Three Dog Kitchen

I still love our Handi-Vac.  It’s been almost six months and I still love it.  I think we’re also finally getting to the point where we might need to replace the batteries.  I think that’s pretty good for this little vacuum sealer!  I’ve been reading on Chowhound that a lot of people are having trouble with their Handi-Vac bags.  They say some bags aren’t sealing properly and they’re getting discouraged with the Handi-Vac and dismissing it as a cheap gadget.  The last time I bought bags was probably a few months ago, so I have no idea if the “new” boxes have quality issues.  However, I sealed up some filets and corn and cheese just last week and my bags are still holding their seals just fine.  I’m wondering if people are trying to fill the Handi-Vac bags too much and that’s why they aren’t sealing well?  When you seal meats, you have to be very careful not to get meat juices near the “valve” or in the latticed part of the plastic.  Obviously, the bag can’t hold a seal if there’s liquid between the layers of plastic.  With dry food, you can’t fill a quart bag as full as you could with a regular zip-top plastic bag.  You need clearance space so the bag can seal properly.  It’s kind of a disadvantage, since a quart-sized bag doesn’t really hold a quart of food due to the sealing area, but you’re getting more time before the food goes bad, so perhaps it’s just a trade off.  Anyway, without knowing exactly how other people are using their bags I can’t really evaluate if their bags are defective or they’re just using them wrong.

The Reynolds website has a coupon up for the Handi-Vac.  You fill out their little form and then you can print a coupon from your computer.  It’s only a 55-cent coupon, but you can use it for the bags, too.  And if you take it to Vons or Ralphs, they’ll double it.  I think that makes a box of bags practically 50% off.  I’ve also seen the Handi-Vac wand on sale at the grocery store for about $8.  I don’t know if that’s because the product is not selling well and they’re trying to move it or if it’s just becoming more mainstream so the price naturally settles downward.  I hope it doesn’t get discontinued, because I’d have to go stock up on bags before they’re all gone and where would I store them?

In other news, I’m off to Vegas for a short trip.  T has been there for his hockey tournament (they tied their first game!) and by the time I get there they’ll either be done with games or headed to the playoffs.  They won the championship (in their division) last year, so I guess anything’s possible!