You should store powdered milk (or other granulated products (flour, confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, etc.) in canning jars using the jar sealer attachment, in a FoodSaver Canister, or you can use a Universal Lid (a FoodSaver product). With the Universal Lid you can turn nearly any container into a "canister" - as long as it has a flat rim. Dry goods will store best in a free-flowing container (jar or FoodSaver Canister), rather than in the bags.

This information is from a booklet in one of my early FoodSavers:

"Cut a small circle out of a paper towel, or use a round flat coffee filter, exactly the size of the opening of the canister or glass jar. Fill the container, and tap it lightly on a softer surface, such as a dish towel placed on your counter, to settle the contents. Then place the paper towel circle on top of the contents to keep any fine particles from swirling up to the container rim and breaking the vacuum."

Tip: When vacuum packaging flour, do NOT pack it tightly or compress it in any way. Flour tends to develop a mildew flavor when compressed. (This is because there is moisture in flour.)

-Grainlady

Thanks Karen! Do you have a particular model that you'd recommend? There are many of them and I am not sure which one to get. I did a review search on Amazon.com and it seemed to me a lot of people like their older FS better. Al

Al-

I've had 3 or 4 FoodSavers over the last 20+ years, and a new one in storage I bought "dirt cheap" at Tuesday Morning several years ago. No two were the same, but they all did the same things - vacuum seal both sizes of bags and has a hose and a wide-mouth jar attachment. My first FoodSaver had a regular AND wide-mouth jar attachment. You need the hose to vacuum seal the canisters and the Universal Lid. After that, it's just "bells and whistles".

I keep my FoodSaver out on a rolling cart with a basket on one of the shelves containing the rolls of bags, hose, jar attachment, Sharpie marker to mark the bags, adhesive stickers to mark and place on jars, and pair of scissors for cutting bags. Keeping it accessible is key to using it. Plugged-in and ready to use.... I use mine several times a day.

I wish they would make a Universal Lid that would fit a #10 can, like we get powdered milk in, but that would be too convenient (LOL).

Foods I put in long-term storage (like home-dehydrated apples, etc.), or when I open a #10 can of freeze-dried food, I place them in a canning jar of appropriate size and seal the canning lid on it. When I move this food item from storage to pantry use I replace the canning lid with a Universal Lid. Universal Lids are easy to open and vacuum shut again, unlike the canning lids.

To vacuum with a canning jar/lid:
Pre-soak a new metal canning lid in order to soften the sealing compound to assure a good seal. Bring water to a boil and turn off. Pre-soak lids 5-10 minutes. Dry before sealing on the jar.

If you are very careful removing a canning lid, you CAN reuse them for vacuum-sealing on jars. Just process it in hot water again. You don't need the screw bands. Be sure to check the lids on jars occasionally to make sure they have maintained the seal.

I have a number of FoodSaver canisters in 3 sizes, but I've had problems with them cracking over the years and don't consider them a good investment anymore. When FoodSaver came out with the Universal Lids I purchased 20 of them over a period of time. I have a number of large storage jars I use Universal Lids on, as well as canning jars.

-Grainlady

Grainlady, Thanks for the tip about tamping down flour; I always do that, Ratz. I always pounce on your FoodSaver posts; I am on the FoodSaver Yahoo group but I learn more from you.

Al, I do like the Seal-a-Meal canisters better because they stack.

Thanks again Karen and mustangs. I have just gone on Amazon.com again to see what models in the market and how people like them. Interesting enough, the cost of the unit doesn't represent its popularity. Most of the higher price models got less stars compared to the basic ones. I have gone around to look what's available in our stores and found only two models. I will have to do more research to decide which one to get. I have a feeling that I may have to order one online.

Al, I upgraded to the FS that flips up to store vertically. I have had it over a year, like it, doesn't take up much room, got it at CostCo. I can't believe how costly they are now.

Good luck.

Thanks mustangs! What's the model number of your FS? Al

It's V2840, it was $150 regular price at Costco

Here is a link that might be useful: Food Saver

Thanks! I will look it up! Al

Al, like Cathy and Grainlady, I am a Foodsaver "junkie". I have one in use and one in storage, just in case.

Go to the foodsaver home site and sign up for thier email alerts. I bouhgt my back up one last year at half price on the day after Thanksgiving. Yup, a $150 model for 49.99 and free shipping.

Peppi

I wish I had never bought mine. Other than lettuce, I can't think of one good thing to do with it.

I spent lots of money on those very expensive bags to seal meat in -- I see no difference in taste/texture between meat sealed in a foodsaver bag versus a zip-top bag. Maybe if you are not going to use the meat for a year or two -- but in my house most meat is gone within a month or two of buying it.

I do have many cannisters -- but it is a pain to keep "resealing" the cannisters every time you want some cereal or crackers.

Off the top of my head, this is what I have vacuum-sealed using my FoodSaver:

-Cheese - bulk purchases, freeze-dried shredded cheddar, cheese powder
-Vegetables - fresh, frozen, dehydrated, freeze-dried
-Fruit - fresh, frozen, dehydrated, freeze-dried
-Grains, legumes, seeds (hundreds of pounds)
-ALL Meat - frozen, cooked and raw, as well as dehydrated
-Ground Coffee (rarely used)
-Tea bags (in storage)
-Nuts (large quantities)
-Homemade Mixes - a large variety of these
-Dried whole egg powder
-Dried milk powder
-Foods in long-term storage
-Homemade baked goods (homemade crackers keep longer)
-Large assortment of pantry foods
-Frozen "cubes" of: soup/chili/stew, broth, casserole mixtures, pre-cooked meat mixtures
-Camping gear
-Silver serving pieces
-Collectables (to prevent oxidation)

-Grainlady

OK, I went around this morning to different stores and found only 3 FS models.

If it's not frustrating enough, they're very different than the models available in the US.

I went on FS - Canada website. It was pathetic. Obviously they don't sell online; there's no such option. They don't even list the price for their products.

There is one model, however, that I found in the store; it was sold in the US and had been reviewed (by two users) is a FS kit #V3460. But between the two reviewers one gave one star and the other gave 5 stars so not much of help there.

The other two models available here are V2490 and V2040. If any of you have used any of these models could you please give me some feedback? Thank you in advance!

Al

I have the V2490. I bought it at Costco a year or so ago. I love it. I use it for meat, cheese, and frozen bread. I haven't tried the canisters yet, they are still wrapped in plastic. This model has a pulse button that you can use to prevent crushing more delicate items. Highly recommended.

Does QVC ship to Canada? They sell them.

Thanks Joanm! The V2490 seems a lot smaller than the V3460 but of course bigger size doesn't mean it's better.

I checked QVC; they do carry two FS and one of them is V2460 and the other one doesn't even have a model number. The ship to Canada but of course wouldn't be the same as shipping within the US. I will have to call their customer services to find out S & H. Won't be surprised if I have to give up an arm and a leg for that. LOL

Helpful posts. I didn't have a backup when DH brought in some venison. I have an older model that was updated from my first one I got eons ago. I liked the second one because it has an override button (very important in my opinion) so when you have a bag that isn't sealing perfectly or you have delicate items you want sealed but not crushed you can override and still seal. I went and bought the new vertical model (don't remember the #) at Wally World (one of the few stores here unfortunately) I didn't think to try it out ahead of time and when DH got a 200# plus bear .... you guessed it. The new unit didn't work. I got it all unpacked, meat in the bag and NOTHING. Sales pitch was "Just insert the bag and the machine does the rest perfectly!" Problem was the part that pulls the bag in to start the operation didn't work. So out came the limping old one to put the meat up. I wouldn't be without one but I'm a little gun shy now about the newest models. Did you say you have a vertical one Mustang? Maybe I should try one again. It was $150 at Wally World too. Other than the override I prefer less bells and whistles. Less things to go wrong. But I wouldn't be without one. I just wish I could find my jar attachments that disappeared when I moved. I may have to buy another set of those too.