You can buy bags in various sizes for the FoodSaver® System, as well as FoodSaver® Heat-Seal Rolls that will allow you to custom-make bags in any size you might need. The pre-sized bags are available in standard sizes like pint, quart and gallon, while the rolls come in different lengths to give you even more flexibility. I use the pre-sized bags when I have them on hand, but I must admit that I prefer to make my own bags from the rolls so that I can customize their size and make sure my bags are exactly the size I need.
And it turns out that I need a whole lot of bags.
So, besides food, what kinds of things can you store in a FoodSaver® bag? Almost anything. In the kitchen, I not only store foods that I want to keep fresh, but I store things that I only need seasonally – even if they’re not foods! For instance, I will stash all of my holiday cookie cutters in a large, custom-made bag and seal them up, then store them out in the garage with my other holiday decorations. Sealing up the cookie cutters keeps them clean, so when the next holiday season rolls around, I can simply cut the bag open and be ready to bake in seconds. The FoodSaver® bags can be reused when you are storing non-food items in them, so I will place the cutters back into the same bag and seal it up again for the next year.
In addition to cookie cutters, this is a convenient way to store other holiday decorations, from containers of the colorful sprinkles that you might use to top off your freshly decorated cookies to strings of colorful lights that you wrap around your Christmas tree. These seasonal items, like the cookie cutters, don’t necessarily need to be kept “fresh,” however I find that vacuum sealing them holds them together neatly and efficiently so that they take up less space wherever they are stored.
Outside of the kitchen, I use my FoodSaver® System for all kinds of other things. One of my favorite tricks is to bag up my toiletries for traveling. Sealing small bottles of shampoo and conditioner ensures that they won’t leak out after I pack them up and preparing the package in advance means that I can just grab it and go without worrying that I’m forgetting a vital container of body wash. The vacuum sealed package is also easier to pack, since I don’t need to worry about crushing it under my favorite shoes in my suitcase.
I’ve also put the FoodSaver® bags to work in my garage, sealing up screws, nails and other pointy objects that tend to poke holes (and my fingers) through weaker bags. Since I don’t typically need those nails on a daily basis (only when I’m working on weekend DIY projects), I simply snip open the bag and seal it back up with the FoodSaver® System for the next time. I also make sure to label all my bags with a permanent marker so I know exactly what is inside each one before I cut it open. There are an almost unlimited number of uses for the bags besides the few I’ve mentioned here. The FoodSaver® System’s utility in the kitchen is obvious, but once you start to realize how handy it can be outside of the kitchen, you’ll find that it is a useful tool throughout  a useful tool throughout your house and all year long.
Now for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, what other ways do you think the FoodSaver® System can work for you? Leave your answer in the comments below.
Entry Instructions:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post with the hashtag #SweepstakesEntry
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntryâ€; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post or with the hashtag #SweepstakesEntry, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 12/7/2015 – 12/31/2015
Be sure to visit FoodSaver® brand’s page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
Jessica To
December 20, 2015I would use it when I buy large packs of meat and want to divide it up.
Cynthia Voskamp
December 21, 2015I use the mason jar attachment and vacuum seal jars of rice, nuts, and granola to keep it fresh until needed.
Cynthia Voskamp
December 21, 2015oops. I forgot to #SweepstakesEntry
I use the mason jar attachment and vacuum seal mason jars of rice, nuts and granola to keep it fresh until needed.
Amy Tong
December 22, 2015Other way that I can use the food saver would be vacuum pack my holiday cookies for my friends and family! So they’ll get there fresh during shipping
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Amy Tong
December 22, 2015tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/679220900311359488
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Sandy Headtke
December 23, 2015I buy in bulk but can’t use it all at once. I freeze the family sized meats into a more manageable size portion.
Sandy Headtke
December 23, 2015https://twitter.com/SandyHeadtke/status/679719138403598336
Gina M
December 24, 2015I would buy in bulk at costco to save money, then store in food saver bags to keep items fresh.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
Gina M
December 24, 2015tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/680047796171501569
Thomas Murphy
December 24, 2015I would use it to seal up meats and freeze them.
Thomas Murphy
December 24, 2015tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/680277034334089216
Delores
December 25, 2015When my taxes have been filed, I put a copy of the completed return and all supporting documentation into a sealed bag and label it. It fits well within a file cabinet and is available for review if the IRS audits.
Maureen Namuki Simiyu
December 25, 2015#SweepstakesEntry I will use it when i buy in bulk!
Maureen Namuki Simiyu
December 25, 2015https://twitter.com/msim1994/status/680469230332989440
Melissa
December 25, 2015I would use this system to store small pieces of toys/games so they don’t get lost/misplaced #SweepstakesEntry
Aimee
December 25, 2015#sweepstakesentry I would love to have one of these in my house. I never thought about using it for nonfood storage.
ELIZABETH P
December 26, 2015I would use it for meats and crockpot meals.
ELIZABETH P
December 26, 2015https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/680886373675474944
Tabathia B
December 26, 2015#SweepstakesEntry I would use it for leftover turkey and ham
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B
December 26, 2015tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/680986205626970112
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
shelly peterson
December 27, 2015This would be good for left overs and for freezing meat
cshell090869 at aol dot com
shelly peterson
December 27, 2015tweeted
https://twitter.com/cshell202/status/681047307949752320
cshell090869 at aol dot com
Tamara
December 27, 2015I’d really LOVE to have this for my veggies. I don’t always eat a whole avocado or banana, and they can deteriorate quickly, so the FoodSaver would be perfect. #SweepstakesEntry
westiemks5 at yahoo dot com
Tamara
December 27, 2015Tweeted! https://twitter.com/calebaw3s0m3/status/681203876599480320
Susan Smith
December 27, 2015I would use it to store holiday leftovers.
Susan Smith
December 27, 2015https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/681227450437664768
Janice Cooper
December 27, 2015I would use it to freeze fruits and vegetables in bag
Janice Cooper
December 27, 2015https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/681320560874393600
Cynthia C
December 28, 2015I love sealing my pantry items in mason jars to keep them fresh and pest free. I had an infestation of pantry moths once and I don’t want to go through that again!
Cynthia C
December 28, 2015I forgot to add the #SweepstakesEntry in my comment – sorry.
Cynthia C
December 28, 2015Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/681545407084806147
Deb Ford
December 28, 2015Would be perfect to store the nuts I buy in bulk to keep them fresh for when I need them for my holiday recipes.
Seyma Shabbir
December 29, 2015FoodSaver® System can work for me! I can freeze foods for cooking later especially cookie dough!
Seyma Shabbir
December 29, 2015https://twitter.com/SeymaShabbir/status/682053420459638784
Seyma Shabbir
December 29, 2015FoodSaver® System can work for me! I can freeze foods for cooking later especially cookie dough! #SweepstakesEntry
Jeffrey
December 30, 2015The FoodSaver would save me money by allowing me to purchase meats on sale and storing them in the freezer for a longer period of time.
Jeffrey
December 30, 2015I tweeted: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/682233030325440513.
Jeffrey
December 30, 2015Sorry, I left out the #SweepstakesEntry in my comment.
Stephanie Phelps
December 30, 2015I buy bulk in frozen and canned fruits and veggies and use it to make them in to family size #SweepstakesEntry
Stephanie Phelps
December 30, 2015I tweeted #SweepstakesEntry
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/682333273620480000
Margaret Smith
December 30, 2015This would be great for when we buy meat and divide into meal size servings.
Margaret Smith
December 30, 2015Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/682371069131550722
Emily N.
December 30, 2015I think this would be great for bulk foods.
Debbie B
December 30, 2015#SweepstakesEntry I plan to buy meat in bulk when it is on sale and seal it with my foodsaver – i have just started using the foodsaver so i am sure i will learn new ways use it
Emily N.
December 30, 2015https://twitter.com/prizepuzzle/status/682386520364466176
Debbie B
December 30, 2015i posted a tweet here: https://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/682391859444846592
#SweepstakesEntry
Ellie Wright
December 30, 2015I would use it to seal all the fudge and other baked goods I bake and share with family and friends. #SweepstakesEntry
Ellie Wright
December 30, 2015tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/682451529408888833
Betty C
December 30, 2015This would come in very handy for sealing bags of tiny little craft items. Beads especially could be stored in a fraction of the space usually needed.
Betty C
December 30, 2015Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/682467066583101443