I recently replaced my Tilia Inc. FoodSaver Vac 550 with a new model. It hadn’t stopped working, just was in need of new gaskets and was 20 years old. It had worked great over the years and I was sad to see it go but the parts are hard to come by these days.
Tilia began with an innovation, a vacuum packaging system developed by a German inventor named Hanns Kristen. He felt that devices in the 1980s that claimed to “vacuum seal” were not performing the job very well.
In 1987, Kristen succeeded in developing what would become known as the “FoodSaver,” a product with impressive capabilities whose success was stalled by the absence of effective marketing support. It would be about a year before the machines would really take off.
I recently purchased the FoodSaver VS0160 PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine from Amazon.
It is 15.94 x 6.16 x 2.71 inches and you can store it vertically if space is needed. The unit is equipped with 2 custom settings, dry and moist, to ensure an airtight seal is achieved regardless of the type of food. It has a built-in bag alignment drip tray that ensures correct bag placement every time and is removable for easy cleanup.
I always get a turkey at Thanksgiving which is obviously way too much for just me. I seal up meal-size portions to freeze. I have a couple of friends that give me vegetables, during the summer season, that I vacuum bag both cooked and raw. There are lots of items to seal other than just food. You can seal items for a personalized medical kit and take them with you anywhere.
Your cell phone can be sealed for that wet trip (leave a little bit of air in the bag and it will float!). A fire starting kit is another item that could be handy for the adventurer. I sealed a t-shirt that I wanted to keep in perfect condition for years. I have also sealed collectible TV Guides. They are great for displaying and will be in great shape when opened. You can also seal up a change of clothes that will be super small with the air removed and even more important, dry. I make guacamole and then seal portions for later snacking. It stays perfect in the refrigerator for weeks. You can also seal valuable books, both paperbound and hardback. When you buy in bulk you can seal more usable portions to keep everything fresh. You can keep coffee grounds fresh for future brewing. Vacuum sealing will keep coins and silver from tarnishing. Putting marinade on meat and then sealing it will allow it to penetrate better and deeper. Photographs can also be placed on a piece of cardboard and then sealed.
