Secret to Loading Vaucum Seal Bags without a Mess

[rabbithutch]

Does anyone have the solution to loading your bags - vacuum or Ziplock - without getting liquids all over the tops where they are going to be closed?

I'm thinking that some sort of funnel that is elliptical and conical is the answer. Of course, it would be great if it were a food tolerant piece of plastic whose dimensions could be fixed to that of the bags one is sealing.

Does anyone know of such a product? Or, better still, a DIY solution that can be adapted?

I've searched but my search fu is bad today and I'm getting either the entire world of funnels or nothing at all.

TIA

 

[handymanstan]

I roll the edge inside out and pull it down about 3 inches then add the food and pull it back up.  Although I have had problems with this too I have better luck sealing this way.  Hope it helps.

Stan

 

[bkleinsmid]

Tupperware used to have a funnel (oval in shape with a broad top edge) that was just for filling 1 gal bags and seal-a-meal bags.

I have also taken those bags and put then into a 1 qt tall container and pulled the edge down over the outside of it. That will also give you something to hold the bag if you need two hands to fill it.

Brad

 

[jkc64]

I put mine in a regular kitchen canister and roll the open end over the edge, I can fill hands free that way.

 

[humdinger]

Rabbit hutch,

If we're talking a lot of liquid here, sometimes I will drop a 1 or 2 gallon sized ziplock bag into a empty stock pot or bowl with high sides or even a household mop bucket and then roll the sides down as stan mentioned above. (Bucket cleanliness is up to you.. ;)

Then I'll use a paper cup or something to ladel about 5 cupfulls of liquid into the bag. This liquid will naturally pool at the bottom and stabalize the bag in the pot. Now you should be able to widen the mouth of the bag open as big and round as it will go and the liquid at the bottom will help hold it's shape, thus giving you maximum room to pour the remaining liquid in.

One benefit to this method is now that the bag is stabilized by the pot sides and liquid at the bottom, you can use two hands to pour the remaining liquid in (if needed). In other words, if your aim is good, you won't even need to hold the bag while you pour the remaining liquid in. Just remember to leave ample room to zip it closed.

Good luck.

 

[athabaskar]

One of these canning funnels might work for you.

 

[hambone1950]

I think if you just fold the top of the bag down (as if you were going to turn the bag inside out)
An inch or so...that keeps the top clean while you spoon or tong whatever into the bags. When your full just fold them up with clean hands and you're ready to seal or zip.

 

[mike johnson]

I use a wide mouth qt. or 1/2 gal. Ball Jar stick bag over the top and turn over. Have a towel to wipe outside of jar as necessary. This works great.

 

[handymanstan]

I use a wide mouth qt. or 1/2 gal. Ball Jar stick bag over the top and turn over. Have a towel to wipe outside of jar as necessary. This works great.

So simple.  Thanks Mike I will use this method for sure.

Stan

 

[shoneyboy]

I have(had) a couple plastic drinking cups (not foam) that I cut the bottom out of and cut notches around the edge just for loading plastic bags with.....I use cheap cups, the 64oz ones that you might get from the gas station for $1.00 with a drink in them......They drive the wife crazy too..

...She can't stand me littering up HER kitchen......So she will throw them away, but then she will be the first one to ask me, do you know where one of those cups are at

?????

I can't win..........ShoneyBoy

 

[daveomak]

RH, evening.... I got this cool tool for Christmas....  It is handy...... Harriet Carter carried them 2/$10.....  that is a 1 gal bag in there....

DSCF0759.jpg

• daveomak
• Jan 9, 2013

 

[doctord1955]

I have used my orange roast compressor for years!! I also made a couple of funnels using  3 PVC with a 4 or 6 in adaptor on top for funnel!  Also took a 3 in pipe and cut it length ways to make a way to slide things into bags!  works great!

 

[jarjarchef]

RH, evening.... I got this cool tool for Christmas....  It is handy...... Harriet Carter carried them 2/$10.....  that is a 1 gal bag in there....

DSCF0759.jpg

• daveomak
• Jan 9, 2013

OK Dave you beat me to the punch!!!!

My wife gave me one of these too.I have not tried it yet, but looks like it will work without issue.

 

[daveomak]

We just used it for spaghetti sauce... worked good..... 

 

[rabbithutch]

That is exactly what I need.

Thanks for the pics. I'll get my bride to include a pair in her next Harriet Carter order.

rh

 

[cmo1977]

I have used a 2 liter plastic bottle with the ends cut off. It has worked well when loading up salmon in vacuum bags.

 

[roller]

This is what I use also..

One of these canning funnels might work for you.

 

[smokinhusker]

I stand the bag in a plastic food container and the size depends on how much I'm doing, roll the top back and use my 2 cup Pyrex Measuring Cup to fill the bag. I also freeze the liquid in plastic containers like this, when frozen pop the liquid out and vac seal it. Works great for me.

 

7f55-1-large.jpg

• smokinhusker
• Jan 11, 2013

 

[rabbithutch]

Great ideas!

I especially like the 2-liter bottle idea and the freezing liquids before vacuum sealing.

I've learned a lot from just this one post!

:bluesbros:

 

[toby bryant]

RH,

Thanks for starting this thread, some great info on a problem that all of us run into.