I've been catching and smoking a fish this summer (mostly summerruns & spring kings) and my Costco FoodSaver, Ultra model, vacuum packer is on the blink. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for a fix, it doesn't suck (actually it does) completely and heat seals without a complete vacuum. It's about four years old and seen a fair amount of use.
Also, I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for a more durable or dependable model. My neighbor has a similar machine and he's had problems too. We're considering buying a light industral model. Perhaps Bob, "The Really Big One", has a recommendation from his experiences up north? I'd appreciate any information or suggestions. Thanks for any responses.

I also have a Costco foodsaver and have days that it wants to seal before all the air is out. Sometimes putting a wrinkle in the bag helps. It does get frustrating when it doesn't vacuum all the air out. I have thrown the lid across the room once. Cabela's has a Professional II Vacuum model that claims to eliminate pre-sealing. Maybe someone who has this model can comment on whether it works.

Fishgal and I got a good laugh out of this post I've always had one of the processors up here take care of my fish (they always do it for free as a thank you), but Mom was nice enough to buy me an Ultra in June for my Bday so I could some of the fish / eggs / meat from down south. Well, a friend used in June while he was up here and it did just fine, but yesterday, our roomate wanted to do some halibut to send home and we got the first bag done and ... poof, it's shot. It melts through the bag on the sealing process, and it also now will not suck any air out of the bag even though you can hear the vacuum motor working. Hmmm, I think I've got one I can sell you REALLY cheap

Seriously, I've heard mixed reviews on every model out there with the exception of the really spendy commercial units ($5000+). I guess it's kinda like fishing, some are lucky, some aren't!

I got a unit off of one of those TV infomercials.It has worked fine for meat and fish.You have to get all the wrinkles out of the seal area.It was only $150 or so.The bags are expensive but you can wash and re-use.It didn't work so well with cured eggs.It tended to crush them.The unit will just seal without vacuumn if you like.It's made by Twila and it's called the Foodsaver II.I know I was a dork for buyin' something on one of those stupid shows,but this has worked out fine.Good Luck.

I have a Foodsaver Ultra, bought it last year and have not had any troubles yet. Have sealed fish, egg skeins, meat etc. and it has done a good job. Good luck

Doubletake

JTownly and others:

I have a "Foodsaver" that I bought at Payless in 1991....It still works super, do all my fish, I freeze them first. I smoke lots of fish to send out at xmas time, the ONLY problem I've EVER had was if a bone was too long and put a hole in the bag.

Someone was having problems with it sealing BEFORE all the air was out....can't happen if you hold the vaccum button until it shows green, THEN push the seal button.

Bought the jar sealer 2 yrs. ago, works "SUPER" for eggs.....if I don't use the whole jar, I put the lid in warm water, to heat the rubber seal, then reseal the jar.

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"...

[This message has been edited by DrifterWA (edited 07-09-2000).]

I Purchased the original Foodsaver back in 91 also at the old SILO store. Works like a dream. Used it for over ten years and my inlaws borrow it all the time also. Maybe they are made different now? I always see a vacume packer company at the outdoor show in Puyallup the look like they have a good product.
P.S. I always freeze my cured eggs before I vacume pack it works great dose'nt smash them.
Thank You.

If you have a good fish market nearby consider stopping in and asking them to seal it for you. I live near Fishermen's Terminal and the folks at the little fresh fish market there seal mine for something like .10 a pound. Never had a problem with the bags or seals. They sell a lot of fish to tourists who need to ship it so they've got all the hardware to take care of me.

At first they were taken back by someone bringing fish into the market but now they get a kick out of it. You should have seen them oogling the sockeye I brought in yesterday...

Bruce

I tossed my old vacupac unit away last year after reading an article in a Field and Stream magazine that I would like to share.

Prepare your fish as you would for vacupacking. I wash and dry the fish with a paper towel and then insert the fish in the appropriate sized zip lock freezer bag. I immerse the bag up to the zipper in a large pan of water working any residual air out of the bag and then zip it up. (Four hands can be better than two for this process) If I anticipate keeping the fish in the freezer for longer than a week or so I will insert the first bag in a second. So far, this process has proven to be very satisfactory for all solid foods I have chosen to freeze.

HI,I have a foodsaver and have no proplems with it.As far as vacum packing your cured eggs,put them in the freezer and freeze then then vacum pack them.Just make sure when you thaw them out to remove them from the bag
Myself,I put the eggs in a jar and seal them up that way.NO PROBLEM.GoodLuck !!

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Bob Dawson

If vac-packing eggs try this:
Freeze the cured eggs overnight, then put them in bags and vac-pack. IMPORTANT: CUT THE SEAL ON THE BAG BEFORE YOU THAW IT, that way your eggs will not get crushed.

Bob, you may have clogged lines in your sealer. Mine did the same thing and needed a thorough cleaning.

I fixed it! The Ultra unit does come apart and I figured that since it's broken I'd try my hand at appliance repair. I disassembled the unit and cleaned the vaccum tray and turned over the gaskets (which I suspect was the problem) and Volia! the things sucks and seals. I do have to push the seal override button on occasion. Just finished smoking and vaccum packing two summerruns--and it worked like a charm. I've got my fingers crossed that it will keep working.
JT

I bought a Costco Foodsaver this summer for lk wash sockeye. I found it was sealing before all the air was out, so I only push the "on" button until all the air is out, then the seal button, it stops sealing automatically.
I also found that I was pushing the buttons too hard and the bag would seperate at the seal.