FoodSaver Controlled Seal VS7850
VerifiedMPN: VS785066 reviews
Official material from FoodSaver.
Really great product until it stopped working after 11 months – The Foodsaver worked really well and did everything I needed it to do, unfortunately after 11 months it burnt out. I first contacted Sunbeam on the 17th April 2020 regarding the warranty, almost 7 months later after many phone calls and emails I am yet to resolve the problem I had with their product. They either tell me to resend all the information I have already sent them or they don't even respond to my emails. It is really disappointing that a company like Sunbeam deal with warranty issues with their products in this way. Could someone from Sunbeam please contact me.
Purchased in at Myer for $239.20.
I have sent two private messages and yet to receive a response from Sunbeam
Hello Corissa N, Apologies for the delay over the Christmas period. I have just passed your details onto the team and someone will contact you shortly. Thank you Sunbeam Customer Care
Save money, food, space and the ENVIRONMENT – I could not rave this product enough, this is one of the best investment I have purchased for me and my family. Food last much longer 5x more, therefore I no longer waste food and save money. My fridge neater as I portion everything after buying bulk or shopping from the market. I often cater for parties so what I do is I chop all the garlic, onions and meats then vac seal it so on the day all the preparations are ready saving me heaps of time and my fridge no longer smell from blue cheese or herbs and spiceses.
There are numerous things you can do with this machine, it’s really up to your creativity or just look up ideas on google. It doesn’t have to be used for food only, for example my 70yrs old father would seal his shoe polish as they dry out by the next time he used it. I seal all my liquid medication when I’m traveling so it doesn’t t leak in my suitcase.
- Date Purchased:
Thanks for the great review Bebe! Sealing your shoe polish, that's a new one for us!!
Bought it. Does not work at all. Wasted my money. Have contacted company. Looks like I have to go through the drama and skip all the hoops and hope the next one works. Took 12 days to receive it after purchase in the first place now this. Right about now I would probably be happier with rrfund rather than replacement Show details
Hi Over Couriers, Thank you for sharing your… Read more (+2 replies)
Review for my Sunbeam FoodSaver: Mode VS7850 We recently purchased a new vacuum sealer to replace an older machine of a different make, that broke down, this was the 3rd cheap machine, unfortunately they didn’t last, you get what you pay for! This machine however is commercial grade at a retail price, and it does everything it says on the box! … Read more · 1
Now my Sunbeam machine is something else altogether, a machine of machines so to speak!
Firstly it’s reasonably priced, it looks good, it’s robust and so easy to use and store! It comes with storage containers, vac bags and vac rolls, to get you started!
We purchased the full set of vacuum containers of all sizes, including the meat marinate / tenderising options 12 minutes and it’s done, also additional vacuum rolls and bags!
If like us you don’t like food waste, this is the machine for you, 5 Stars all the way without question, don’t hang about treat yourself to one, you will not regret it for sure!
Ed Parkin
I was given one as a present in 2020 by my kids after my wife died and it didnt work, the store I bought it from replaced it after I had to point out the law on DOA purchases. Since the replacement I have used it about ten to fifteen times and although it does light up it seems the pump inside has gone, yes the seal still works. I contacted the… Read more
manufacturer who passed me onto a warehouse who said they dont have parts like the pump, as for Sunbeam or Food Saver no replies from all correspondence. I still have a early early model food saver which still works so I beleive their quality has changed and as for customer service they are no longer on my possible "buy" list. There are now many models on the market I would check the manufacturers after care first.
Hi Mr Coffee03, We truly apologize and we are very… Read more
Reviews with attachments
- +2
Great food saver and time efficient wonder for pre-prepping meals – I never realized how useful this Sunbeam FoodSaver could be until I had one in my kitchen - I now consider it indispensable. I really wish I had invested in one earlier, when getting home late from work meant that I didn't want to spend a long time preparing dinner - this is definitely the solution, in that I can pre-prep all the veges for a… Read more · 1
roast meal (at a more convenient time), enabling me to simply put the roast in the oven and add the pre-prepped veges later. Similarly, with parboiling and sealing, any meal can be cooked in far less time. This gives me my relaxation time after work, while the dinner is underway with negligible input required by me. Several great bonuses of the vacuum sealing process are the absence of ice crystal build up along with no loss of moisture from vegetables and no freezer burn - my pet hates in food storage. Spaghetti Bolognese, another favorite for us can be so simple to prepare and store, either in larger portions, or as fully prepared meals for one or two using the FoodSaver Fresh Containers. The instructions provided contain all the information required to start immediately and achieve a great result in no time. My apologies that I couldn't upload the videos taken as I didn't realize they had to be uploaded via YouTube. I highly recommend this product as an essential addition to any kitchen - a fantastic aid to assist with saving your food for longer periods, providing great food storage options and more efficient time management in organizing your meal preparation to suit your schedule.
A brilliant little machine – OK so a machine like this is something that I have never considered ever owning or needing. But since I was offered to take one for a test drive and report my findings, I am now a vacuum sealer convert. I received the machine which comes in a box supplied with a full roll 5.4 metres by 28cm wide to customise your own desired length, also 5 zip… Read more · 1
lock vac bags, and 5 pre-cut bags. I also received a box of hard containers of two different sizes, and another separate box of two 5.4m rolls for spare. As I am unfamiliar with vac sealers and had no idea what to expect or what I could find use of it, I decided to try it out for 4 weeks using the machine for almost all that it is intended for. I have used the machine to vacuum seal all types of different foods in the zip lock bags and the roll of film. I have vac sealed foods in the hard containers. And I have marinated various meats in the hard containers with the vacuum function. Supposedly this machine can vacuum a bottle stop that I presume goes on a wine bottle but I have not tried it out. Everything is well packed in their own boxes. Instructions are clear and simple to understand. The user manual is detailed and informative although I admit that I did not go through it front to back. Supplied is a separate simple one sheet starter guide to instruct you how to use the machine for various functions. That is all I went by to get myself up and running. I became most excited knowing that I can now keep my fresh coffee beans in storage for much longer than I ever could before. I buy each batch of beans freshly roasted and open the pack about 2 weeks after roasting. That is when the countdown is on and I only have about 4 weeks at most to use them before they expire and go off. Now that I can store my beans freshly vac sealed for as long as I want and not worry about having to finish them off, it is a great relief. Marinating meat is one of the best features of this machine. I love my barbequing and I marinate almost all my meat, except sausages. I usually leave my meat in a marinade in the fridge overnight but now I have been putting the meat into the hard container smothered in the marinade and use the marinate function which takes on average about 10 minutes. This has proven to be as effective as leaving the meat marinating overnight in the fridge. I did make a couple videos to show it in action. The quality of the machine and accessories are first rate. The films and bags are thick and would be very hard to pierce a hole into. The price of the machine is fair if you use it constantly. The strength of the vacuum is very strong and consistently holds the container lids shut for as long as you want to leave them. They have not leaked so far. The vac sealed bags have stayed vacuum sealed for 4 weeks of testing and I can't see them losing the seal at all. The accessory adapter is easy to use and the retraction mechanism works a treat as you can see in the video. The price of the hard containers are on the high side and the supplied 2 piece container set is too small for decent sized meats to marinate. There are more appropriately sized containers available for the purpose of marinating but I'm not in a position to buy them at this point. It's good to know that they are available as an option though. In summary, it is a great machine and I can recommend it.
(I took a photo of the side of the box to show you the advantage of vacuum sealing different types of foods compared to regular storage methods. Ignore the spelling mistake of "Lettuce")
Great time and money saver ........a master appliance – For a long time now we had considered purchasing a vacuum sealer but it was always one of those appliances we would look at, yet walk out empty handed. When the opportunity arose to test the Sunbeam FoodSaver I obviously jumped at the chance. As we buy our meat in bulk it is a great appliance to separate all the meat into meal size portions and… Read more · 1
store them in the bags in which we can make to measure from the roll provided. So goodbye freezer burn on the meat and no more throwing out meat that we can't identify anymore too. With simple to follow instructions there are numerous ways in which this machine can save you money, yes you heard that right, Save you money!! Stale chips, fruit going bad before its time, salads getting soggy and deli meat slimey are things of the past and as you can see in the video, sealing the chips prevents them from going stale and missing courtesy of wandering hands. I have also uploaded a video of preserving an avocado because let's face it, you use half a one and the other half seems to perish quickly, well that too is now solved. Being part of a busy family where work, study and sporting commitments take up a great deal of time, food preparation is ideal with the Sunbeam FoodSaver as salads for us lasted the work week when made Sunday night and stored in the fabulous Fresh Containers which are also handy for that deli meat that never seems to last as long as you want it to, the pineapple you cut up is just as easy to store as well. Did I also mention it saves you time, yes, so that is now time and money it can save you. For those who like to barbeque and marinate their meat, no more having to leave it for hours or overnight, with a simple to follow procedure the V7850 can do that in approximately 10 minutes with the marinate function. Let's see what is included, the roll can be used to make custom size bags with the greatest of ease, hey, if I could do it then pretty much anyone can do it. Pre made bags for sealing that are not the flimsy freezer bags at your supermarket that tear and destroy your food by perishing and the fresh containers that in conjunction with the accessory adaptor work a treat to preserve all your food. So let's see, an appliance that saves you money and time, that is easy to use and is of the highest quality, sounds like a great thing to have and to be brutally honest, this is an appliance that you shouldn't be walking past, it is one that is definitely worth stopping and seriously considering ........ then purchasing.
- +2
Almost perfect but Not Quite – I have the FoodSaver from Sunbeam a week now and put it through its paces. The machine itself is quite light and compact. There are a few things I really like about this machine as I had another brand of food sealer, I could compare it to. The roll being in the machine is a big plus. The retractable hose is also a nice touch. The cutter… Read more · 1
incorporated into the lid is also nice as the previous machine had the cutter on its own frame inside the machine which was rather flimsy.
Having the knob for sealing the lid on the side of the machine is a great idea. My previous machine required a lot of pressure to push down on the lid and seal the machine for vacuum operation. This one however only requires a light turn of the knob on the side to lock the vacuum chamber in place. I was also lucky enough to have wine stoppers and the marinade container which I will address later. Also, I noticed I could seal within 10mm of the edge of the bag, my other sealer always left a very wide border of about 50mm.
Now I have also taken a few photos of what I have done with this machine so check them out.
Methodology The first thing was to use one of the vacuum sealer containers, I cut up some apple and although they went brown initially on the outside, they did not deteriorate any further after a 6 days.
I did the same thing with some bread and left it on the kitchen top for over a week and as a control I left bread wrapped in its own wrapping which is what I usually do till it goes moldy and I throw it out.
I used the vacuum sealer with the wine stoppers.
I used the marinade container with a piece of steak I bagged, using the moisture setting a piece of steak in the same marinade and set it aside for two days to compare with the steak in the quick marinade container.
I bagged and sealed a block of cheese using the Ziplock bags
I bagged and sealed some chocolate biscuits
I tried using a normal plastic bag from the supermarket to seal and vacuum some dried fruit.
Results The Apple When I opened the container, I tried the apple. They were still crisp and white on the inside and still maintain their taste and juice. The Bread. After six days the bread was still soft and fluffy with no sign of mold. The bread wrapped in its own wrapping had started to harden a little and was showing first signs of white mold.
The Steak. Flavour was just on the surface, I had serious doubts that it would work anyway but I reckon it would be better with lighter textured products such as fish. The other steak that I put in a bag was slightly tastier the flavour was a bit deeper into the steak which I guess was to be expected. I used the moist setting on this one, you press moist and then press vacuum/seal, it seems to leave some air in the bag but I can't see that causing problems if you are just using it for a marinade.
The Cheese. Now this is great, no more dry edges on the cheese and so far after 6 days of opening the bag daily and resealing I have no mold and no edge yellowing.
The Biscuits One week later and the biscuits are still crispy so I reckon you could keep biscuits fresh a lot longer than one week.
Containers in use. Now this is where you have to be careful. The machine did not always perform perfectly and on occasions did not seal , and required a second or third try to get a seal using the accessory setting.
The Marinade container. This requires careful use and you should follow the arrows in the direction shown on the lid which is clockwise. The reason is, if you go anticlockwise it will not always seal and the top will screw off. if you go clockwise the first thing you do is make sure it goes all the way round to the store mark and that makes sure the top is screwed firmly onto the container. The marinade process goes for about 12 minutes and cycles 3 times so don't go turning off the machine until only the red is blinking. It seems to me it pulsates or massages the meat or fish and when it finishes it does not create a full seal to the container, probably designed this way but you can use the accessory seal to get rid of excess air from the container if you wish. Note : I did try a pork belly, moved to the vacuum setting on the lid,used the marinate setting twice, then to the closed setting ,left it in the fridge for a day then found that it had indeed been vacuum sealed ,so it appears it can be hit and miss and requires a bit of care .
Two other things I noticed. After sealing a bottle of white wine and returning it to the fridge I noticed that within an hour the seal was gone. The same thing happened when placing the sealed containers in the fridge. The seal disappeared. The reason I believe is that the containers and the bottle contracted as they cooled thus releasing the seal, so just make sure and check that the seal is tight after you put it in the fridge. You might also find the lids hard to remove after releasing the air, but give it a few seconds at room temperature and they will come off. Using supermarket plastic bags. Don't. The plastic is too thin on these bags and though you can heat seal the edge the unit will not suck the air out because it draws the lips of the bag together preventing air from being withdrawn.
Conclusion. The machine is very good but not perfect. I have reservation about why the accessory failed to seal on occasions, was this the machine or was it the container? I did check and it was definitely drawing air but it just was not drawing air from the container.
I really did like those Ziplock bags but they are a little on the expensive side at around $25.00 for 35 bags.
The accessory nozzle or unit is on a retractable spring a bit like the chord on a vacuum cleaner. I just don't think this spring is strong enough and it needs beefing up, it was just like fighting with that vacuum cleaner power chord to get it to fully retract.
I would have given this machine 4.5 stars because of my reservations but you can't , so I gave it 5 .
A very nice product from Sunbeam although the FoodSaver sells under its own label in other countries , is an upright design , and comes with up to a 5 years warranty. Alas....we only get one.
- +2
Every Kitchen Should Have One! – As a long time purchaser of Sunbeam appliances for many years, I am very thankful to be given the opportunity to test and review the FoodSaver VS7850, for Sunbeam and ProductReview. The Sunbeam FoodSaver VS7850 is sleek and compact in design and packs a punch with versatility, easy to use features and is a must have for every kitchen. Delivery… Read more · 2
was prompt.
The appliance & additional accessories were delivered separately.
Everything was package well from the FoodSaver appliance to the additional FoodSaver Fresh Containers and bags.
Packaging did not contain styrofoam and instead had strong protective packing around the appliance, similar to what egg cartons are made from which is very good as far as recycling packaging and the box is concerned.
The FoodSaver VS7850 appliance comes complete with an Instructions manual and also a Quick start guide booklet. Both are very straight forward and easy to understand.
Instruction manual is thorough & includes photos, with each step of using the appliance under the How To Pages, and includes Care and Cleaning guide, Storage guide, Guidelines pages for vacuum sealing, food preparation and heating tips, Sealing non food items. (See my included photos)
The Quick Start guide booklet also has step by step instructions on how to make a bag, how to vacuum seal and using the retractable accessory adapter. Diagrams with illustrations are also included.
The Sunbeam FoodSaver appliance, labeled functions are easy to see on the buttons and also alongside where the latch/leaver function is located.
Power light indicator visible when the appliance is switched on.
Underneath the FoodSaver appliance is a deep recessed area where the power cord can be wound up for storing away. So you don’t have the power cord in the way. (See my included photos)
There is nothing complicated about using the FoodSaver because Sunbeam have designed the appliance for quick and easy use to save time.
Great features that I love are:
Compact design. Makes storing in the cupboard or on the kitchen bench hassle free.
Retractable accessory hose that is built in to the appliance.
Powerful commercial quality vacuum/suction.
The attractive stainless steel exterior which is very easy to keep clean.
Moist feature button.
The removable drip tray (See my included photo) to catch any excess moisture and/or liquid that may come out when sealing moist/wet foods. The added drip tray makes cleaning so much easier. And this is a well thought of addition by Sunbeam!
The store/lock function on the side leaver is another great feature to prevent the lid from opening when putting away in the cupboard.
Marinate feature. Such a great addition as well.
Slide across Cut feature. No need to cut the sealed bag with scissors.
Sunbeam thought of everything when designing this product!
I had never used a vacuum sealing appliance before the Sunbeam FoodSaver VS7850.
After using the FoodSaver for quite some time, I am particularly impressed with how the vacuum function keeps individual portions of foods separated in the bag. Previously I would get frustrated with food portions sticking together once frozen, no matter how careful I was to try and keep them separated when using freezer bags!
I could write a page on just how much of a hassle this used to be, but I am certain that many people reading my review, know exactly what I am talking about here, right? The Sunbeam FoodSaver puts an end to this problem. Thank goodness!
Meats etc: Vacuum sealing meat portions, sausages, hotdog sausages, chicken pieces etc has been excellent.
Finally food portions remaining separated: As an example, when I want to make meat or vegetarian style burger patties, fish patties etc, I make the patties and then place them inside the FoodSaver bag with a space between each of the portions and the FoodSaver vacuums the air out and there is no worry of the food moving inside and joining/sticking together.
This makes removing the frozen patties so much easier & no need to actually defrost before cooking them. No trying to pry apart the frozen patties and having them break apart. I love that!
This is also particularly great for fish portions & crumbed foods that I want to freeze. Previously frozen crumbed food would become stuck together and would always ruin the coating, even if it was defrosted! Don’t have that problem anymore with the FoodSaver vacuum sealing.
Vegetables: I have vacuum sealed some fresh vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber, unused portions of onion, capsicum, butternut pumpkin.
As well as an unused avocado half and I like that the avocado does not go brown and awful as previously experienced storing in a container with a lid.
One particular problem that I’ve been happy to avoid is that I always prefer to purchase a small butternut pumpkin whole and have always disliked that once cut, the remaining half that I put into the fridge would dry out around the outside and I would have to cut away and waste that part of the pumpkin.
The FoodSaver has put an end to this problem too. Now I can cut the pumpkin and vacuum seal the unused half and put into the fridge until the next time of cooking, without the pumpkin going dry and horrible.
Have also vacuum sealed chopped bananas and frozen them ready for my smoothies. Much better than when simply placed into freezer bags. I will be using the FoodSaver for storing and freezing more varieties of fruits when the summer season comes.
Using the FoodSaver Fresh containers to vacuum seal salad greens has been a positive eye opening experience. And I highly recommend purchasing the containers if you purchase the FoodSaver VS7850! I feel that these are a must have addition from the Sunbeam FoodSaver range available.
I’ve used the Marinate function for meat and fish and love that this feature has been included with the appliance. Another win for the FoodSaver VS7850!
Home prepared raw food for my pets: With the guidance of my Veterinarian, I have been preparing the recommended mix of properly balanced nutritional raw foods (raw meat & vegetables the main mix) for my dogs and cats for many years and tried preparing in bulk and freezing individual serving portions then taking out daily and defrosting ready to feed the pets.
The problem was that I didn’t like the quality of the food once it had been in the freezer and opted to go back to freshly preparing their food daily and stop making in bulk and freezing. A very time consuming process!
Thanks to the Sunbeam FoodSaver, I decided to give the making in bulk and freezing another try. I did a small test run, and I am finally 100% happy with the results. The food looked great once defrosted and wasn’t covered in ice crystals!! No freezer burn. I will continue doing this from now on. No longer will I have to prepare daily!
So, for anyone who does or has considered raw feeding their pets and wanting to prepare in bulk, I definitely recommend purchasing the Sunbeam FoodSaver! It saves so much time and hassle.
Leftover pizza slices: The FoodSaver seals left over pizza slices perfectly for the freezer. I used to just put left over pizza in freezer bags and it would always have a small amount of ice crystals on it after 2 days of being frozen. This hasn’t been an issue with vacuum sealing.
Bread rolls: Vacuum sealing these items has proven to me to be 100% better than freezing in the original purchase packages/bags. No ice crystals.
In the bag cooking: I’ve tried this method of cooking for fish, by placing the bag into simmering water. Very handy. Great results. Less mess than poaching or steaming in a steam basket.
Cheese: I’ve used the FoodSaver Fresh containers for vacuum sealing Greek Goats Cheese and other soft cheese such as Cream Cheese after purchasing and have found this is the best way to store these types of cheese. Much better than typical food storage containers.
Final words: I’ve been really happy and impressed with the versatility of the Sunbeam FoodSaver VS7850 appliance and the additional FoodSaver Fresh containers.
I didn’t realise the extent of how much of a necessity this wonderful appliance would be to me, until I experienced using it first hand for myself and can say without a doubt that the FoodSaver VS7850 is something that everyone can benefit from having in the kitchen!
Thank You so very much Sunbeam & ProductReview. I have and will continue recommending this product and the accessories to my family and friends etc.
In-depth reviews
The new Sunbeam Foodsaver VS7850 - nearly as good as the VS7800 – My 10 year old VS7800 started to have issues. It did not automatically stop vacuuming and start sealing on most occasions, I think this was because of hairline crack in the plug in point for the vacuum tube. Anyway the new one looked good and had a number of good reviews although some thought it lacked all features of the VS7800. The good… Read more
includes: Being narrower (not as deep) Built-in vacuum attachment to suit new containers The sealer bar up closer to the vacuum trough meaning less waste of plastic bags
The not so good includes: It is wider than the VS7800 and this caused me some trouble in fitting into the area that I had available You cannot alter the speed of the vacuum Definitely takes longer to seal Not as solid or robust as the VS7800 The bag cutter does not work as well as the old model
All in all I am happy with the product, just hope it lasts the distance. Sunbeam - most of what I complain of has been said by others so please consider for future models.
Pretty disappointed - doesn't seal every time. Sent back for promotional refund within 60 days - still waiting – I purchased this unit as I believed it would be great for batch freezing vegetables or meats etc. It is meant to be top of the line unit but won't seal every time. Purchased under 60 day promotion refund which is currently going. Sent back on 23/04/20 via Australia post. As of 29th April 2020 received at botany post shop waiting pickup. As of 6th… Read more
may 2020 still not collected.. Rang and emailed sunbeam on 4th may 2020 who have not been able to tell me anything. Would be great if somebody would get in contact with me. Really disappointed both with the unit as well as customer service. Not a cheap unit. Unit was finally collected from botany post office on 11th may, 2020. In between 2 messages via product review I have not heard anything else. Following up yet again on 19th may 2020 via mediation messaging in product review and nobody has bothered to answer. My query is still waiting for a response from message sent 5 days ago about how long refund will take. As of 19th may, 2020 now still waiting for response in to how long the refund is going to take. I private messaged sunbeam 5 days ago and still no response. Unfortunately when you ring their phone number it goes overseas and nobody can help. Have just tried following up again with no response. I will update this review when any news is sent to me. As I am no longer getting anywhere with sunbeam I feel I need to publish this review as nobody from sunbeam is now answering my messages.
Hello cornish1, Your refund is being processed, please… Read more (+2 replies)
Lowered my grocery bill! – I was excited to try the Foodsaver as part of the Product Review Ambassador program. Having a family to feed is no easy task - simply because I have to try to please many different tastes, find the balance between buying more fresh food than we can consume and not buying enough and having to do a grocery dash midweek, and trying to keep it healthy… Read more · 1
yet still enticing enough for little eaters.
I am often left feeling guilty and adding up the cost of waste when clearing out the fridge and realising just how much fresh food has spoiled before we were able to eat it, or by finding forgotten leftovers. This is where the Foodsaver has entered our lives and become a “Foodsaviour”!
To test it out, I decided to do some prep ahead of time and cut up all the fresh fruit and veges that I’d purchased for the week, with the goal of having it ready for lunchboxes and after school snacks. I also did one day of meal prep and cooking for the week, and then fired up the Foodsaver.
Using the Foodsaver with the Foodsaver vacuum seal containers, I was able to store beef stir fry and a chicken casserole in the fridge all week and then reheat it for dinner without it losing flavour or freshness. I used the plastic satchels and plastic wrap to store and seal up chopped fruit and veg, and I was pleasantly surprised at how beautifully it kept things like apple slices and mashed avocado. Several days on and both these items, which are notorious for going brown quickly, were still fresh and hadn’t started to spoil in the slightest. My kids are enjoying a greater variety of fresh snacks throughout the week, rather than just in the few days after a food shop, and we are utilising leftovers with confidence for meals, knowing that it truly is still fresh after a period of time being stored in the fridge.
For a busy, growing family, this product has been truly life changing!
Find out how FoodSaver Controlled Seal VS7850 compares to other Food / Vacuum Sealers
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Positive reviews
Help? – I just got this foodsaver and I don’t think I’m using it right?!? Does the bag go in the green part? If l’m sealing a liquidy meal, it seems like it doesn’t seal as well? Is there a trick to get this right? Show reply
Amazing product! – What a genius product. Having a busy family life, I am always looking to bulk buy our food and prep our meals in advance without the worry of the food going bad. This machine has helped me be more organised in the kitchen making my life so much simpler. I am no longer throwing away leftover food and it’s saved me and my family money. I have told everyone about it. It’s an investment and everybody should have one! Show reply
I want to Vacuum Seal my entire house now – I was skeptical at first but then my friend got me onto a Foodsaver and I don't know how I lived without one. The food stays so fresh and it saves so much space in my freezer - being so OCD i love being able to vacuum seal and label everything I buy. It also works great for marinating and the meat comes out so much more flavoursome - highly recommend!
Negative reviews
2 units died in 13 months with light use – Works fine but won't turn on after a few months of occasional usage. This happened with the replacement unit as well. Thank goodness that Costco Australia has a wonderful warranty to protect their membership. It would be a nightmare if it even possible to go through Sunbeam Australia. I have poor experience with their warranty process. I would not buy any Sunbeam product without the backing of Costco. Show details
Hi Donkey, Thank you for sharing your experience. We… Read more
Great .. and then it died just outside of warranty – I was given a Foodsaver VS7850 as a gift and it was brilliant for sealing food. After a year it just died with no power getting through. Some research on the internet shows that it this isn't uncommon. This isn't a cheap appliance so it's disappointing that it has some issues with its components. Show details
Not Happy Jan! – I bought this FoodSaver food sealer from Costco for a couple of hundred dollars just over a year ago and I am not at all happy with it. It won't let me seal half sized bags and now it is not sealing any bags at all properly. I am throwing it in the bin today and going for another brand. I would NOT recommend this sealer. Show details
Hello Helen, Thank you for contacting Sunbeam. Could I… Read more
Recent reviews
Total junk – The vacuum hose on the unit to seal jars can't be replaced if the weak plastic nipple breaks which it has. The whole unit is down to just a tiny piece of weak plastic to seal jars because no replacement part exists nor can one be attached into the machine. Sealed perhaps 50 jars and that's it, game over. Pathetic. Avoid buying this garbage. Show details
Hi Mark, Thank you for sharing your experience while… Read more (+2 replies)
Waste of money!! – Have sealed all my veggies for the week, only to find that they are no longer airtight after a few days. Really poor, vacuums and seals however air leaks back into the bags. Show details
Wasted so much money on food prep, seals are not airtight, may as well use glad wrap. Really poor product. Only the containers work well.
Warranty Response – I purchased this machine on 28th November 2019 at the Good Guys OConnor WA. It worked really well until 20th December 2020then it just stopped working. Advice from the good guys was “bad luck it’s out of warranty”. Am very disappointed as this model was the most expensive and I expected many years of good service not just 1 year. I can get proof of purchase from them if need be. Show details · 1
Find out how FoodSaver Controlled Seal VS7850 compares to other Food / Vacuum Sealers
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Suddenly stop working! – I’m very disappointed and dissatisfied with the product. I bought the Foodsaver almost 2 years ago as one of the best quality brands but even if I just used it sporadically for very basic functions a couple of days ago suddenly stop working, and as the warranty was expired I cannot do much... next time I will try for a cheaper brand with better quality. It doesn’t worth what I have paid for it!!! Money waste just by brand name. Show details
Worked well until warranty ran out – I loved using my foodsaver until it suddenly stopped working. It was only a few weeks out of warranty. I contacted customer service and all they did was send me a link to buy another unit. Not impressed Show details
Hello Jillie, Please send me a private message and I would be happy to organise a replacement for you.
waste of money – I bought a Sunbeam VS7800 from Harvey Norman two and half years ago. I have not used the machine that much and now it wont go to phase 2 so its usless and I feel it was a waste of $250 . This is my second Sunbeam ( and my last ) signed disappointed Show details
Very Disappointing – We bought this about 18 months ago. It's only done light domestic food bag sealing as there's only 2 of us to freeze food for. I was sealing a bag recently and it just stopped. A strong electric burning smell came from the Food Saver...........and wouldn;t you know it it's just out of warranty, of course. Very disappointed with the Sunbeam Food… Read more
Saver as they're obviously not a quality product despite the price paid. My advice to you is don't touch it, move on to another brand!!!
Game changer – This is the first foodsaver I've purchased and I'm totally smitten. The suction on it is mindblowing meaning it saves a tonne of space in my freezer. Yes, it takes a while to set up, yes, it takes a lot of bench space and yes, it is expensive to buy the special Sunbeam bags, but the extra long life it adds to foods is totally worth it. Plus, I can now sous-vide and feel like a true MasterChef!! Show details
It either vacuums or it seals it doesn’t do both? – ?i pre-made 25 meals and only successfully sealed and vacuum 4!!?? Piece of crap!!and very time consuming I thought I was doing the earth a favour by saving on containers,but will probably just resort to lunch bags. $230 bux for this piece of crap.the cutter also sometimes works as you need to hold tension in the bag for it to engage the… Read more
cutter.making bags is time consuming as it seals on the wrong side so you have to double handle when you cut it????cant believe quality control passed this on to mass production???cosco had 3 pallets of this piece of crap!!i would be better off buying Chinese 2dollar4-10 then wasting my life with this piece of crap.why I even bought this I have no idea??i think it’s more of a toilet paper hoarder moron product. You know the type;)
A must for all kitchens – So, I read reviews on this product before replacing my old food saver. I’ve always said that a brand name does make a difference and here I agree. The Sunbeam VS7850 may be a little bulky but I feel there’s a reason for this. You can store your roll in the unit. When needed, lift the cover to bring roll to sealing line, seal then pull to desired… Read more · 1
length. Using the cutting slide, cut then removed bag and put to use. Simply followed by vacuum sealing. The use of pump takes a little getting used to. Unfortunately, the price of the bags you don’t want to make too many errors. Overall, I found the Sunbeam food saver a better improvement to what I previously owned.
Intelligently designed kitchen helper – This is an intelligently designed device that will save time, energy and food waste and it is wonderful for the environment. The reason I have given it four stars is because the instructions are pedantic, a little confusing and difficult to follow. It took a while to work out exactly where to place the plastic roll when sealing. Green markers on… Read more · 1
the spot would make a difference. Having said that, it is a small issue because this product will truly make a difference to families of all sizes who need to store food. It has been a welcomed addition to my kitchen.
Food gets put into a time warp – I have wanted a vacuum sealer for a really long time. There are plenty on the market, but I never wanted one that didn’t have it’s own container system. The container system alone makes using this product really worthwhile. As with all my appliances I keep this out on the counter. If it’s in a cupboard it won’t get used. The plastic rolls and bags… Read more · 1
and ziplocks all help make this super easy to use. I can now make meals for my significant other and package them for when he works in remote areas. Brilliant. Home cooked meals that are fresh and convenient make you happier when you have to work away.
If you like bbqs, fishing and camping, it’s just too easy to prepare meals and food that stay fresh and uncontaminated. You can throw the pouches into an iced esky or camping fridge. Literally the best and most helpful feature in my view for the outdoors.
At home I use the FoodSaver containers a lot. Fish, meat, veggies and healthy food all stay amazingly fresh in these containers. If I didn’t experience it, I wouldn’t believe it. I could not tell the difference between fresh food and the food in the containers after days. No other containers can do the same thing. Having air evacuated from food is highly superior to anything else. You can also reheat straight from the containers! Love! It’s something I want to experiment with further.
There is a marinate function that I’ve used with salmon. The function is great, but the instructions are a little strange. My only gripe with the appliance. There is an extra attachment and the instructions don’t cover this off. But once you get used to it, it’s really easy. The instructions could be improved a little, but try YouTube for tips and tricks. The accessory is the reason you would pick this over other vacuum sealers.
Overall I do love this appliance, but I would like to get more containers to save on single use plastic. I love the containers. Honestly, it makes life so much easier. I can actually have fresh tasting food days after being cooked. I love this vacuum sealer and will be using this religiously for camping and outdoor activities and fresh food in the home.
Keep it on the counter to use every day! – There are dozens of vacuum sealers available on the market, ranging in price from as little as $30 up to over $300 (and then some). Once you've made the choice to get one, how much should you spend, and which one is the best for you? Read on and consider my views on the Sunbeam FoodSaver VS7850, the top-of-the-range from Sunbeam. What is, and… Read more · 1
why should I be, vacuum sealing? I've had a vacuum sealer for over seven years now, and I use it almost every day. Once you realise the many things that you do without even thinking that would be better done with a vacuum sealer, you will realise that you need one too.
There are two basic ways to use any vacuum sealer: 1. To remove the air (and hence the oxygen) from around food, and create an airtight seal, to be able to store it longer. 2. To re-seal commercial plastic food wrapping that was originally heat-sealed, to be able to continue to store it longer.
I'm being fairly pedantic here but Oxygen exposure is a key thing you should be aware of to understand vacuum sealing. Most domestic food spoils in storage due to exposure to oxygen, which makes up around 20% of air in our atmosphere (the other 80% is nitrogen and other gasses such as CO2). If you can minimise the exposure of your food to oxygen while it is in storage, it will last a lot longer than it would when it is in direct contact with air.
The easiest way to observe this is to compare meat "use by" dates in your supermarket between those that are vacuum (or "cryovac") packaged (such as a leg of lamb or pork shoulder roast) and meat that is packaged in rigid plastic trays with clear plastic over the top. The vacuum packaged meat will last for weeks - or even months, whereas meat packaged in the rigid trays will only last a few days. This is quite simply because the trays are filled with air, and therefore oxygen - which in turn causes the food to spoil much faster.
With your own vacuum sealer, you can recreate this "oxygen-free" packaging yourself at home. Here are some of the ways that I do this: 1. I buy meat such as whole eye fillet steak in bulk from a meat wholesaler, who sells it already vacuum sealed. In turn I will slice it into steaks that are the thickness I like, and vacuum seal those individual steaks in "family sized" packs, leaving some in the fridge and some that I will freeze. Those kept in the fridge will last as long as the original package from the butcher (so long as you don't introduce new contamination when you are repackaging it), and those that you freeze won't get freezer burn. 2. I vacuum seal hard cheese (such as cheddar) after each use. With no exposure to oxygen, there is little chance for mould to grow (and many cheeses such as cheddar literally last for years). 3. I do a lot of cold smoking, such as chicken (which is of course cooked afterwards), bacon and salmon. Vacuum sealing is essential when storing cold-smoked foods for consumption over the following weeks. 4. Sous Vide has become a new trendy way to slow-cook steaks, roasts and more - and a vacuum sealer is essential to do this properly. I've used mine to Sous Vide scotch fillet steak, done a 30-hour beef roast, and I've even Sous Vide crayfish (which was divine). 5. Re-vacuum sealing foods that came vacuum sealed (such as coffee) is an excellent way to keep them longer. I regularly re-vacuum seal hops that I use in home brewing.
There are of course many other ways that vacuum sealing can be used, but these are the most common things that I do.
But I also mentioned "resealing commercial plastic food wrapping", which is essentially my way of saying that I re-seal my chip, cracker and biscuitpackets, without using the vacuum. Think about all the times that you use rubber bands, bulldog clips or even other commercial "solutions" to re-sealing all of the plastic packages that are storing partially-consumed foods in your cupboard. Practically every one of those was originally heat-sealed - and can be re-sealed using a vacuum sealer. These include muesli bars, breakfast cereals, cheese, biscuits, sugar (the gourmet ones - brown, icing, etc.), rice, and so on. Also frozen foods such as pies, chips, dumplings … the list goes on. Re-sealing these creates a proper airtight seal, which will help keep these foods fresher for longer. This is most obvious when you re-seal crackers or biscuits - a half-used packet will last almost as long as an unopened one, provided it is properly sealed.
All of this is why a vacuum sealer is not something that should be hidden away in a cupboard and brought out only on special occasions - it needs to be there, plugged in, switched on and available ready for use at every meal time.
OK I'm convinced. So how much should I spend? This is actually a question I was asked only a couple of months ago (by somebody to whom I had given some of my smoked chicken, which I had vacuum sealed). He had seen a $89 vacuum sealer at a discount department store, and wanted to know what I thought of it. A quick google search quickly showed many negative reviews, which quickly convinced him that he needed to spend a little more to get something that would last.
And here is where I can give some "long-term" advice regarding the Sunbeam FoodSaver series. I have had the Sunbeam FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer VS7000 (in fact two of them - as I bought one for my mother at the same time) since December 2012 (as of writing this review, that's almost 7 years), and my mother still has hers. They are both still going strong, and mine is definitely well used. The VS7000 is now discontinued, but it certainly has a special place in our household - we all call her "daisy" because of the sound she makes when she is operating.
It certainly pays to get a good quality rather than "off brand" or "generic" vacuum sealer. It's easy to cut corners in designing and manufacturing at the expense of longevity, and I can definitely attest to Sunbeam's long product life.
So should I get the VS7850? This latest Sunbeam FoodSaver VS7850 is around $230, which is exactly the same as my VS7000 all those years ago. Coming from a long-term VS7000 user, I can attest with some authority to the improvements that Sunbeam have made.
Accessory Attachment The VS7850 includes an easily-accessible accessory attachment on the top of it (you can't help but have seen it). This provides four additional ways that you can use the vacuum pump: 1. With reusable (washable) "zip-lock" bags that have a valve on the front. You use the accessory attachment (which kind of looks like a big syringe) by placing it over the valve on the zip-lock bag, and then remove all of the air from the zip-locked bag. The bag can be washed and re-used, rather than being single-use like the standard bags and rolls - which while they can be re-sealed, need to be cut open each time so will gradually shrink with each use. These best used with already-packaged foods - such as cheese - so you don't actually get food on the inside of the bags, since cleaning them properly is very time consuming and difficult. 2. With the Sunbeam FoodSaver Containers, to reduce the amount of air that around leftover foods (more on these later). 3. With the Sunbeam FoodSaver Bottle Stoppers, to reduce the amount of air in wine bottles. The VS7850 doesn't come with one of these, but the VS7000 did - so I can still use the stopper I already had. But really, these days who ever has any leftover wine anyway? 4. With the Sunbeam FoodSaver Containers, or a larger "Marinator" container, to quickly marinate foods using a special "marinate" setting, which cycles through both "vacuum" and "release" repeatedly, which seems to me to be a very logical (and probably effective) way to use a vacuum sealer to speed up the marinating process (I have not had the opportunity to test this out properly).
Sunbeam also sell a "handheld" vacuum sealer that is essentially just the Accessory Attachment, and can therefore be used for all (but only) the above purposes, but can't be used for standard vacuum bags and rolls.
This accessory attachment is definitely the best new feature in the VS7850 from my VS7000, which included an "Accessory port" in the front, but it always pretty much seemed an afterthought - the tube that it needed was stored folded and wrapped up underneath the roll cover and has basically been a nuisance for the entire time. I have probably only used it half a dozen times - and each time has been particularly tedious and annoying, requiring the removal and unravelling of the tube, pushing the tube into the port - HARD - and then finding and attaching the FoodSaver Bottle Stopper.
With the VS7000 it was always an annoying experience to use the accessory port, and when not using it - the tube being stored in the way of using the device just made it worse.
The VS7850 makes the accessory attachment an integral part of the unit, and is a joy to use. The tube retracts back into the unit automatically, just like the power cable on a vacuum cleaner (or a retractable garden hose) - and the device weighs just enough that it doesn't fly off the bench as you draw the attachment out against the spring. There's also a separate "accessory" button that activates the vacuum on the accessory port - so you know it's working (there's no such option on the VS7000 - you just had to hope you had inserted the tube far enough that it was working).
It may seem like a small thing, but having the accessory attachment there, ready for immediate use at any time, will make the difference between whether you use it - or don't. It's definitely a welcome upgrade.
The VS7850 in Everyday Use There are two ways to do standard vacuum sealing on a day to day basis: 1. Using pre-cut bags; or 2. Making your own bags to size each time, by cutting off the required length from a roll and sealing one end.
I definitely prefer to make my own bags each time, because it gives me much more flexibility to size the bag each time for what I'm sealing, and they are a bit cheaper. The VS7850 has an inbuilt roll dispenser at the back of the unit, and a cutter in the front. When you cut each bag to the required size, you drag the roll over the sealing unit, cut and seal the next bag all in one process - albeit with quite a few steps to get in the right order. These are all printed inside the unit (which you can't read while you're doing them, since the lid must be closed), but once you've done it a few times you get the hang of it.
And this is where the biggest difference with the VS7850 starts. My original VS7000 has a separate space on top of the unit that houses the roll, with a separate cutter. The steps to make the bags are more straightforward, but less like a production line that the VS7850 offers, in the way you can "cut one bag and seal the next at the same time". This in itself isn't a huge deal - it's just a bit different.
Despite the VS7850 having the roll behind the sealing unit rather than on top (making it much shorter than the VS7000) it actually takes up slightly less bench space, at just under 20cm deep. The reason for this is that the VS7000 has something that I only appreciated once I didn't have it in the VS7850: Powered bag clamping.
The VS7000 has a long handle on the front that you move to open the flap, then close the unit onto the bag (and in the process wake up the unit), and then when you press "Seal", there is an internal mechanism that clamps down the bag before it starts vacuuming or sealing - and once it finishes, it releases the clamp automatically and you simply pull the bag out. It's really quite neat and it prevents you from being able to interrupt the process prematurely.
The VS7850 on the other hand has a fully manual clamping lever, where you are providing the force required to clamp down on the bag before it can be vacuumed and/or sealed. This is a three-position lever on the right hand side of the unit that you rotate from "Open" (the lid can open) to "Store" (the lid can't open) to "On" (the only position you can vacuum or seal). There is also a caution with the unit not to store in the "On" position, because it can prematurely wear out the seals (which are squashed together in this position). The lever isn't all that hard to turn (it may be challenging for someone with arthritis or carpal tunnel), but it is quite manual compared with the fully automated process in the VS7000.
So all up it's not all that inconvenient a step back, and I can see why Sunbeam have done this - since it makes the unit considerably smaller and undoubtedly cheaper to make, but it's just not quite as slick an experience to use. I often find that I've left a bag in the unit hours afterwards (such as when I reseal bags of spices or salt and left it running to do other things), and while this is not an issue with the VS7000 (which has already released the clamp), with the VS7850 it has been left in the clamped position for a long time, which is "not recommended" - and in these cases you'll see the lamp on the device flashing to ask you to disengage it.
The FoodSaver Containers Together with the VS7850, I also had the opportunity to test out the FoodSaver Containers, which are clear, airtight Titan food storage containers which you can remove some of the air from using the VS7850.
If you are considering these, you need to be aware that these behave very differently to vacuum bags. Whereas any vacuum bag will be able to remove almost all the air (and therefore oxygen) from around your food, allowing it to last a lot longer, it's simply not possible (or desirable) to remove all the air from within these rigid FoodSaver Containers. The containers are actually miniature vacuum chambers - as you remove the air from them they actually form a vacuum inside, where the air pressure inside the container is less than the surrounding air pressure. This is distinctly different from vacuum sealing bags, where the pressure inside the flexible bag is still the same as the surrounding air pressure - it's just that there really isn't much air inside the bag after vacuum sealing, and the bag has moulded itself around the food that's inside.
Since the FoodSaver Containers are actually vacuum chambers, all of the physics that applies to vacuums also apply to them. Importantly this means that as the pressure inside the chamber drops, the temperature at which water (or any other liquid) boils will drop as well. If you create enough of a vacuum, then any water in the container (i.e. in the food itself) will literally boil at room temperature - most likely ruining the food.
So if we know that we really can't remove all of the air from inside the FoodSaver Containers (since it will cause all the water in them to boil), then just how much are we removing?
Well, curious as I am, I devised an elaborate little experiment involving a partially inflated balloon, glass of water and a kitchen scale, and measured that the original 34cm2 balloon increased in size to 63cm2 inside the FoodSaver Container under vacuum - that's means it's removing about 45% of the air. Then I realised I could just put the indoor pressure sensing unit from my weather station inside the container, which showed a drop from 1024hPa to 626hPa - or about 39%.
Assuming my second method was more accurate, that means that boiling temperature of water inside the FoodSaver Containers is down to about 86C, and is equivalent to the air pressure at around 3,800m above sea level (for reference, Mount Buller in Victoria is 1,805m, and a Boeing 737 has a cruising altitude of about 9,000m, so it's somewhere in between the two).
So with my curiosity now satisfied, I can conclude that the FoodSaver Containers will not cause an unreasonable lowering of the boiling temperature of whatever you store in them, but likewise it's not going to be anywhere near as effective as sealing in a bag, where you're removing 99% or more of the air from around the food.
The FoodSaver Containers themselves are also somewhat inconvenient in practice - they are quite large and don't stack very easily with any other contains (although they do stack together themselves). The silicone seal has a tendency to pop out, and you need to squeeze them together quite hard in order to be able to get the seal in the first place - or open them after you've released the seal (much harder than the handle on the VS7850 - if you have weakened hands for any reason then this will be tricky; my mother certainly had issues with getting these closed or open). I can't help but think there could be some improvement in the making / breaking of the seal to make these easier to use.
All this said, they are microwave and dishwasher safe, the clear Titan really makes it easy to see what's in them, and since they are square they do hold quite a bit more than a standard round glass container.
So should you buy one? Provided that you are going to leave it on your bench, ready and available to use at any time, a vacuum sealer is a great tool to have in the kitchen for resealing and preserving all sorts of things - and the VS7850 is an excellent choice, with a small footprint, easily accessible accessory connector, and what should be great Sunbeam reliability for years to come.
The key to getting value out of your FoodSaver is to use it every day - and be able to recognise each time you forget to use it, so you can use it next time and do away with those pesky bag clips. Although the FoodSaver Containers are interesting and useful as containers - they are just no substitute for a proper vacuum sealed bag to keep your food fresher for longer, and I'd recommend you put that money towards a Sous Vide (such as the Sunbeam MU4000 which I use and recommend) - there is no substitute for a sous vide steak!
Perfect Product Name! – The unit itself is light,fairly compact and feels reasonably sturdy. It’s well designed with the auto retracting accessory adapter which keeps makes storage neat. The power cord must be wound up manually in its recess underneath the body. The latch lever ensures the product can only be operated safely and integrated bag cutter works really well.… Read more · 1
Overall, a good job on design.
I live alone but buy in bulk so the Foodsaver works for me. I make bread and buy at least 5kg of flour at a time. Instead of keeping it in the fridge (live in humid Qld) I now break it down and bag it. This frees up fridge space. I do the same for 5 Kg bags of rice which stops the rice aging. Likewise with those cheap n’ nasty 1kg blocks of cheese. I break these down into 3 portions and they are always perfectly preserved with no white bloom developing as you work through it. I also break down whole chickens and don’t get over icing or freezer burn of the meat.With whole gypsy hams I slice half and bag seal this portion, then store the other half in the Foodsaver container. I have also done this with the resealable bags. These worked really well, the seal itself is very sturdy and you feel confident the seal will be maintained. You can also dispose of the bag saving wash up when you have stored stinky items. No white mould bloom which often develops with whole hams. The resealables are also good for maximising preservation quality of cut lemons used for drinks, chillies, kaffir lime leaves etc which can then be frozen.
The containers are a great idea and made of sturdy plastic. I use these for grated cheese, cut avocado, fruit salad and an ‘all in one’ container of sandwich making items. Everything is kept fresher, longer. They are a bit awkward to open though, needing a fair bit of force. Don’t see the elderly, people with arthritis and those with motor skill impairment being able to use them easily. For effective sealing you have to make sure the lid is pressed down firmly until you hear it click, otherwise the containers don’t seal. Once sealed, the seal is maintained for days. I did not experience any ‘de-sealing’. I’m not sure how durable the cable and retracting mechanism will be long term, it doesn’t feel very robust. Where the cable connects to the accessory has no reinforcing.
I did a test with a halved avocado, half in the bag and the other in the container. There was no oxidation of the cut surface of the vacuumed bagged portion after 4 or 5 days until opened. Perfectly preserved! There was mild oxidation of the half in the container. It was a very ripe avo, so yes the bag has greater preservation ability than the container which is to be expected.
While the unit is simple to use, the instruction manual could be better. Areas that need improvement are where to actually insert the open end of the bag for sealing. A close up of this area would help greatly or at least state in the manual to place the open end into the drip tray. Whether you are meant to stick the end here I don’t know, but didn’t seem to work if I didn’t. It’s just not clear enough for the first time user. I later noticed the tips said place just over the edge of the drip tray, this needs to be in the main body. Same goes for dismantling the accessory tool, the manual doesn’t tell you anything.
The other negative is the ongoing, and rather high cost of consumables. The bags being $25-45 per pack. The containers are also up to this price. I will attempt to reuse bags where possible (and if suitable, I wouldn’t reuse bags that stored meat) having read this tip posted by a Sunbeam rep on this forum.
Overall I think it’s a good device that can definitely extend the shelf life of food and maintain an ‘as fresh’ quality and is great for bulk buyers and bigger households. Certainly it would prevent a lot of waste for those that still prefer and prepare fresh food.
- +2
I never knew that I needed a vacuum sealer until I owned this and now I can't live without it! – Sunbeam FoodSaver Controlled Seal VS7850 & Fresh Containers Summary I never knew that I needed a vacuum sealer until I owned this and now I can't live without it! For me, these are the key benefits of owning this: - Prevent freezer burn - Keeps my food fresher for longer, so that I am not wasting food - Saves freezer space as it is so compact -… Read more · 1
Great for sous vide and much better than ziploc bags (which can leak)
The vacuum sealed containers are easy to use, and lock in the freshness. Now I can enjoy my strawberries and avocadoes without rushing to eat them before they go off!
Freezer burn
I used to experience freezer burn a lot when using ziploc bags. For example, I bought mangos in bulk and froze them in ziploc bags. Unfortunately, they all have freezer burn, and my mangos went to waste. Using a vacuum sealer, it sucks all the air and seals the bag, which prevents freezer burn.
Freshness
The Sunbeam vacuum sealer locks in the freshness and keeps my food fresher for longer. For example, I used the vacuum sealer on a 1kg block of tasty cheese and it stays nice and fresh for weeks. What I did was that I would seal the cheese, then open it to eat a portion, then reseal it. After a few iterations of this, the cheese remained nice and fresh for a very long time.
Previously, I would just use a plastic storage container for this type of cheese, and after opening and closing the container a few times, the edges of the cheese goes hard and loses its freshness.
Other foods that I have used with great success have been bread, chips, and snacks; all of which maintained their freshness, especially the bread.
The machine can be used in three general ways: - vacuum sealing disposable plastic bags - vacuuming the air for reusable zipper bags (that don't need sealing) using the retractable accessory adapter - vacuuming the air for specially designed containers (FoodSaver Fresh Containers) using a retractable accessory adapter
In particular, the containers really work wonders, as it is super airtight after it's vacuum sealed. I really love the fact that the green dimple in the lid which makes it so much easier to know when the containers are airtight. The containers are stylish with high quality plastic, and the clear and bright green design reminds me of fresh vegetables everytime I use these containers.
These containers are great for storing food, meal prep or marinating food but for me I like to store fruits and vegetables that go off really fast such as strawberries, cucumbers, and avocados. I like to purchase these fruits and vegetables in bulk but they always lose their freshness quickly, though this machine ensures that the freshness remains for longer.
I also use these containers for storing my snacks such as potato chips, I also rotate using these containers with vacuum zipper bags for food/snacks.
I specifically tested how well the container locks in the freshness by testing it with fresh strawberries, and cucumber. After a period of 4 days for the cucumbers and 5 days for the strawberries and cucumbers, they remained exactly the same as the day I bought them, and tasted really fresh.
Save freezer space
We are always lacking in freezer space despite having a large fridge. The vacuum sealer sucks the air out of the bags which means that you can store more food in your freezer/fridge.
Good for Sous vide
The bags that are sealed by the vacuum sealer are much more secure than ziploc bags, which have a habit of leaking water into the food. Furthermore, it is much cheaper to use these bags than to buy ziploc bags.
Sealer
I love that I am able to make my own customisable bags of any length, which is great as my food varies in size.
The sealer is also quite versatile as it can be used to create mini 'pockets' in the bags (by using the sealer on the bag both vertically and horizontally), which allow you to create small portions and saves you from using multiple bags. For example, I used the sealer to make small rectangles in the bag so that my toddler and I can enjoy homemade icy poles.
Moist
The moist function is great. What it does is that by telling the machine that the bag has liquid in it, it will not suck as hard so that it doesn't suck any liquid into the machine. I used this function for icy poles and it works great.
This function would be really great for storing casseroles and stews.
Build quality and other topics
The machine looks stylish and well built. It is low maintenance, as it is easy to use, clean and doesn't take much space in the kitchen.
However, the retractable accessory adapter doesn't seem to fully retract properly, not sure why.
I would like for Sunbeam to create glass or stainless steel vacuum containers as I prefer using these materials for marinating meat or seafood.
Really easy to use, wonderful for preserving food quality if you freeze a lot – I had often fancied owning one of these but I put off buying one as I thought it might be a bit of an extravagance. So I was rapt when I was sent one to try out and review. I can now see that although they aren’t cheap, they could save you a lot of money over time. Wish I had had one earlier. The machine is nice and solid and I was sent a… Read more · 1
variety of freezer bags and containers to use with it. The instructions are fairly easy to follow and the machine itself is extremely easy to use. I found that mine worked beautifully, with absolutely no effort.
The quality of the freezer bags is first class. There is just no comparison to those cheap little freezer bags you can buy in supermarkets. Chalk and cheese. These must be about 100 times thicker and sturdier. I particularly liked the roll. With this, you seal the bottom and just roll out the length required, then seal that. At that point when I first read the instructions, I must admit I thought.. hey wait, what about the food, if the bag is sealed top and bottom? But what happens is there is a very smooth little cutter located just under the sealing section and after that second seal, you just cut across. Bingo, you now have an open bag, plus the bottom seal done for your next bag. I particularly like the rolls as it means you are measuring out the exact size of bag you will need so there is no waste. Just make sure you allow a slight bit extra length so you can seal easily. Pop your food in the bag then manually insert it to vacuum and seal. Works like a charm. You just watch as the air is extracted and package sealed.
This is where the money saving comes in, I believe. Over the years, I have just used those cheap little freezer bags, the ones with no vacuum seal. I have had to throw out a fair amount of food in that time because even with my best efforts, if it is stored for a few months, it can tend to get freezer burn. That applies particularly to chicken, I find. I think with this vacuum sealer, it is much less likely to happen. Food will last longer in the freezer. The re-usable containers are great and again, extend the life of your food and so save you money.
The vacuum sealer is not an overly large unit but all the same, the one negative is you'll need the space for it to be stored and you’ll need it on hand to use regularly. It would be ideal left on the bench in a butler’s pantry (which I don’t have). Failing that, you’ll need it at the front of a cupboard.
The main misgiving I do have is, believe it or not, with something which is also a positive-the quality of the freezer bags. They are absolutely top notch material and it did make me feel a little uneasy knowing they were one use. My advice would be to consider what you are freezing and how long you plan to have it frozen for. If you have meat or other products that you think may be in the freezer for a few months, then most definitely use the freezer bags or containers. They will seal the food properly and preserve the quality much better. For something that might be in the freezer for just a few days, it is probably not as critical but what I plan to do is get more of the reusable containers. It will stop that ice build up you sometimes get on food and I think it’s an investment that will pay for itself over time.
I have only had my vacuum food saver for a month so I can’t comment on their longevity, I can only judge it on how I have found it so far. It hasn’t missed a beat, it is easy to use, the controls are well set out and logical. If you regularly freeze food and want it to last a while in your freezer without freezer burn or deterioration, or if you just need to store things longer in the fridge, then this is a quality unit worth having. I’ve given it 5 stars. I know with something like an ambassador review, you might be suspicious that we have to give it that. Not so. We are totally free to review honestly and 5 stars reflects my genuine experience with it.
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