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(More customer reviews)I've owned a Foodsaver for years (now on my third) so I'm familiar with their conventional vacuum bags and canisters.
I got an email from FoodSaver touting the new FreshSaver zipper bags for frequently used items so you don't have to keep cutting down and re-sealing regular FoodSaver bags.
Sounded good to me, so I ordered one. The handheld unit vacuums reasonably quickly, and the small compatible storage containers work well.
However, the quart and gallon size bags zipper are worse than useless. They appear to hold a vacuum initially, so you put it in the fridge only to find the next day that the bag lost its vacuum. The bags are stiffer than regular zipper bags, so when the seal fails, the bag expands and allows more air in than a regular plastic bag. The unit was supplied with 5 quart bags and 5 gallon bags. Only four bags held a vacuum more than a few minutes! Of those four, only two bags held vacuum a second time. Even those two failed on the third use.
Absolutely maddening - you THINK you sealed the bag, only to find out hours later it isn't sealed after all!
I called Jarden (Foodsaver's corporate owner) to complain. They said the only thing they could do is send me a box of 12 gallon-size zipper FreshSaver bags as a 'goodwill' gesture. Unfortunately, those bags are just as bad as the first ones. The problem is the valve tab. The bags feature heat-welded multilayer construction (good) and heat-welded zippers (good), but the valve tab is fastened using a pressure sensitive adhesive like 'scotch' tape (BAD). The tabs fail, either by leaking when the tab comes loose, or when the tab doesn't stay sealed around the pinhole in the bag under the tab. As a test, I vacuumed a bag and immediately covered the tab with a square of clear 3M box sealing tape, and then the vacuum holds! Unfortunately, when you remove the tape, the vacuum tab peels off too, so that isn't a fix, but confirms the source of the failure.
Absolutely worthless design! Customer reps at Jarden aren't able to help - they just want to sell you more stuff. (Too bad for you if what they just sold you doesn't work like they promise!)
I love the idea, but the bags are too annoying to bother with. I consider this a wasted purchase.
P.S. Some here have commented/suggested that I must have used the bags with wet/greasy foods that undermine the seal. (I learned that lesson 15+ years ago with standard Foodsaver.) I've used the Freshsaver with hard, dry cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano) and made sure the tab stayed flat, but still have leaks. I'm glad there are those who have had no problems, but that makes me wonder if Foodsaver has poor quality control on the Freshsaver bags, some work, some don't? As for me, I'm back to using the regular Foodsaver bags since they work very well.
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FoodSaver FSFRSH0051 FreshSaver Handheld Vacuum-Sealing SystemFood prepping ahead of time means less time spent in the kitchen and more time to enjoy with family and friends. Slice up an array of deli meats and cheeses for a party platter, then keep it fresh and ready to go with the help of this rechargeable handheld vacuum sealer. Designed for use with the FoodSaver vacuum zipper bags and FoodSaver deli containers, the cordless unit removes the air with the press of a button, creating an airtight seal that keeps ready-to-eat food items in the refrigerator or pantry fresh for longer. The thoughtfully designed device comes with a dishwasher-safe nozzle that catches overflow liquids, and its compact size takes up minimal space on the counter or in a drawer when not in use. Two medium zipper bags come included. Quick and convenient, the handheld vacuum-sealing system measures approximately 4 by 3 by 9 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
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