Customer Reviews

FoodSaver Pro III Vacuum Sealing Kit, White

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

This review focuses on the significance of the differences I found between the Pro III model, and a less expensive FoodSaver model I used for about a year and half. The features and uses of the FoodSaver are left for other reviewers. I find the FoodSaver to be a very useful kitchen appliance.

The FoodSaver Pro III model is the second FoodSaver machine I have used. I upgraded from the Model 1075, even though the machine I had was still working fine. I did not know whether the upgrade would be worthwhile, given the cost, but am pleased to report that I found the additional features of the Pro III to be well worth the much greater cost. And I liked the older machine quite a bit.

The principal benefits I have found of the Pro III over the Model 1075 are:

1. Pro III has a built-in roll holder and cutter, and storage of the hose under the lid, which saves space on the counter (on the other hand, the unit is a few inches longer and little wider).
2. Pro III does not get hot nearly so quickly, so it can be used more continuously. When the Model 1075 got too hot, it would not vacuum effectively resulting in wasted storage bags, and the need to wait longer between using the unit.
3. Pro III is significantly quieter. The Model 1075 is much noisier, particularly in the sealing stage.
4. Pro III is easier to start (it starts by pushing a button instead of pushing down on the top of the unit).
5. Pro III has a removable drip tray (this was added to other new models, and is very convenient).
6. Pro III has a sleeker more attractive appearance.
7. Pro III has a setting for a higher level of vacuuming.

The botttom line is that if you upgrade from a lesser model, I think you will be pleased with the Pro III.

I have owned this sealer for over two years and use it several times a day. When I first got this device I went wild and purchased all kinds of meat on sale and sealed loads of steaks, ribs, chicken, and shrimp in the Tilia FoodSaver bags. Some of those items are still in my freezer and still good!! I am amazed at the lack of freezer burn and the length of time you can keep frozen foods in these bags. I saved the cost of the machine in the first six months after I bought in on the sale prices of meat alone.

But the good news does not stop there. You can use this sealer on the Tilia canisters and keep your spices, chips, coffee, tea, brown sugar, flour, nuts, just about anything you can fit into one of the canisters, fresh! If you purchase the Wide Mouth Jar Sealer you can use your own canning jars to seal just about anything that can fit into a jar. Everything that is sealed in this manner stays very fresh and I can buy larger amounts of things on sale and seal in the freshness. My favorite use is for coffee beans. Recently, I purchased 10 lbs of beans of various types at half price ($4/lb instead of $8/lb) saving $40.00 on a single purchase. The beans stay absolutely fresh until I use them!!

I have yet to run into a problem with this device. It is simple to use, automatic in its operation and the results are wonderful. It may seem expensive but you will save the cost of this machine in a short period of time by eliminating wasted food.

First thing you need to do is buy a freezer. your fridge freezer will fill quickly.
A few hints and tips.

I place ice cubes in gallon bags and pack them. That way they won't melt all over your food in the cooler and they also make a great emergency ice packs.-cool huh!

I pre-freeze fresh meat in the bag for about 1.5 hours before sealing, it will prevent the problem of the juice interfering with the seal.

When doing soup it obviously needs to be pre-frozen. so this tip will help with the giant mess that can come from trying to put liquid into a bag. first, go to McDonalds (or any fast food) and buy a 32 oz Coke. You will need the cup, preferably it will be plastic and fluted at the end for a drink holder. cut the bottom off. you now have a wide mouth funnel that can be placed into the bag. The funnel keeps the bag clean and ensures a good seal. I use 2 cups per 1 pint bag. place them in a loaf pan and pre-freeze the whole batch. then pack it. Great for sloppy soups like pea or bean.

I have sealed (not vacuum-packed) my first-aid kit, matches, maps, and other important items into a gallon sized bag when canoeing. since there is air in it, it will float if you capsize.

As you can see there is a lot of things that can be done with a vac packer. Once you get one you will seek out all kinds of things to pac. If you have a large family this decision should be a no-brainer. Your savings alone from bulk will more than make up the cost.

The FoodSaver Professional III replaced an older model (the 750) in our home. I am truly grateful it gave up the ghost. All the kids are gone and the nest is empty. We do not buy in bulk but find three areas where the FoodSaver is of great advantage to us.

The first of these is wine. We enjoy wine with out dinner several times a week. One of the problems we have had is that the wine left in the bottle often turned to vinegar before we finished it. Using the FoodSaver bottle stoppers has changed that. Wines stay good for two months, either in the refrigerator or pantry. Yes, I have tried a red for that long and compared it with a freshly opened one from my wine keeper. We have shifted to the 1.5 liter bottles of everyday chardonnay from the .75-liter. This alone will save us over $50 a year.

Oils are another use of the FoodSaver. Whether you realize it or not, oils start to turn after about six months of being opened (3 months for nut oils such as walnut). Although we buy small containers of oil, they normally last well beyond their shelf life except for the olive oil. Consequently, we use the bottle stoppers for the other oils including the peanut, walnut, canola, truffle-infused, chili and sesame oils. (Remember to keep the sesame oil in the refrigerator, even with the bottle stopper.)

Our third use of the FoodSaver is preparing ahead and allowing diversity of dinners. With just two of use, leg of lamb would seem a bit overdoing it. With the FoodSaver, it is not. I grill a butterflied leg of lamb and then freeze the leftover 3 ½ lbs in a FoodSaver bag. Some night when I feel like it the leftovers come out and get made into lamb stew. Three full portions for the two of us go back into the freezer for future heat and eat meals. The story is similar for chicken, roast beef and even salmon. Right now I have lamb stew, cooked chicken, lasagna, and cooked salmon waiting in the freezer. The lamb stew and lasagna are heat and eat. The chicken will be made into chicken salad and the salmon into salmon cakes. Tantor in the review below this one did an excellent job of explaining just how much better than the older models the Pro III really is. I will not duplicate his excellent review. This is the latest FoodSaver model and a worthwhile purchase for anyone who cooks.

This is my Third Foodsaver unit. First one was purchased over 15 years ago, and it still works. I gave it to my daughter when I bought my Foodsaver Professional II model. Through my own fault ( NOT THE MACHINES ) I managed to damage the strip of tape covering the heating element. Well, now it burns holes in the middle of the bags, and I lose the vacuum. Talia doesnt repair or replace the tape ( no one repairs anything anymore...silly me), but Talia offered to send me a refurbished Pro II for $50.00, and I didnt have to mail in my old one.....well.....before I called Talia, I bought their new Professional III unit. Anyway, the representative said she would keep my name on file, and I can get that refurbished unit at any time. The reason I bought the Pro III, was the fact I didnt want to be without a vacuum sealer in my kitchen...........period.
I use mine 2-3-4 times a day.....every day. Mine really gets a workout. I like the Pro II and Pro III because I can do 10-12 bags without the machine having to cool down. I own Peach and Sour Cherry trees, and vacuum seal the fruit every season. Fresh Peaches or a Cherry Pie in January??? Yes you can. Buy bulk nuts, raisins, soft candies, herbs, spices, and vacuum them. I have all sizes of Mason jars just for that purpose.
Keep the fizz in your pop, or freshness in your wine by removing the air with the attachment that comes with the Pro III
Keep your "SILVER JEWELRY" from tarnishing..just vacuum pack it.
We go fishing & camping and I vacuum pack bandages, matches, iodine & gauze to keep dry in the tackle box or in our back packs. Old family Photos wont yellow. Keep your spare printer Ink cartridges fresh from drying out. Poupouri keeps fresh after opening the package. Lace and linen's wont deteriorate or yellow. Scented candles remain "scented" if bought in bulk.
The vacuum sealer isnt just for Kitchen uses. You'll look for things to shrink wrap.
But, in the kitchen, this is a must have. Put lettuce in one of the hard containers, and it will stay crisp and fresh for WEEKS. Coffee and loose Tea stay fresh, as does cereals, crackers, bread flour, etc. Use the hard container to Marinate a pork loin roast in, or chicken wings. You can flip, twist and turn the container on it's side in the fridge, and the marinate stays air tight. Put in soup, vacuum out the air, and it's sealed for that trip to work in your car without spilling.
I buy Steaks on sale....maybe 8-10 at a time. Shrink wrap and they'll last 18 months without freezer burn. Fish filets, hanburger, pork chops.... all plainly visible through the package. You can even "boil in the bag". Need a ice pack? Seal ice cubes.
This unit really has 1001 uses. Hobbies, Crafts, Tools, Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Camping, Gardening (seeds) Keepsakes, Household items, Jewelry and finally....in your Kitchen.
Like I said, This is my third machine and I just wont have a kitchen without one. It's that good.

This is my first Foodsaver product and I purchased it because of other reviews I had read about Foodsaver's customer service and product quality. I have been very impressed with the Foodsaver Professional III so far. It is SO Easy to use! I like all the simple features (removable "spill" tray, one button operation, "internally" stored power cord, etc.) and there are no little-used features that just get in the way. You simply place your item(s) in the bag, put the open end in the slot, and push a button! When the sealing is complete (about 10 seconds), the lid lock releases and you're done. The heavy duty seal makes it immediately available for the next thing to seal.

I'm writing this after the failure of my 3rd Tilia FoodSaver Pro (all 3 were purchased new) in a little less than 4 years. I've been a slow learner, but after throwing several hundred dollars at Tilia, I finally get it: these things don't last and the company doesn't support them in any equitable, consistent and reliable manner. A rating of zero stars would be more accurate, if Amazon allowed it.

My first unit failed after almost two years. It was a FoodSaver Pro II model and was the longest-lived of the 3 machines I've had. While it worked, it was fantastic at preventing freezer burn and deterioration of food quality, and I loved it. Though disappointed that this so-called "Professional" model didn't last longer and dismayed that it couldn't be repaired, I had liked it so much that I was hooked. I tried two of the next-generation model that replaced it, the FoodSaver Pro III. Neither of these machines made it beyond a year before failing.

I initially wrote a highly detailed account here about my experiences with each of the 3 FoodSaver Pro machines I've had. My problems with the machines and Tilia's customer service are so similar to what others have reported in their reviews here that I decided to eliminate the repetition. Suffice it to say that I encountered the same problems that other reviewers have described regarding failed gaskets and sealers; complete loss of vacuum pressure; and no adequate replacement parts and help available from Tilia for any of my 3 units.

An out-of-state friend recently told me about her experience with Tilia. She received a FoodSaver Pro III as a 2008 Christmas present, and it failed after 3 months. After some stonewalling from Tilia over her lack of a receipt (this had been a gift), she was finally able to get a replacement unit, which developed its own problems within a few weeks. The company initially insisted that they would send her another replacement in lieu of the refund she wanted. She persisted and got the refund, but not without having to fight for it.

If you have a FoodSaver Pro and are considering the various accessories, I don't recommend them. In a flush of enthusiasm in the early weeks of using my first FoodSaver Pro, I purchased additional canisters and one of the marinade containers. Like the FoodSaver Pro machines, the canisters are pricey, and they're great--as long as they're working. Not a single one of them lasted more than several months before the ability of the lid to retain a seal failed. I was very careful with them, and never cracked any of them or put them in the dishwasher, but to no avail. Tilia would not replace them or supply a new lid to go with the rest of the canister, so these ended up being costly disposable jars that weren't recyclable.

The FoodSaver Pro could be such a good product if (1) its ongoing problems had been corrected in subsequent production; (2) it were engineered to be longer-lasting; and (3) Tilia chose to genuinely support it with quality replacement parts and service, for which I would gladly pay. Instead, Tilia produces so many failed machines and canisters that can't be repaired or recycled, and that just end up in the garbage. What an irresponsible waste and rip-off.

This is the third vacum sealer I've owned.The other two could not pull enough vacum.This machine makes a commercial vacum.Very quick and simple to use.Press a button to vacum and watch it work.I always shop around alot for the things I buy and most times I never see anything else I would rather have bought.I'm happy with this product :)

When our old Foodsaver, which was made by Tilia, finally died we decided to upgrade. This "professional" model worked for less than 4 months when it gave up the ghost. The company will only "repair" it--no replacement.
And, that's at my expense to ship this lemon back to them.

Foodsaver is no longer the quality product it used to be, nor do you get the same level of customer service as before.

I have had two failures of Food Saver units all their high end Professional series(brand new) this year--- Sad that their quality has gotten questionable. I had a two year old Pro III unit-- Food Saver said that they had shipping issues and could not supply replacement seals. The seals need to be replaced often. After months of calling Food Saver for replacement seals, Food Saver offered to send me a new Professional III. That unit then lasted for 60 days, then the sealing bar failed. I called Food Saver and was told that they would not do anything for me even on a 60 day old replacement unit. I should have kept my orginal unit and bit the bullet for months more unit Food Saver could ship seals. I went out then and purchased a $300 Food Saver Game Saver Pro (most expensive unit food saver sells). That unit has lasted 60 days and the LED lights have failed. Food Saver saver is shipping me another unit, but I am out over $400 and for the cost new machine that failed and shipping costs. I would have not been out anything likely if Food Saver could supply parts for their units (my orginal two year old unit) . Food Saver's answer to indemnifying me as a consumer for part of the hassle and expenses that I have had is an eleven dollar roll of bags.