Reynolds Handi-Vac

[shelleybean]

I keep seeing this advertised and saw in my grocery store yesterday, along with the bags. At under $10, it looks like a great deal. Just wondering if anyone had used one yet. I think it's a fairly new item. I believe there are only two sized bags though, maybe a quart and a gallon. Anybody tried this one? Thanks.

[ContainerTed]

Michelle, we've been using one here for almost a year. We also have the larger FoodSaver. The Reynolds does just fine, but so far, we use it for quick items like dividing up a family-sized package of chops, etc. I haven't seen anything yet that would preclude us from using it for anything including long term. It even has a wet (juicy) catch feature. In fact, I just put some tomato pieces and some cherry toms away as a test. We'll look at them in a couple weeks.

My call on it would be a solid --- Thumbs up. It (IMO) takes out the air adequately and we have not seen any freezer burn on anything so far.

The only negative, if you call it one, is that the little seal on the bags is sometimes a bit slow to get started emptying the air from the bag. But once it gets started, no problem.

We normally use only the smaller quart size. Anything larger get the Foodsaver treatment.

[shelleybean]

Thanks for the reply, Ted. I'm glad to hear you like yours. I think I'll get one. We have a family of four so I don't really need to store large quantities of any one thing. Sounds just right.

[ContainerTed]

As an update, we were in Walmart yesterday, and they had the bags in quart and gallon with a "reverse pump" device to draw out the air. Our older battery operated pump works just fine with the new bag style.

The bags were $2.60 for 12 quart or 8 gallon bags and the reverse pump was something like $3.70. They work great.

[shelleybean]

Thanks, Ted!

[Granny]

I found a trial pack of these in the drawer a couple of week ago while hunting for some freezer containers for extra green beans. (I've been having a time with freezer containers fracturing!) Very impressive, made nice neat packages, so I went straight out and bought more bags.

[shelleybean]

Thanks, Granny. Haven't heard from you for a while. Glad you're still hanging around.

[Worth1]

Can anyone tell me how much vacuum these so called vacuum pumps put out?
And can they describe to me what the Reynolds bags have for a sealing device.
I have a plan for my own vacuum pump and need to know what the connection looks like.

When I get this information then I will let you know what the pump is.
From what I have seen so far I would believe it would be a low vacuum.

You guys will fall over when you see what the vacuum pump is.

Worth

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Can anyone tell me how much vacuum these so called vacuum pumps put out?
And can they describe to me what the Reynolds bags have for a sealing device.
I have a plan for my own vacuum pump and need to know what the connection looks like.

When I get this information then I will let you know what the pump is.
From what I have seen so far I would believe it would be a low vacuum.

You guys will fall over when you see what the vacuum pump is.

Worth

I have a guess.

[Earl]

got one of the Handi-vacs. works great. Now I've got to find a swizzle straw that will fit in the opening so I can use it with zip loc bags.

[Earl]

The Vacu-seal I have works great on the canisters that came with my Food Saver and also with the vacuum sealers for sealing large and small lid, pint and quart jars. Much easier to use rather than pulling out the Food Saver. And don't forget, you can use the canisters for tenderizing/marinating meat very fast.

[shelleybean]

Well, I'm really happy with this Reynolds Handi Vac thing so far. I've used it for steaks and veggies. Really easy and it takes up very little room in the drawer. I'd highly recommend it.