Foodsaver Tips and Tricks to Save on Money Groceries

How to use a Foodsaver vacuum sealer to stretch your grocery budget and keep everything fresher longer! These Foodsaver Tips & Tricks will help stretch your budget.

Foodsaver Tips and Tricks to Save on Money Groceries

Spending more on groceries than you’d like? We all know it’s smart to keep a pantry stocked with non-perishables. But what about fresh items like meat and produce? And thinking outside of the box uses as well.

So, if you are trying to save more money on your grocery budget, then you should definitely consider purchasing a Foodsaver or other vacuum sealer if you don’t already have one. A Foodsaver is a great way to make the foods that you buy last longer so that you can reduce food waste.

If you like to meal prep or freezer cook then a Foodsaver will become one of your most used kitchen tools. Here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of your Foodsaver or a vacuum sealer.

Does vacuum sealing food make it last longer?

Yes, absolutely! The shelf life of many foods is up to FIVE longer than with regular storage methods. If the freezer storage instructions states could last up to three months, expect it to possibly last up to a year in the freezer.

You can view the storage length for specific foods here.

What type of Vacuum Sealer Should I Purchase?

There are many types of vacuum food sealers. Comparing models can be frustrating because there are so many choices. You have your basic model to the one with all the bells and whistles. The best one will be the one that will suit all your needs.

You may only require the basic model as a novice freezer preserver. However, if you are a food preparation expert, you will most likely want more with a better model and the ability to control your freezer storage.

Buy in Bulk

Take advantage of grocery savings by purchasing items in bulk and then using your Foodsaver to portion them into the sizes you normally need. Buy that big bag of chicken when it’s on sale or the giant bag of pepperoni and then portion them out.

When you pull these items out of the freezer, they will be perfectly portioned and fresh!

What foods can you Foodsaver?

Meat
Cheese
Butter
Fruits (berries, bananas, etc)
Avocados
Vegetables
Dried fruit
Baked goods
uncooked pasta
Beans
Nuts
Flour
Sugar
Coffee beans
Soups
Leftovers
Freezer meals

Make Your Own Microwave Meals

We all have days where we just want to pull a quick lunch or dinner out of the freezer and the Foodsaver makes it possible for you to make your own microwave freezer meals. Just put your food on a heavy-duty waxed plate and slip it into the Foodsaver bag and seal it.

When you are ready to eat it, just put it in the microwave and keep an eye on it while reheating. This is a great way to use up some of your holiday meal leftovers too. Having a rough day in March? Pull out a plate of comforting Thanksgiving leftovers from the freezer!

Freeze Breakfast for an On-the-Go Meal

Make a batch of your family’s favorite breakfast sandwiches or wraps and then portion them individually into Foodsaver bags. You can pull them out of the fridge the night before, or snag one right out of the freezer on your way out of the door.

Reseal Snacks

Chips, pretzels, and other snacks have a tendency to go stale quickly after they are opened, not if you use your Foodsaver though! Use the Foodsaver to reseal the original bags to keep your snacks fresh until they are gone.

This is a great way to prevent food waste since no one wants to eat stale chips!

Pre-Freeze Liquids for Stocks or Soups

Put your favorite soups or stocks in a shallow pan and allow them to harden in the freezer. Once it has hardened, pop out the soup block and put it in a Foodsaver bag.

You can keep those soups and stocks fresh for months in the freezer. This is an amazing tip if you enjoy batch or freezer cooking.

Make Freezer Meals

Don’t make one of your family’s favorite casseroles for dinner, you already have the ingredients, and have allotted the time to make it so cook two instead. Have one for dinner, freeze the other one overnight in the casserole dish, and the next day pop it out of the dish and into a Foodsaver bag.

You get to keep using your casserole dish and you have a favorite meal in the freezer for another time!

Keep Produce and Cheese Fresh for Longer

You can also use your Foodsaver to keep items like cheese and fresh produce good for longer in your refrigerator.

The major reason for the spoilage of these items is that the air is getting to them and degrading them. Putting them in a Foodsaver bag and vacuum sealing them keeps the air away so that they stay fresh for much longer.

Vacuum Seal Your Toiletries

Foodsavers and vacuum sealers aren’t just good for food. You can use them for items outside the kitchen as well. Slipping your travel-sized toothpaste, body wash, and shampoo into one of these bags reduces the chances you will open your suitcase while traveling to a goopy mess!

Preserve Seasonal Items

You can also use the Foodsaver to gently preserve your favorite holiday tablecloth or other seasonal items. Fold them neatly, put them in a bag, and let the Foodsaver do the rest.

This technique can also help you to reduce the amount of storage space you need, and you know your items are protected from dust and insects.