Got a FoodSaver FM2100, wont suck air out Zip Lock bags?

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mummel

Master of the Pit
Original poster
Apr 8, 2015
2,294
64
Massachusetts
I have a bunch of cheap Walmart gallon zip lock bags.  The FM2100 comes with a great plastic cutter which removes the locking part of the bag which only takes a second to do.

However, when I go to suck and seal, the machine removes the tiniest bit of air, then makes a high rev noise, and then stops to seal the bag, leaving about 95% of the air inside.  It seals it perfectly.  The sealer works on multiple items like chip bags, pasta bags etc.  Just not ziplocks. 

I'd really like to use the cheaper Walmart bags vs buying FoodSaver rolls, which are overpriced.  Any idea whats going on or what I can do?
 
Can't use smooth bags with an external suction vacuum sealer.  

FoodSaver brand bags are good, but as you notice they're expensive at retail.  Overpriced is perhaps unfair; you've already discovered the bags you tried are not usable.  A bag that works is far more cost efficient than a bag that doesn't work.  :)  In any event, the FoodSaver bags are much cheaper if you buy them directly from Foodsaver.com when they have one of their sales going on.  

Also check out forum sponsor vacuumsealersunlimited.com for your bag needs, and Lisa B even posts a discount code for SMF users.  See her posts in http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/f/129/smoking-gadgets-and-tools
 
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Can't use smooth bags with an external suction vacuum sealer.  

FoodSaver brand bags are good, but as you notice they're expensive at retail.  Overpriced is perhaps unfair; you've already discovered the bags you tried are not usable.  A bag that works is far more cost efficient than a bag that doesn't work.  :)  In any event, the FoodSaver bags are much cheaper if you buy them directly from Foodsaver.com when they have one of their sales going on.  

Also check out forum sponser vacuumsealersunlimited.com/ for your bag needs, and the owner even posts a discount code for SMF users.
yeahthat.gif


I use the vacmaster rolls. They have a mesh panel inside that allows the sealer to pull air from all parts of the bag instead of trying to fight to get the air out. They work great and really are cost effective. I got a box of 6 rolls for around $35 and have sealed a lot of stuff (I mean a whole lot. We buy meat in bulk then break it into smaller packs). The rolls last a long time and are better since you can custom cut your bags. 
 
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I will also add that the vacmaster bags are great for storing smoked foods because they are rated to be boiled. It makes reheating really easy. The cheap bags fall apart when they are boiled. 
 
Well you can get generic brand bags on Amazon for ~$25 for 100', whereas the same FoodSaver bags will cost ~$60.  Not even close.  The FoodSaver bags are a rip off.  The bags from vacuumsealersunlimited.com are $32 so Amazon is a better choice. 

I was just hoping I could use the Zip Locks as I have a bunch of them from a bulk purchase a while back.

So the bags need to be textured on the inside? 
 
 
yeahthat.gif


I use the vacmaster rolls. They have a mesh panel inside that allows the sealer to pull air from all parts of the bag instead of trying to fight to get the air out. They work great and really are cost effective. I got a box of 6 rolls for around $35 and have sealed a lot of stuff (I mean a whole lot. We buy meat in bulk then break it into smaller packs). The rolls last a long time and are better since you can custom cut your bags. 
The rolls I need are 11" X 50.  Do you have a link for this price?
 
 
Well you can get generic brand bags on Amazon for ~$25 for 100', whereas the same FoodSaver bags will cost ~$60.
Yes, and I've read some pretty crappy reviews on many of those bags.  Cheap bags get pretty expensive when they fail to seal or lose the seal in the freezer.   Have you used any of them?  I'm open to Amazon sourced bags, but would appreciate someone citing the specific brand/vendor they found to be as good as FS or Lisa's bags and can provide a direct link to the Amazon listing.  

FWIW, last week FoodSaver 11"x16' rolls were $6.29/roll (39¢/ft) after their buy-five-get-$25-off, 10% off, and free shipping discounts.  That's equivalent to $20 per 50' roll; about the same cost as the bags I could find on Amazon that had consistently good ratings.  If you're just comparing to retail pricing that's not really fair either to yourself or others here since deals can be had for those who can wait for the sales and buy them cheap.

Also Costco regularly carries a $40 FoodSaver combo pack of four 11" rolls, one 8" roll, and 36 1-quart precut bags.  
 
 
check out forum sponsor vacuumsealersunlimited.com for your bag needs, and Lisa B even posts a discount code for SMF users.  See her posts in http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/f/129/smoking-gadgets-and-tools
 
I found these.  They are 11.5 inches vs 11 inches for the stock rolls.  I wonder if it will work:

http://shop.vacuumsealersunlimited.com/115-inch-x-50-Foot-Rolls-Mini-Case-of-6-946152-6.htm
I bet you could PM Lisa B from VacuumSealersUnlimited and ask her...  :)

Don't forget to factor in shipping costs though.
 
 
Here is a combo pack from vacuum sealers unlimited that is probably a better deal then what I have been getting since you get 4 11" rolls instead of 3. 

http://shop.vacuumsealersunlimited....-8-inch-rolls-4-115-inch-rolls-6ROLLCOMBO.htm
I'm coming up with $41.80 delivered for this vs $29.99 delivered from Amazon for your prior link.  

Even with the SMF discount that $14.65 shipping charge from VacuumSealersUnlimited really hurts the pricing if you're not buying a ton of stuff at one time.
 
 
I'm coming up with $41.80 delivered for this vs $29.99 delivered from Amazon for your prior link.  

Even with the SMF discount that $14.65 shipping charge from VacuumSealersUnlimited really hurts the pricing if you're not buying a ton of stuff at one time.
I think they do free shipping every few months but I don't remember exactly. I have started to lean more towards the site sponsors over amazon to try and show some support. 
 
I'll keep my eyes open, that would be nice.  

I agree about supporting the site sponsors where possible.  Though in this case I could split the difference by ordering from Amazon and mailing Lisa B $5 and still come out ahead!  :)
 
 
$23 for 100' at Amazon.

Two rolls of 11" X 50', excellent reviews:
Yep, I think I'd looked at that one.  Go for it.  Let us know how it works out.  I'll be interested also in whether the 50' rolls fit in the FM2100 or if you have to keep the roll outside 

For a savings of $10-16 (10¢-16¢/ft), for me it's just not worth the risk/bother me given these six reviews in the past couple weeks (I only got to page 4):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/R2DZQ3C06X/?tag=smokingmeatforums-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/R2LHCBYXRR/?tag=smokingmeatforums-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/R3N66AYCDH/?tag=smokingmeatforums-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/R35MTC7V57/?tag=smokingmeatforums-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/RI2GKNFV4R/?tag=smokingmeatforums-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/RI2GKNFV4R/?tag=smokingmeatforums-20

Edit: Oh also, I'm curious if the 50' roll fits in the FM2100 or if you need to either reroll half the roll or do your bag cutting outside the sealer.
 
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