Food sealer bags, which ones?

[Ducaticraig]

Just purchased my first food sealer and am hoping someone can tell me which bags I should stock up on? I'm confused as to 3 Mil or 4 Mil and zipper bags versus non zipper? Can I use bags in a roll and just cut to size or do I need to order different size bags for a chamber sealer? Can you freeze, microwave and boil all the Vacmaster bags? The machine is going to be used leftovers or for costco runs where I can only cook so much food for my small family. It will be nice to seal and save meats in the freezer without feeling pressure to cook them right a way. Sealer is also going to be used for mom-in-law when she stocks up on everything when taken on her monthly Chinatown run. Most importantly, I never cold smoked cheese and hear a vacuum sealer is recommended or needed when storing the cheese in the refridge for a couple weeks before eating.

I purchased a Vacmaster VP215C chamber sealer and just need some help locking in on about 3 to 4 different bags sizes to keep on hand. Thanks for any guidance pointing me in the right direction and for helping me save time trying and buying too many bag sizes.

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[TentHunter]

The zipper bags have a little sealer flap that uses either an attachment with a circular head that fits over the flap, or a small hand-held vacuum pump made specifically for them. We use them ONLY for freezing things like lunch meat, bacon, etc. where you may want to use a little then re-close the bag.

We've had them leak air around that flap too many times to know that they are OK at best. For anything where I want a good seal that I know will hold, I use the regular bags or the rolls.

The rolls are the most economical because you can customize the size and have less waste. But they also require a bit more work (you have to seal two edges). You cut what you need off the roll (leaving enough room to seal), heat-seal the bottom edge, place the food inside, then vacuum & seal the top edge.

We use more rolls than anything.

 

[Ducaticraig]

Thanks for the information. I might just have to try the roll.

 

[Kite]

The cost of the bags is not important since you purchased a chamber sealer. Do NOT buy the ribbed foodsaver type bags - buy the smooth bags intended for chamber machines. The 3 mil bags work just fine for me.. of course 4 mil would be just that much better but I really think it would be over kill. When I bought my chamber machine I bought 2 bag sizes - 8x15 for ribs and big slabs of meat and 7x9 for single meal packaging. I use the 7x9 for almost everything so I bought a lot of those. I paid 3 cents per bag for the 7x9 so I really can't understand why anyone would buy a roll. The rolls are just a lot of extra work and put extra wear and tear on your sealer bar. A tip that I read when researching my purchase - roll the top of the bag down when you are filling it to keep the seal area clean and dry. Then roll it back up when you go to seal. I have done over 100 bags so far and not had a single seal failure with this method.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your machine at least half as much as I love mine!!!

 

[Ducaticraig]

Kite, it was after your post when you pulled the trigger to buy your Vacmaster VP215 that I decided it was time for me to look into buying one. I was thinking about saving money and buying a lessor unit but after seeing your beautiful machine I could not resist to get one. Is the blue face a newer VP215C model? I've seen other VP215 sealers with a black/gray face? BTW, thanks for the bag information.

Now it's time to upgrade the piano. . LOL

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[TentHunter]

I paid 3 cents per bag for the 7x9 so I really can't understand why anyone would buy a roll.

At just 3¢/bag for a chamber sealer, I can understand why you wouldn't want to use rolls. Of course, we don't have a chamber sealer .


Hmmm, now you got me thinking that I may have to calculate my costs and see if I can justify a chamber sealer.

 

[Kite]

Kite, it was after your post when you pulled the trigger to buy your Vacmaster VP215 that I decided it was time for me to look into buying one. I was thinking about saving money and buying a lessor unit but after seeing your beautiful machine I could not resist to get one. Is the blue face a newer VP215C model? I've seen other VP215 sealers with a black/gray face? BTW, thanks for the bag information.

Now it's time to upgrade the piano. . LOL

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Well you can't go wrong with a high end piano - it brings pleasure to our lives every day, weather playing or just listening..

You got me thinking about the color on the face of the machine. I hadn't even noticed before - what color is yours? After I saw your post I went to the Vacmaster company site and they show a blue face. I also did some searching and found some pics that did not appear to be blue, but I am wondering if they are just grey scale pics to keep the size down. But I guess I really don't know about the color thing.

I did a ton of research before I bought my VP215 and after using a foodsaver for years and now using the VP215 I am 100% totally happy with my purchase!!! Not one regret.. I am still coming up with new ideas for this thing.

BTW - the 7x9 bags hold a pound of ground meat perfectly. I drop it in in a ball, seal it, then smash it flat before putting in the freezer. They stack up real nice in the freezer and thaw easily overnight.

 

[So Cal Smoker]

I have a Cabela's CG-15 and use the rolls to make my bags but at $.03 a bag for 7x9 I would love to use them. Does anyone know if the bags for the VP215 would work in the CG-15? Thanks for the info and enjoy the game today. Go Ray.

 

[Kite]

I have a Cabela's CG-15 and use the rolls to make my bags but at $.03 a bag for 7x9 I would love to use them. Does anyone know if the bags for the VP215 would work in the CG-15? Thanks for the info and enjoy the game today. Go Ray.

I believe the smooth bags will work but you have to get an adapter strip to put in the seal of each back so the air can be evacuated.