Vacuum Sealer - Can You Use Roll Bags With Any One?

[TheSoloChef]

I'd like to get a vacuum sealer as I have an Amazon gift voucher burning a hole in my (virtual) pocket!

This one has caught my eye: Bonsenkitchen Vacuum Sealer

It comes with some bags to get you started, do you have to buy bags or can you but a roll that you make your own with like these ones: Food Sealer Bags

As there is a seal only mode, my line of thinking is you cut off the required amount from a roll, insert one end and press seal and then you have a bag you can put your food in and then vacuum seal - is this correct?

On Amazon I can only see the dearer machines coming with a roll of bags you make yourself so I dont want to go and buy a cheaper one that uses bags only.

Thanks!

 

[badjak]

It says you can use rolls in the reviews...
It got quite a lot of bad reviews as well, so I'm not sure if I would go for this one if it was me

 

[TheSoloChef]

It says you can use rolls in the reviews...
It got quite a lot of bad reviews as well, so I'm not sure if I would go for this one if it was me

You get what you pay for and to get a decent one I'd need to spend around £100 and that's not within my budget!

I just picked the best one under £30 with the most 4 star (or above) reviews.

What I guess I'm asking is, in general will a roll of bags you have to seal both ends yourself work with ANY vacuum sealer or do they only work with certain sealers?

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

You get what you pay for and to get a decent one I'd need to spend around £100 and that's not within my budget!

I just picked the best one under £30 with the most 4 star (or above) reviews.

What I guess I'm asking is, in general will a roll of bags you have to seal both ends yourself work with ANY vacuum sealer or do they only work with certain sealers?

Yes you can use the roll so long as it’s meant for vacuum sealing then the plastic should melt and seal accordingly.
I have this one (works well) and I’ve used different types and brands of roll and bags with no problem.

 

[TheSoloChef]

Yes you can use the roll so long as it’s meant for vacuum sealing then the plastic should melt and seal accordingly.
I have this one (works well) and I’ve used different types and brands of roll and bags with no problem.

View attachment 134711

Thanks!
I think I'm going to go for the Morphy Richards one as it's cordless and has a compartment you can put a roll of bags in and it also has a 3 year warranty (as long as you register it straight away) so should be with me tomorrow

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

Thanks!
I think I'm going to go for the Morphy Richards one as it's cordless and has a compartment you can put a roll of bags in and it also has a 3 year warranty (as long as you register it straight away) so should be with me tomorrow

Sounds good. I went with cheap because I wasn’t sure I’d use it much and I was right I don’t but when it’s needed it’s been indispensable so I wouldn’t balk at spending more next time.

 

[TheSoloChef]

When cooking for 1 you tend to have a lot of 'leftovers' as things tend to come in multiples so unless you want the same meal multiple times something has to go in the freezer! I've currently got 8 lamb ribs and half a dozen pork chops in the fridge waiting to be portioned out and frozen so that will be a good test when the machine and the rolls of bags arrive

 

[vernplum]

You can't use just any old roll of plastic bags, but those ones you linked can. If you look closely you can see that it is textured with a kind of square waffle pattern (it's actually on one side usually) which allows air to exit the bag when the sides come together. Without those, a bag smooth on both sides will collapse as soon as you start the machine and it won't evacuate.

I say this because some bags sold as vacuum packing bags cheap on places like AliExpress don't work due to this characteristic.

 

[Barriehie]

I've got a Foodsaver brand V2244 that I've had for at least 13 years and I use it weekly. It's discontinued at this point but works well.

 

[Barriehie]

Vernplum is quite right! You have to get bags designed for that purpose.

 

[TastyReuben]

Another benefit once you get your sealer, TheSoloChef - it’s great for sealing things that don’t require vacuuming.

Crisps bags, dry cereal bags, etc. Seems like common sense, but I can’t count the number of people who’ve seen me pop the top of this or that bag into the sealer and press the button to do the melty thing, and stare at me in amazement while saying, “Wha…?! I didn’t know you could use it for that?!?!”

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

I think Solochef was more asking if different brands of vacuum roll work on different machines. So if he bought a roll of Bonsen would it still work on a Morphy Richards machine.

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

Another benefit once you get your sealer, TheSoloChef - it’s great for sealing things that don’t require vacuuming.

Crisps bags, dry cereal bags, etc. Seems like common sense, but I can’t count the number of people who’ve seen me pop the top of this or that bag into the sealer and press the button to do the melty thing, and stare at me in amazement while saying, “Wha…?! I didn’t know you could use it for that?!?!”

I got annoyed with Mr SSOAP once for always eating all the crisps. Out of a 6 pack I’d be lucky to get one, and then only if I ate that one the moment the crisps were bought.
So I opened a 6 pack from the bottom and emptied every pack n resealed them trapping air inside to it still looked like a proper full pack of crisps. His face was priceless. I laughed for days

 

[TastyReuben]

I got annoyed with Mr SSOAP once for always eating all the crisps. Out of a 6 pack I’d be lucky to get one, and then only if I ate that one the moment the crisps were bought.

That’s something we go through here, because MrsT will buy things like that (cookies, especially), and then hoard them, refusing to open them and saving them “for later…,” which is never defined.

I’m the opposite - once something is in the house, I treat it like a job to consume them - “Right. There are 36 cookies in that package. The package says a serving is 2 cookies. I shall have 2 cookies a day until they’re no more, whether I want them or not.” - and that’s what I do.

I’ll even tell her, “The cookies have been opened. I’m eating 2 a day until they’re gone, so if you want any, you better stick up for yourself.”

You know how every Christmas, I post a picture of the 12 or so boxes of Christmas-themed cookies we buy…and how in June, I’ll post pictures of how we still have 10 boxes?

That’s down to MrsT saying, “Don’t open those. I’m saving those.” and then leaving them to sit, month after month - for what are you saving those?! Now it’s June and we’ve got 10 boxes of stale cookies that we could have enjoyed when they were fresh.

 

[TheSoloChef]

I've still no idea if a roll of specially designed vacuum seal bags will work on any old vacuum sealer or if the sealer has to be a special type. All I know is the one I have purchased has a holder for a roll so they definitely work with the device I have purchased.