I'm sure that this topic has been asked before, but I need to find out. I will be smoking a coho that I got yesterday, and I want to send some to a relative several states away by one of the speedy courier services. Does it help to remove the air, or if it is only going to take a few days will it last the trip without being vacuumed.

It will definetely help to remove the air from your package.I've done it with zip lock baggies and a sink full of water.It works o.k. but is not very reliable.
I was in costco the other day and they had the really nice Foodsaver vacuum packer,with adjustable vacuum and jar sealer for $159,Its a great investment and will make almost anything last longer and taste fresher.We've cured our eggs and vacuum sealed them in a jar and you would,nt believe how well they turn out and last.
Look at your food lasting 2-3 years instead of 6-12 months when wrapped and frozen.
If you need to a lot of the butcher shops can vacuum pack for you for a pretty reasonable cost.

It will last a few days without being vacuum packed, just make sure you try to keep it cold. Go to your local fish market, and buy one of their "travel packs", usually consists of a cardboard box with a styrofoam insert, and a frozen gel pack, it will run you $10 to $15 depending upon the size. I've shipped smoked fish from Seattle to Boston this way, no problems.

Use FedEx, they are the best. If you want to pay for it, your package will be there the next morning.

Don't get me wrong, I love the vacuum packers (I have three) but IMHO, you don't need one for this.

-N.

Thanks for the information!

My Foodsaver vacuum packer is one of the best purchases I have ever made (I purchased mine about 10 years ago and it's still going strong). I pulled out a side of Sockeye I smoked last July and the quality was at least 95% of the day I packed it. I freeze smoked and fresh fish and it outlasts any other packaging method substantially in my opinion. All fish that I can't eat in 5 days gets a foodsaver bag and goes to the freezer. Freezer-burn is a distant memory!

I've also had good success with the Foodsaver vaccum packer--until recently. My packer sucks (really no pun intended) but it doesn't always seal. I've also run out of the 8 inch bags, usually you only get a couple in the box from COSCO. I'd like to know two things: 1. Does anyone know where to get more 8 inch bags in the roll without buying the larger bags also? 2. Are there any better vaccum packers on the market? My neighbor has one and it also is on the fritz. Mine is 6 years old or so and I'm looking to buy a new one. Any suggestions would be most welcomed. I did a search and found several industrial packers, but they are $300-$500 and I have no idea if they are worth the extra mola. If I don't plan to eat my catch in a day or two, I vaccum pack all my fish, smoked fish, and eggs (in jars). Thanks for any suggestions.

You can get the 8 inch roles in the single packs at Target. I just picked up one tonight. A 22foot role for $10. They also have them at Linens and Things.

JT, on the bottom of your Foodsaver is a black dial vacumn adjustment if you didn't no. Turn it up and your problem may be fixed?

JT, depending upon your model of FoodSaver, it may not have a hole in the side of the case, on the side opposite the end with the port for jars, etc. It's just a little hole and you use a small jeweler's srewdriver to adjust a potentiometer in there that regulates the heat on the sealer bar.

You can find the regular FoodSaver 8" bag rolls at Fred Meyer and WalMart, too.

There is a place in Seattle on Rainier Avenue South, they rebuild the Tillia (FoodSaver) machines and sell lots of different vacuum packers, three different brands of home ones, and commercial ones all the way up to $50,000 units. They also sell bags and rolls that are not FoodSaver brand, they are a thicker mil plastic, and they sell them mostly to the commercial fishing people. The place is called Professional Marketing Group, check out their web site at http://www.profmarket.com/, their repair site is http://www.pmgquality.com/repair/Repair.html Their repair web site has tips on how to fix the machines yourself.

I bought my first FoodSaver from them, it was a rebuilt one and cost me $85. The second and third ones I bought at yard sales for $5 each. The first one needs new felts on the piston now, so I'm going to take it back to these guys.

I'm sure they could fix your machine (if you can't yourself) or sell you a new one you'd be happy with.

-N.

[ 09-03-2001: Message edited by: StorminN ]

JTownly,

FYI on vacume sealers, make sure you are not putting the edge you want to seal to far into the trough. If your bag touches the bottom of the trough, it will not suck! and may start sealing imeadiately.

...always wanted a vaccum sealer, how does that compare to canning? Shipping would be easier for canned items, no refrigeration needed.