Customer Reviews

FoodSaver FSFRSH0055 FreshSaver Handheld Vacuum-Sealing System

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Pros:
-It does suck the air out of the bag or container, creating a vacuum seal.
-The containers are useful and easily reusable.
-The bags are reusable if you don't store something smelly or greasy in them.
-Bags are washable.
-Containers are washable in the dishwasher/top rack.
-Food does stay fresh longer but not as long as the melting seal type bags.
-This is a less expensive option for a vacuum-packaging system.

Cons:
-You can't create a custom-size bag like the food savers that melt the plastic for vacuum sealing.
-Bags are expensive. The current cost (3/2010) per 1-quart bag is about .44 cents.
-After 2 weeks, the bag lost its seal. This rarely happens in the melting seal type systems. The seal is only as good as the Ziploc on the bags.
-If you get any food in the Ziploc zone, it will not seal properly.
-The vacuum unit is an energy vampire because you need to keep it plugged in to keep the motor charged.

In summary: This is a good "inexpensive" option for short-term vacuum sealing. I wouldn't count on this system for long-term freezer storage because it will lose its seal & ice crystals will form on the food. The replacement bags are expensive so you need to weigh the cost of the bags against the cost of the food you are storing. The containers are expensive but you'll probably be able to reuse them more frequently if you treat them with care.

This device is intended to help preserve items in packages you need to re-open often. There are two of us living in our house, and we often have left over produce from a meal. We enjoy fresh, unprocessed foods and I like to cook. I use it for left over hunks of cheese, partially used onions, half a poblano pepper, even hard boiled eggs and winter squash. It does extend the period of time they stay fresh. There is a learning curve to working with the bags. I have found that sometimes I get a better seal by placing my fingers under the sealing portion instead of placing it flat on a counter. I have no idea why this works better, but it does. Some bags seem to stay useable longer than others. But overall the bags save me money on produce. I throw away less spoiled food.

I have even found them to be a time saver on prep work. I can for example slice and dice a weeks worth of onions, celery, peppers and other produce. Then (this will seem strange, but it works) I place the chopped/diced/sliced items in portion sized unsealed baggies, fold over the top of the baggie and place one or more in the food saver bag. The unsealed baggie keeps the moisture from the produce from getting sucked into the zipper. Vacuum it up, pop in the frig, and take out the baggies as I need them throughout the week. Even with the double bagging it still saves me money over throwing away partially used items, and it is much fresher as well as more economical than buying prechopped items from the grocery store. Once a week prep for fresh veggies. I love it.

I keep the device plugged in on the counter right next to my cutting board so it is very convenient to use.

The four stars instead of five is due to the unpredictability of the bags holding a seal. And yes, I join my voice to those who wish they were more freezer friendly. But I do use them in the freezer with passable results. As long as the item will be used in a short period of time and the bag isn't in a place where it gets knocked around a lot, it seems to hold a seal in the freezer. I use them for garbanzo beans, which I cook, drain, freeze and pour out as I need them. They last less than a week in the frig, but stay fresh for 2 to 3 weeks using this method.

I recently purchased this Freshsaver System, because I have always heard good things about Foodsaver, but found that to be alittle pricey. The Freshsaver System was under $30, which seemed a fair price to me. I not only bought extra deli containers, but also extra bags in the quart and gallon size. I also bought 2 sets of the Lunch and Leftover Containers, sold in sets of two.

I wanted to cover all my bases, to use the system as much as I could. The Freshsaver is meant for short term refrigerator or pantry items. It's not like the regular Foodsaver, which you can freeze the bags, and it's for longer food storage.

This has worked well for me. You have to charge the unit for 24 hours. I did that the first time, and then just have left it plugged in, for whenever I need it. The Freshsaver System is very compact, which is nice for a kitchen counter, where space may be at a premium.

It's very easy to use. It does come with a booklet, but once you use it you will remember how. I love watching the air get sucked out, which you can see that more with the bags than you can with the deli containers.

I use the bags for things that can't get crushed, and I use the deli containers for more fragile items.

I love my Freshsaver. I told a close friend about it when I saw it on tv. She bought one the same day I did.

I think the Freshsaver is a great intro to seeing if you like Foodsaver products. The investment I think is minimal. Certainly alot less than purchasing a Foodsaver, tho I may buy one of those down the line.

In todays economy, it's nice to extend the life of food products so you waste less.

The Freshsaver definitely does what it's supposed to do! I've used it for cheese, deli meats, bakery items, and cereal. Remember, it's not just for the refrigerator, but also for pantry items.

Be sure to pick up the Sandwich and Snack containers sold separately in sets of 2, the Deli Containers sold separately in sets of 2, or the Lunch and Leftover containers also sold in sets of 2. All these containers will work with the Freshsaver System. The Freshsaver only works with these containers. It will NOT work with the other Foodsaver containers out there. I actually called Foodsaver to ask what containers worked with the Freshsaver. Also the Vacuum Bags, sold in quart and gallon size work with the Freshsaver. That is what I did. That way you will have the complete system.

I've owned most types of sealing machines from the big delux ones to the cheap hand pump ones.

First, Ziplock (can I type a name?...Maybe I'll break it up..) Zip--lo--ck--- has a hand pump unit for between 2-5 dollars..very cheap and it does work great...plus the bags are pretty heavy duty and hold a very tight seal, no matter where you put it..in the fridge, in the freezer, in the 150degree garage/car, etc....

I didnt need another sealer but saw this for a limited time for only four bucks with free shipping, plus it came with numerous sized bags and containers, so what the heck I figured....

The main point of this review is for those that are having a hard time with the FS bags made for this little sealer. I see many reviews saying the bags are not heavy duty enough, dont hold a seal long, can only be used a minimal amount of times before bag wont hold seal, doesnt work in the freezer and etc.....

I have not even tried the enclosed bags so cant comment on the issues other have...but, I did try this with the Z-I-P-L-O-C-K bags ( made for their little hand pump) over and over and over and in every situation you can imagine......Absolutely perfect!! The FS pump easily removes the air and the Z bags easily hold the seal over and over and over, in the freezer, in the extreme heat and etc.....

So, if people are having problems with the expensive bags made for this device, just go to your grocery store or wmt and buy the CHEAP Z bags and you should be thrilled with how good it works.......the Z bags are pretty heavy duty and I have yet to have a single one not hold the seal...and yes, the FS device works great to remove all the air and since the bags are a bit more heavy duty there is no need to fiddle with the device to get it to remove ALL the air...just rest the rubber 'plunger' over the circle on the z bags, hit the button and boom, ALL air is removed and it holds the seal...bags can be used over and over and over.....

Look, there are dozens of reviews that have already been posted that point out (a) the bags for this handheld system aren't interchangeable (or vice versa) with the larger systems, (b) the bags are expensive, or (c) the zips in the bags or the containers sometimes lose their seals over extended periods. I won't spend more time than I already have on these issues, even though I agree with and/or experienced them all, just because they've been well covered and I think there's more to consider.

Right off the bat I had some reservations when the box itself indicated that the sealing properties of the containers may be no more effective in terms of preserving food than traditional zip locking (lest I use a brand name) bags. Reading that, I wondered what the advantage was. After using it for a month, I think the answer is simply convenience and reliability. More than once I've torn the top strip off of a bag of cheese slices (as an example) and the rip wandered too far down, or the zipper on one side of the bag or the other would come lose and the bag wouldn't properly seal -- the point here is that little things that can happen to part-of-the-packaging resealing options that compromise the air seal, and that's not a problem when you're using your own heavier duty resealable containers. Of course, the counter point there is that dropping those items into the aforementioned traditional zip locking bags may be just as effective.

I am a *huge* fan of my full sized FoodSaver. We use it all the time because there are two of us here, and so many of the things we make create leftovers that we can freeze and store, then later thaw and reheat right in the bag to enjoy at a later date. It's convenient, it's easy, and it affords us a means of really mixing up a lot of different meals over the course of a month. That's just not what this is, it's more about products that you're going to be using semi-regularly and to which you need repeated as opposed to one-time access. It's within that truth that I continue to question the ultimate value. If I want to throw a quick cold sandwich or panini together, then it's great to be able to pop the lid of the included (and pictured) container, or slide the zip open in one of the small bags to access the food -- but then the desire is to reseal the containers just as quickly and easily, rather than reaching for a dedicated device in order to properly vacuum the extra air back out. More than once we didn't bother, we just resealed the containers the way we would more traditional options without utilizing the vacuum, and then you're not only defeating the special purpose of this product, but in the case of the canister you may actually end up with less of a seal (and therefore less protection) than you would have had you just used the normal stuff.

It's a cute little device. If you're dedicated enough (as ridiculous as that may sound) to be diligent about vacuuming every time you pop open one of your containers, then I'll take a leap that the packaging won't and suggest that your products may be better off in the FreshSaver bags and tubs than they would be in their traditional peers. I just didn't find it practical and even ultimately functional enough to be something I was willing to constantly use.

I've been scoping out different vacuum-sealing systems for awhile. I'm not really into freezing stuff but we do a ton of grilling in the Spring thru Fall and almost always have something marinating in the fridge.

Holds a great seal, I just marinated some steak tips for 5 days straight in the deli container, and it was tight as a drum the entire time. I've been mostly sticking to using the container that came in the kit, though the bags work just as well. The deli container is the perfect size for us as we're usually doing our marinating for two, but we can also use the bags for bigger batches.

The only real downside to the system is the cost of getting more bags. I would have preferred if more came with it so I could test more then 2 and get an idea which size works best for our house. I do wash and reuse them, but they're still expensive in my book. I'll probably pick up a few more of the containers because I like that they're easily washable and reusable, and I'll only use the bags on occassion when needed.

It's a great little system if you're using it for small jobs, but if you're into heavy duty vacuum sealing for the freezer, I'd sugest one of the bigger foodsavers.

I am spoiled with all my gadgets that make my life fun and mostly easier. This one just doesn't have all the right stuff. However it does do exactly what it says it will do and that is "keeps ready-to-eat food items fresh for longer".

I love my FoodSaver V2840 Advanced Design Vacuum Food Sealer that I use for freezing meats and fish. I live and breathe by that one. This little hand held one is convenient to do some small jobs, but not exactly what I would want hanging out on my counter for those times when I want to use it. I did have a little trouble a few times getting the air to start to come out of the vacuum zipper bags... The deli container was a breeze.

It is great for cheeses (especially the stinky kinds), deli meats and bacon. The deli container is very good (just not sure how long the flap will last) and it does keep fresh food fresher longer. I don't like how it has to stay plugged in all the time to be ready to use when I decide to use it. The vacuum zipper bags are pricey and I am not into storing the deli containers just to use with this one item.

Since all food in my house is consumed so quickly we probably wouldn't use this much. Could see someone living alone using this to save their food. FoodSaver needs to have all of their containers interchangeable with the different units available.

I was excited to be able to try this out with the Vine Program. I used the small bag for some chicken sausages and it worked great. NOTE: you have to have enough room in the bag to lie flat the area where the sealer goes or it won't work. It's a handy little thing that takes no time to use. The deli tray worked great for keeping sliced cheddar slices fresh--no hint of mold like I risk when storing it in a Tupperware container or regular zip bag. I would recommend this to anyone for extending short term storage a bit longer with no loss of quality. Simple to use.

Whether or not you find this useful really depends on if you own or have used one of the larger Foodsaver vacuum units, and whether or not you have a large amount of disposable income.

Like another reviewer here also mentioned, I thought this gadget might work with my existing Foodsaver containers and was terribly excited. Then, instead of hauling out "Big Bertha" every single time I want to seal a pound of lunch meat in a bag or some dry pasta in one of the canisters, I can just use this little handheld. Bertha is great for the larger tasks of individually freezing portions of meat or putting up garden green beans and corn for the long haul, but it can be annoying to have to haul her out for small tasks. This little guy won't work with the canisters I have, meaning an investment in all new containers if I want to get my money's worth out of it. It comes with only one small deli container and one each of the large and small Ziplock-style bags.

The deli container is decent, and I think the idea for this is good overall. It's nice to have this handy and it doesn't take up much room on the counter or wherever you plan to plug it in. It's great for storing meats and cheeses, chopped veggies, and probably even things like crackers and leftovers. There is a nice little collection chamber on the vacuum unit that comes off so you can wash it, just in case you suck up any liquids in your sealing adventures. The concept is there, just poorly executed.

As for me, I will probably never use it. You have to keep it plugged in constantly so it will stay charged, and it's just another energy vampire that is constantly draining power from my outlets. I already have enough of those.

Saving money by preserving food for a longer amount of time seems like a great thing, until you factor in the cost of the bags and containers for this thing. Will those cost you more in the long run than just throwing away the small amounts of food that these things hold? In the end, might it be a bit more beneficial for you to adjust your grocery shopping and food consumption habits to eliminate the need for one of these systems in the first place?

Just a thought.

This Foodsaver Mini Vac seems to preserve my food well. It came with a couple free bags and a deli tray with lid. You have to charge the sealer in its base before using. Then,you simply hold it onto the gray attachment piece on the tray and press the button for 10 seconds. You can visually see that the gray piece is depressed, indicating that the air has been sucked out. It is very easy to use. The downside is that it is another thing to stay on the counter, but it is small. It is good for a small family like ourselves, because it takes longer to eat food once it has been opened; but, if you are a large family, I doubt you will get the same kind of use out of it to justify the counter space being cluttered. It is a quality product, though.