It is easy to buy a tube of pre-made cookie dough in the grocery store when you want to have an easy-to-make dessert on hand, but I like to make my cookie dough from scratch. Homemade cookies generally use better ingredients and you have complete control over the “mix-ins” that you add to your cookie dough base, which gives you a lot more flavor options than the few pre-made choices out there. I don’t always have time to make cookie dough from scratch when I’m in the mood for some homemade cookies, so I try to plan ahead.
Slice and bake cookies are the perfect type of cookie to make in advance. The dough needs to be refrigerated or frozen before baking, so you can fill your freezer with a few batches of dough and they will be ready any time you want to bake. The one problem with this technique is that the dough won’t stay fresh in the freezer unless it is carefully wrapped. The pre-made cookie doughs are packed in airtight tubes, so they never get frostbite or dry out, which can happen if you are using foil or plastic wrap.
Lately, I’ve taken to vacuum packing my slice-n-bake dough with the FoodSaver® System. The FoodSaver® brand gave me a free FoodSaver® System to try out. The FoodSaver® System vacuum seals my cookie dough in cut-to-size baggies and allows me to keep that dough fresh for as long as I need to – that that means that my cookie dough will last for months in the freezer instead of just weeks and I will always be ready to bake on a moment’s notice!
The FoodSaver® System comes with both bags and rolls that you can seal, using the machine, into bags of any size you like. I always use the custom bag option because it gives me complete freedom over how much – or how little – dough I store at one time. I highly recommend dividing your dough into small portions before freezing it. Not only does this mean that you will be able to bake a half dozen cookies (a perfect snack for two!) at a time instead of having to bake a few dozen (better for parties than everyday!), but it also means that you can turn one batch of dough into multiple flavors by adding different spices, extracts, chocolate chips and nuts to your dough for variety. You definitely can’t do that with the pre-made stuff!
Of course, there are all kinds of things you can do with the FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealing System besides packing and portioning cookie dough so that you always look like a domestic god or goddess. You can portion out meat, veggies and berries that you might want to keep fresh in the freezer until you need them. You can quick-marinate meats and mushrooms. You can also pack up snacks that you simply want to keep fresh. The system is pretty fun to use and I admit that I have vacuum sealed things just for the heck of it a few times.
As part of a unique experiment, the FoodSaver® brand is currently running a live fridge where you can see how long food lasts. And you can win one of these systems for your own kitchen as part of the #FoodSaverFridge Experience Live Contest. Here is what you need to know:
- Winners will receive a FoodSaver® System valued at $200.
- There are two ways to enter (1) Fans can upload an image to Instagram of their fridge organized with FoodSaver bags and containers, use the #FoodSaverFridge and tag at FoodSaver (@FoodSaver) Instagram handle to be entered via social or (2) Fans can also visit the FoodSaverFridge page by visiting livefridge.foodsaver.com and enter their email address.
- The contest runs 9/8-10/18. You can enter once via social and once via email.
If you can’t wait for the results of the contest, you can purchase your own at FoodSaver.com, at Amazon.com or at other select retailers
In the comments below, let me know if you try my vacuum-packing cookie dough method – and tell me about anything else you’ve tried to vacuum pack! One lucky commenter will win a $100 Visa gift card!
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 9/24/2015 – 10/31/2015
Be sure to visit FoodSaver® Brand’s page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
Margaret Smith
October 4, 2015I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/650786507138170880
Thanks again.
Shannon
October 4, 2015https://twitter.com/channynn/status/650843516696854529
Shannon
October 4, 2015We would use this to save and freeze leftovers.
Amy Tong
October 4, 2015You are so clever! That definitely is a great way to pre-made cookie dough! For myself, I would use the Food Saver for bulk meat, fresh herbs, and smoothie packages. 🙂
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Amy Tong
October 4, 2015tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/650891961201594368
amy [at] utry [dot] it
ms tk
October 5, 2015i think freezing cookie dough for later is a great idea and vacuum packing them would make them last longer and stay fresher too! I haven’t tried vacuum packing anything before, but I would definitely do this if I had a Food Saver.
Jeffrey
October 6, 2015Your cookie dough method is an awesome idea, great time saver especially during the holidays. Plus the cookies would be fresher when you bake them the same day rather than days in advance.
Jeffrey
October 6, 2015I posted a tweet: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/651427697151844353.
Jeffrey
October 6, 2015Sorry, forgot the #SweepstakesEntry on my previous post.
latanya
October 6, 2015a great way to help prolong the life of my veggies #SweepstakesEntry
latanya
October 6, 2015https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/651537459575189504
sandra
October 7, 2015to save leftovers
Ty
October 7, 2015I’ve never tried vacuum sealing anything before but I have wanted too. I never thought of doing cookie dough though, the idea is brilliant especially with the holidays coming up and all that baking I plan on doing. #SweepstakesEntry
Kimmy Ripley
October 8, 2015I have never tried this method for cookie dough but I would like to try it with leftovers and food-prep!
Judith VanAlphen
October 12, 2015entry https://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/653597815717818368
Collette
October 12, 2015#SweepstakesEntry This cookie dough idea is wonderful and has the added benefit of keeping the cookie dough from prying hands! Because frozen cookie dough does taste amazing. I mostly vacuum seal meat after going to Costco. I haven’t tried a lot else but I’d like to. I should do the cheese…hmmm…
Carolsue
October 13, 2015I haven’t tried it yet, but with Christmas baking coming upon us, you can be I will be trying it!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Kristen
October 14, 2015I’d love to be able to buy big family size packages of chicken and be able to repack them into smaller amounts in a way that they would really last nicely in the freezer.
Kristen
October 14, 2015tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/654482458159636480
Gina M
October 16, 2015I would use it to freeze meats and cheese that I buy in bulk.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
Gina M
October 16, 2015tweet-https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/655051815407460352
Stephanie Phelps
October 16, 2015I will be trying the cookie dough method my kids love it and I have done veggies and meat in mine!
Stephanie Phelps
October 16, 2015I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/655087418383601664
Jennai
October 18, 2015I would use it to store leftover frozen vegetables and also chopped onions
jenniferanne74@aol.com
Rebecca Graham
October 19, 2015I haven’t vacuum packed anything yet but want to.
Betty C
October 20, 2015At one time I had a sealing appliance but it didn’t have the vacuum and it wasn’t much better than using regular zipper bags. I think the FoodSaver would save so many things from spoiling and I could fill my refrigerator and freezer with money saving meals.
Betty C
October 20, 2015Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/656506496541298688
Susan Smith
October 20, 2015I have used the Foodsaver System to help keep my foods fresh in the refridgerator and to help me prep foods in advance to freeze.
Susan Smith
October 20, 2015https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/656614721987067905
Kathryn C
October 23, 2015#SweepstakesEntry
I have never tried vacuum-packing but I would definitely use it to save money in buying/separating & freezing bulk meats
KC
kacor7@hotmail.com
Kathryn C
October 23, 2015#SweepstakesEntry tweet:
https://twitter.com/thrincor/status/657579174404714496
KC
kacor7@hotmail.com
D Schmidt
October 23, 2015I would love to try to do something with fruit, mostly stone fruit.
D Schmidt
October 23, 2015tweetd https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/657698213315657728
Kerry
October 23, 2015What a great idea – I think I will try this! I have also used mine to freeze berries for smoothies.
Kerry
October 23, 2015tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/657719950874955779
mysweetiepiepie
October 25, 2015I’ve never had a vacuum sealer before but am eager to try it out on all kinds of things, including slice-and-bake cookies.
Henria O.
October 27, 2015I have never owned one of these before but I would use the Foodsaver for keeping my fruits, vegetables and cheeses fresh.
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
Henria O.
October 27, 2015Tweeted: https://twitter.com/sazzyfrazzy/status/659089299191652352
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
maria cantu
October 28, 2015#Sweepstakes Entry I have not used a vacuum sealer before.
ELIZABETH P
October 28, 2015I would love to make some freezer crockpot meals.
ELIZABETH P
October 28, 2015https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/659487451954581504
Aurelie Red
October 29, 2015I’ve never tried vacuum sealing anything before but I like your idea !
Aurelie Red
October 29, 2015My tweet https://twitter.com/AurelieRed/status/659679954666418176
angie
October 29, 2015I’ve never actually vacuum packed anything in my life. I don’t cook much, so it is not something that I really have a need for. :-/
angie
October 29, 2015I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/659720712001843200
Tarissa
October 29, 2015I’ve never done vacuum-packing before, but I’d like to try it out in the kitchen for veggies and fruits.
Tarissa
October 29, 2015Tweeted! https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/659812268218028032
amanda sakovitz
October 29, 2015I would use it for veggie meal prep
Ellie Wright
October 29, 2015I have never vacuum packed anything before, but think it’s a great idea! #SweepstakesEntry
Ellie Wright
October 29, 2015tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/659850448040411136