Help with foodsaver and help me get out of the dog house.....

S

sallybr

Well-known member
first, my foodsaver died. I need to get another one, as I use it all the time for sous-vide cooking. The reviews in amazon are enough to make a sane woman shed tears. Many horrible reviews for every single model, I don't know what to get

Second, before we left for our 2 week trip, I placed some pears that were super ripe in the freezer - my beloved husband was not happy. He came home searching for those. I will not make a parenthesis here to state what I think of pears sitting in the drawer for two weeks and releasing sticky sugary liquid. That ain't happening.

however, I would like to put those rock solid pears to use - any ideas? Can I defrost them and turn them into something edible?????

 
Re: Sous Vide. I was so tempted to purchase one this year. I

did a bunch of research. Many people suggested that they use ziploc bags. Would that work for you? I would love your thoughts on this this method of cooking. How do you incorporate this into your busy schedule. How do you like the results? I have been so tempted to try sous vide.... Would value your thoughts / opinions. Trying to figure out if it would work for us.

 
Sally, I have had Foodsavers for years and never had any issue with them

Please note that some folks do not take the time to read instructions. You also have to wait a few seconds for the machine to do its job, like release the bag. If you yank it out you can cause issues. I looked at a few of the models at Costco, then online and picked one that is suitable for how I use it in my home. I keep it on my laundry room counter which is right off the kitchen and I wanted one that I could tip up on its side to get it out of the way when I wanted to use the counter for other things. I do not do the sous vide cooking and I do not use the jars. I find them to be a good product, and FWIW, we wash the bags with hot water and soap and reuse them. It saves a ton of money. If I seal meats, I first wrap them in food grade plastic wrap, tightly. That prevents any meat juices from getting all over the inside of the bag.

Did you also know that you can re- seal potato chip bags, cereal bags and numerous other products like panko bread crumbs. It is amazing what these things can do.
I also have the model which stores the bag in the top compartment and has a handy built in cutter. You can switch bags easily too, if you want a different size.

 
Was listening to "The Chew" this afternoon, thought of you. Pear Compote w/ Goat Cheese and Prosciut

It is not on their website yet. But it sounded so good. Pears w/ spices, poached down till soft, not apple sauce. Used a Ritz cracker as the base, topped with the compote, a small dollop of goat cheese and a sliver of proscuitto. That was the jist of it. (I think.... again, it was in the background, and I did not really listen until I heard the end, and thought of you!)
Sounded like a fun way to use your pears!

Edited to add the rec:

PEAR COMPOTE WITH GOAT CHEESE & PROSCIUTTO
Pear Compote
4 Bosc pears, peeled, 1/4-inch dice
4 Bartlett pears, peeled, 1/4-inch dice
2 cups apple cider
1 vanilla bean, split, seeds removed
2 star anise
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
TO BUILD
8 ounces goat cheese
1/2 pound Prosciutto, thinly sliced, cut into ribbons
buttery crackers

http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/pear-compote-with-goat-cheese-prosciutto-clinton-kelly

 
You could probably make pear "sauce" or maybe even a

chutney.
As for the FS--please just get the plain pipe rack one--it was on a GREAT sale last week at Amazon, unfortunately. I have had the one with all the bells and whistles, and it is no better than mine that just sucks, so to speak. LOL

 
re. foodsaver

I have a bottom of the line model that I purchased at Tuesday Morning several years ago. I think it cost less than $50. I still see them there occasionally. I do have to press down on the side without the lock to get it to make a vacuum but that is only a minor inconvenience.

I have never frozen pears or apples but have frozen bananas. After 5 or 6 bananas accumulate I make a banana bread. Perhaps a quickbread or maybe muffins with the pears?

http://www.amazon.com/FoodSaver-V2244-Vacuum-Sealing-System/dp/B0044XDA3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417553177&sr=8-1&keywords=food+saver+v2244

 
This is what I had first--probably 20 years ago--and have now

after a failed "high end" sucker. It does the job.

 
That product is what made me post here....(more)

the one star reviews are scary...;

but, I decided to order it, it's cheap and even if it works for one year, it will be worth it, as I use it a lot

Mine lasted 10 years!

 
Thanks for all the pear suggestions....

.... I guess first thing when I get home (traveling again, what a life!) is to defrost them and get to work.

Hubby will be delighted.... and I'll be out of the dog house!

 
I did.... I really did, but bit my tongue and decided to move away from the computer.... smileys/wink.gif

 
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