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!
Tricia
December 10, 2015I would love to own a system. I’ve been pricing them on
Amazon….so far I’m waiting for Santa.
Jennifer
December 10, 2015I love my FoodSaver system. Lately, I’ve been using it for sous vide, but using the FoodSaver system for yarn is great, too. You can use it for yarn storage (keeps the moths away when you don’t have an immediate use for your wool) or shipping. I had a vendor in Canada vacuum seal some yarn she mailed to me (in the USA) to cut down on package size/weight.
Mami2jcn
December 10, 2015It’s great for saving holiday cookies.
Mami2jcn
December 10, 2015tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/675022406747058177
Eva @ Eva Bakes
December 10, 2015When I buy clothes, they always seem to come with an extra button. I think the FoodSaver bags could help me contain them together so these extra pieces don’t get lost! #SweepstakesEntry
Julie Wood
December 10, 2015The Foodsaver can keep my Holiday treats fresh for days and it can also keep my flaxseed and chia seeds and nuts fresh for a lot longer in the freezer without getting freezer burn on it!
Julie Wood
December 10, 2015tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/675026823864909824
Elena
December 10, 2015I would use it to keep my homemade cookies fresh
Elena
December 10, 2015https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/675030539733200896
Kelly D
December 10, 2015I would use the FoodSaver System to seal and share Gingerbread Men cookies this Christmas.
Kelly D
December 10, 2015tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/675037992344551426
Jessica
December 10, 2015I’m buying a Nomiku, and I can do sous-vide with this.
Jessica
December 10, 2015https://twitter.com/probably_evil/status/675052413657681923
Colleen L
December 10, 2015We’ve been talking about getting one so we can try our hand at cooking suous-vide. I love the idea about using it for travel as well #SweepstakesEntry
Natalie
December 10, 2015I like to buy nuts in bulk but the problem is that they go bad. I would use the foodsaver system to seal my nuts and freeze them so that they keep longer. #SweepstakesEntry
Natalie
December 10, 2015https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/675117526079184896
Beccalecca
December 10, 2015I could use a foodsaver for packing memorabilia safely.#SweepstakesEntry
Jenny
December 10, 2015I’d use it for vanilla beans #SweepstakesEntry
Bianca @ Sweet Dreaming
December 10, 2015i would use it for keeping all the extra christmas cookies fresh!!
Sarah
December 10, 2015I would use it to keep the dreaded moths out of my woolens and yarn stash.
#SweepstakesEntry
Jessie C.
December 10, 2015The FoodSaver System can help with packing for my travels.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
Jessie C.
December 10, 2015tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/675163901458255872
Terry Z
December 10, 2015I would store my holiday candles that I only burn partially at Christmas.
Eileen
December 11, 2015I would use the food savor for packaging my jewelry when going on a trip to prevent loss and mess. #SweepstakesEntry
stephanie
December 11, 2015I love to marinade meat in the bag – never a leak! Sometimes I freeze it all together and let it defrost/marinade in the bag overnight. Also, I have sealed important documents in them. Thank you!
Kris
December 11, 2015I love the idea about using it for travel! And for moving!
Kristin Glad
December 11, 2015i would love to use it to freeze my homemade salami. #SweepstakesEntry
Katherine
December 12, 2015I’ve been looking at home sous vide machines – this would go hand-in-hand with that!
#SweepstakesEntry
Erika
December 12, 2015This would be great for extra produce and freezer meals!
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
Will G
December 13, 2015Foodsaver can work for me by letting me buy meats/veggies on a good sale #SweepstakesEntry
Will G
December 13, 2015https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/676146778811576320
Rachel
December 13, 2015I would use the foodsaver to help keep the Christmas ornament hooks together when I take everything down for the year. They always fall off and get lost. #SweepstakesEntry
Rachel
December 13, 2015https://twitter.com/RachelGriesmer/status/676163873905360896
Tina m
December 14, 2015I’d use it to store meats and seafood.
Tina m
December 14, 2015https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/676608445370531840
heather
December 15, 2015I would use the FoodSaver® System to also store small craft supplies.
kjasus
December 15, 2015i would use this to portion and cookie dough
kjasus
December 15, 2015https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/676955518674563073
Elle
December 16, 2015I can use it to keep my baked holiday items fresh for the ones I bake prior and then keeping the extra good to go for when we want it.
Elle
December 16, 2015Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/677149975529316352
Sarah H
December 16, 2015Every time I see one, I think about more uses! I’d love to be able to buy bulk meats and sausages and not worry about freezer burn! I love your ideas about storing holiday items too! #SweepstakesEntry
Karine Traverse
December 17, 2015Freezing complete meals, storing and shipping holiday cookies, storing baby clothes
Karine Traverse
December 17, 2015Tweeted https://mobile.twitter.com/SAHMofDQ/status/677561077903814656
debbie
December 19, 2015I’d love to have one of these. I’d use it to seal the Christmas cookies I bake throughout the month of December.
debbie
December 19, 2015https://twitter.com/suburbsanity/status/678343893340069889
Lydia
December 19, 2015I freeze chicken pot pies and fruit pies.
Lisa Brown
December 20, 2015I would use it to store crafting items that are small and loose so they do not get lost. #SweepstakesEntry
Lisa Brown
December 20, 2015tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/678560429153456129
Steven weber
December 20, 2015I would use it to store and seal christmas cookies
#sweepstakesentry
groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
Steven weber
December 20, 2015tweet- https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/678668551683575809