It’s a new year, and that means a busy new schedule and healthy resolutions. That also means it’s time to get a lot of food prepared. With family visiting, celebrations in full flux, and lots going on, there’s so much to do, outside of just prepping food. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if you could prep as much as possible in advance? Well, you can, with something like one of FoodSaver’s vacuum sealer solutions. More specifically, the Foodsaver Handheld+ is a 2-in-1 vacuum sealing system that vastly simplifies the entire process. It comes with a cordless handheld so it works in virtually any space, regardless of your home or kitchen size. Plus, it works with a wide variety of foods from meats and vegetables to pre-prepared desserts. Once sealed, food stays fresh for weeks at a time — up to five times longer than comparable systems.
Here’s the real kicker: If you know how to use FoodSaver Handheld+, there are some other cool things you can achieve with it, such as marinating meats or vegetables in minutes, not hours. To help you make the most out of the system, and give you a better idea of what it can do, here’s a quick guide on how to use the FoodSaver Handheld+ Vacuum Sealer to food prep for the holidays.
Prepping ahead of the holidays, or anytime
While the upcoming holiday season is a great backdrop for food-prepping in advance, the reality is you can use the FoodSaver vacuum sealers anytime. Get the food ready beforehand so there’s much less prep to do on the day of. You’d be surprised how much stress that can alleviate, especially when you’re feeding a large family or group of guests.
It’s not just for prepping meats and the main course, either. You can also use these to prep snacks, veggie tray supplies, charcuterie goods, and much more. They stay fresh and when you take them out they’re just as delicious as when you put them in. But you get to preserve the foods for longer, allowing you to get everything done weeks ahead of time.
Enjoy the best of both worlds
Typically, a countertop vacuum sealer requires a little extra space. Not too much, it’s not like you need a huge island-style counter, but it’s more of a requirement than say a handheld unit. Why does that matter? Because with the FoodSaver Handheld+, you get the best of both worlds. You get both a full-size countertop vacuum sealer and a detachable handheld unit. That means, when you have the space and need to seal up more food, you can use the countertop version. When you need to prep quickly in smaller increments, the handheld is there for the taking.
More importantly, it supports a variety of functions. You can vacuum seal, heat seal, marinate, and more, all from this single system and in minutes.
The handheld unit works with FoodSaver accessories
The standard countertop vacuum sealer works pretty straightforward. You use it to remove air and create an airtight seal, preserving your foods for extended periods. But the handheld unit works a bit differently. It’s compatible with all FoodSaver bags and accessories, like the Preserve and Marinate vacuum containers, bottle stoppers, and jar sealers. Yes, it works with zipper bags, too. But here’s why that’s such an excellent feature. You can use the handheld unit alongside the marinade containers to marinate food in minutes versus hours. You’ll get juicy, tasty meats and foods in no time.
The cordless vacuum function can even help you meal prep when you’re on the go. Throw some lunches or meals together in a cinch.
High compatibility for your convenience
With most devices of this caliber, there’s a very specific set of supplies you need. For example, you might need sealing bags in a particular size or at a certain price point. That’s not the case with the FoodSaver systems. The FoodSaver Handheld+ is compatible with all FoodSaver bags, rolls, and accessories. From heavy-duty bags to vacuum-seal-ready rolls, it’s entirely up to you what you use. Obviously, you’re better off matching the bags to the food you want to preserve, but you get the point. You’re not locked into a specific option and you’re free to choose what works best for you and your food preps.
Open a bottle of wine and not able to finish it in one sitting? You can use Handheld+ to seal and record with a bottle stopper. Want to soak some beans to soften them a little before you throw together a big pot of chili? Use the marinate accessories to do just that. Alternatively, you can marinate some steak, burger, pork, or chicken the same way. They’ll be tastier than ever once you get done cooking.
Easy to stow and go
You probably already have a ton of other appliances littering your countertops, I know I do. From air fryers and toasters to pressure cookers and Crockpots, the last thing you need is one more item sitting on your counter cluttering things up. The FoodSaver Handheld+ is compact and lightweight, even the countertop model, which means you can easily stow it in a cabinet, pantry, or drawer when it’s not needed. You don’t need to make any extra room and you keep your counters clean. But it’s always ready to go when you need it.
That brings us to another great feature, the handheld docks inside the countertop device when you’re not using it. Basically, it detaches from the bigger size system but also docks to charge. It always has its own placement and you can keep it charged and ready to go anytime.
It comes with everything you need
The starter kit includes the Handheld+ vacuum sealer, two quart-sized bags, two gallon-sized bags, a single reusable quart-sized bag, a single reusable gallon-sized bag, and a bottle stopper. If you need more supplies you can always get them later. But ultimately, it arrives with everything you need to start prepping food and sealing up the goods. There’s really no reason not to give it a try, especially when you see some of the Black Friday and holiday deal prices that are floating around right now. The FoodSaver Handheld+ 2-in-1 vacuum sealing system is $127 currently, normally $150, which saves you $23. Do not miss this deal folks. It could really change the way you meal and food prep for the holidays.