GameSaver Bronze Vacuum Sealer, Mossy Oak Camouflage

This is my fourth Foodsaver unit. My most recent predecessor was a Pro III Plus. It worked great but recently stopped sealing. Very disappointing. So I started looking for a replacement and ran across this one with a pseudo lifetime warranty. I say that because it’s really just a “life of the unit + 5 years” warranty, so to speak. In any case, even if it is just 5 years, it is better than any of the others. But enough of that…on with the review.The first thing I noticed was the rotating latch on the front right side. All the previous units have been automatic so that’s sort of new for me. But maybe that will be one less sophisticated feature to wear out and break. Maybe a good thing then.Next, and while this is a good feature that some other units don’t have, the built-in cutter is rather cumbersome to use. On the Pro III Plus, you pull the bag material out and then hold the cover down while pushing the cutter across, giving you a fairly even and square cut. The cutter on the Gamesaver is a little bit of a kluge. You have to lift the little cutter rail up and then thread the bag material under it, requiring a little more care and precision, and then hold the rail down while making the cut. Since there is no good way to hold it down while making the entire cut (as it is not structurally sound), you end up with angled cuts and frequently having to stop mid-cut to reposition your support pressure on the rail. None of this is a “show stopper” but it’s a bit of a PITA if you’re used to something better.The rotational feature for storage is really nice. Albeit a bit unstable. It still manages to get the unit out of the way, and that’s all that really matters.I like the way the drain tray has a cupping feature for receipt of the bag end, insuring/ensuring that it doesn’t extend past the seal ring on the back side. Obviously the result of listening to customer feedback.Vacuum suction seems as good as the other units, in that you feel like it would suck the chrome off of a trailer hitch. How often do you really get to say that in a clean way?So after I get used to the manual latch and then handling of the cutter rail, I think the unit should prove to be a keeper. Only time will tell.

I really like this vacuum sealer. I had one of the originals and it lasted for YEARS. When it no longer sucked, which blows, HAHA, I got this one because my mother loves hers. It does hold a roll of bags, not really something I was looking for, it does make it easier to cut to size. The vacuum is good and strong. However, after sealing 10 bags it stopped. I pulled out my old one to seal the new bags I was making while the new one cooled down. I was putting up 40lbs hamburger, 6 patties to a bag. I found that if you pre-freeze the meat, not completely, about half way, it makes it a lot easier and you don't have to worry about the juices getting sucked in the machine. I think this is what finally done in my old one.

I was a bit skeptical about these vacuum sealers, but I was sick of things going bad, and meat getting freezer burnt. So I pulled the trigger on this thing and got the mason jar attachments as a side order. I was not disappointed.This thing really works well, and I honestly try to use it whenever I can...it is very fun too, hahaha. Like others have mentioned all vacuum sealers work best on meats if they have been "prefrozen" due to juices. Now this thing I am sure will work fine on fresh cuts of meat, but I have noticed that the juices seem to get sucked up and can make the heat seal not bond properly.A little playing around, and you will be a pro in no time! I also think the bags that Food Saver make are great, and very hefty...but I found that you can buy some knock off brand here on amazon in two 11"x50' rolls that are way cheaper, and work just as well.This model (bronze) is to my knowledge the only model that Food Saver makes with a lifetime warranty...that being said...i have had an issue in the past with a Sunbeam mixer (both Jarden company) and they replaced it no questions asked at no cost to me. So I highly recommend the Jarden brands....just on customer service alone!If you have leftovers often, or buy meats and veggies in bulk...no offence, but you are foolish not to have one of these! And in my opinion, this is the best of the consumer grade vacuum sealers.

I think I have used my sealer every day since it arrived. I am having a hard time judging the extra length to get a seal, but hope it becomes more automatic with time. It takes several inches of your bag which seems a waste, but the seal and vacuum are great. It's a trade off I guess. Learned very quickly that the bag needs to be smooth with no wrinkles for the machine to work. I have used the different setting and all seem to work well. Not as noisy as I had expected, and the seal only setting is silent. Also pleased that it has a pretty good guarantee, the best I could find. This is looking like a great addition to my kitchen and I am so glad I researched other reviews before I made my choice.

I am new to using any vacuum sealer so this may be operator error. I cant seem to get the unit to pull all the air out when packaging. I package mostly fish ( about average amount) but it does not seem to be pulling the vacuum long enough to remove the all the air. After packaging 8 gallon size and 8 quart size bags ( food saver brand) I placed them in the freezer and checked them one week later and 3 gallon and 4 quart bags had air in them. Like I said, could be operator error, will contact food saver for support.