I have successfully packaged and sealed my fruit.  All I can say is yummy.  It works amazingly.   The $50 Seal a Meal was worth it.  It works with any brand of vacuum bags, though older bags do not work (I found some from the 60s at Salvation Army for $1).  I found that I can make smaller bags by buying the 11 inch rolls and using them to make two 5.5 inch bags by cutting it down the middle after I've sealed the end.  So far I've sealed the strawberries, peaches and pineapple I bought.  I haven't tried anything with liquid yet, but I'll probably do that before too long.  I did find a place online (ebay) that I can get rolls of the bag material in 50 feet length, so I'm going to order that after I get my next paycheck.  I did discover that you can't seal just any bag, but that's okay...if I can get the actual bags cheap enough, that will be fine. 

Original Post:

I just purchased a Seal a Meal.  I haven't had time to get it out of the box yet and try it out, but I was wondering if anyone else on here has one and has had luck/problems with them.  I'm getting ready to put in a big order of Freeze-dried fruit (I love taking it to snack on at work), but it is much cheaper to get in big packages, and doesn't seem to keep very well in Ziplock, so I thought I would see about vacuum sealing some individual servings.  I bought the cheapest vacuum sealer Wal-Mart had, it was about $50 at Wal-Mart.  I think if it works well, it will pay off in the long run, but I'm wondering if being thrifty at the outset will hurt me in the long run...  Here are some questions I have:

1)  Can I seal any plastic bag with these or do I have to use the special bags that are made for these (because I'm thinking that vacuum sealing potato chip bags would come in handy).

2)  Is there a place online that you can buy the special bags/rolls of bags for these? 

Thank you for any tips you have on these!

I bought the Food Saver vacuum sealer when they 1st came out and i love mine i use it all the time. I'm not sure about the kind you bought but i will say you will save money by buying in bulk and nothing will freezer burn in them.

As far as buying the bags i just buy any brand (usually the cheapest) vacuum seal bags and they work perfect. Mine will not seal the potato chip bags.

You go online and find the brand name of the sealer you bought and ask those questions you had.

Nicole

I have used a Seal A Meal for years.  I love them.  Just used some corn that I had sealed in 2006!  Still as fresh as ever.  I have never used the cannisters.  I usually just buy the cheapest quart bags but I also use the long rolls and cut them to the desired size.  The bags are really getting expensive but worth it because the food stays so fresh.  I buy family packs of meat, individually freeze first on a cookie sheet, and then seal them.  I do a lot of vegetables and berries this way also.  Jeanie

I also love my Seal a Meal.  I use the rolls so that I can create bags of different sizes.  I belong to a CSA that provides vegetables and fruits from a nearby farm so the Seal a Meal has been very useful in making sure that things don't go to waste.  One caveat:  It doesn't work as well with very moist items, like shredded zuchinni.  It works better if you blot out or strain out as much moisture as you can.

Karen

I have a Food Saver and love it.  got it as a wedding gift and the first thing I used it on was the top of our wedding cake.  I froze it first (about 8 hours) and then put it in a bag.  was just as good a year later!

the bags can get pricey and have never looked around for cheaper brands but need to do that.  but well worth the cost!  I love the pint sized bags that I couldn't find the last time I was at the store.