign
to try and keep their product in front of the public.
FoodSaver WAS a good product. I didn't dig having to run the freaking unit to seal the bag end,
before I even began shrinkwrapping food. What idiot at FoodSaver thought up that for my model?

Bye Bye FoodSaver, you should at least have allowed me to seal one end of the bag without having to run your noisy unit full blast.

Wow you must have an ancient model Foodsaver. Mine is small. I leave it out on the counter all the time.
It has a built in cutter and bag storage. I do not have to run the unit to seal it. I just hit the seal button and it seals without running the vacuum. I also use the canisters so I don't have to bother with bags. My foodsaver rocks and do not think anything can even come close to touching it.

[GrillingFool]

I was at a friends house; he has a Handi-Vac. Using new bags, new batteries,
and the correct procedure as advised by Reynolds, we couldn't get a vacuum
on the bags to save our lives. Very strange.

[redgriller]

I’ve got a Handi-Vac and love it. I have seen problems with getting a good seal depending on how much you put in the bag and where you put it. I’ve noted that you need to keep the food far enough away from the vent hole so that the bag lies flat and you can press down with the pump on the vent. Also, it can help to keep the food in the middle of the bag. If you push it all the way to the bottom, then all the air comes out of the bag near the zipper lock and the bag collapses and seals. When this happens you can’t pull any more air out of the bottom of the bag and the corners retain air. By moving the food toward the middle you can get equal air removal and a good vacuum seal.

[Caslon]

Originally Posted by GrillingFool

I was at a friends house; he has a Handi-Vac. Using new bags, new batteries,
and the correct procedure as advised by Reynolds, we couldn't get a vacuum
on the bags to save our lives. Very strange.

Squeeze as much air outta the bag as possible. Seal it tight.
The suction unit has a swivel head, move it around, untill you see the bag being vaccummed.

[Adillo303]

I have a Handi Vac and a food saver (Note to GB - An old one). I bought my foodsaver a few years ago and it fell out of use. A bunch of time later I woke up and realized that I was messing up and loosing food because of it. Now, I use the foodsaver for things that will be frozen a while and "expensive" cuss of meat. Handi Vac is used for things that I will open and reclose, like hamburger. I grind my own (50 / 50 London Broil and chuck roast) I make tow laysers of four to a bag. Take out what I need and reclose and revacuum. Works well. I never even thought avout veggies and space saving (Another thanks to DC for expanding my horizons).

It is important to make sure that the corner, where you seal, can be flat, otherwisw it just will not work. So far as the rest of the bag, I don't see a difference.

My problem is marinadeing. ried it wuth Handi Vac, sucked the jucice where I didn't want it. Lost my directions for the foodsaver, however, I would expect the same results. Guidance there would be appreciated.

AC

[pacanis]

Aside from placing a paper towel in the bag when vaccuming something juicy, FS reccomends using their cannisters for marinating.

I use my two units like you AC, but if I had to do without one, it would be the FS..... and mine is a newer one.