Cryovac machine

[Craigandmelanie]

G'day All
Would like some advice on cryovac machines, We will be leaving for a 5-6 week central Aussie
trip in September and will be off the grid for extended periods. We have seen others use Cryovac
machines in the past with varied effectiveness (some very messy in the bottom of the engel).
We would be looking for something that can be used with 12v also.
Any recommendations would be very helpful from those that have used in the real world

Cheers
Craig

[dales133]

Its not 12v but the best by fars the top of the line sunbeam.
I think companion make a 12v one

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[GROB]

Just get your butcher to do it for you in meal size portions

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Its not 12v but the best by fars the top of the line sunbeam.
I think companion make a 12v one

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They were available from Aldi just recently, not real cheap though.
Came with bags to get you started, as well.
You'd need an inverter to jump your 12V up to 240V/or generator to run it at camp.

[dales133]

The aldi bag rolls are good value... reminds me i could use some more

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[Craigandmelanie]

Thanks for the advice swaggers
Doh  just remembered but we have an inverter in the camper
Will be used for meat but also fruit and veg,pasta sauces etc.
will head to Hardly Normal and have a look at the sunbeam
Seems the key is a bit of practice at home before using on the road

Craig

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

You will need to check the power needs of the Cryovac and the Supply ability of the Inverter.

They may not play well together if the Inverter isn't capable enough.

[achjimmy]

Not sure there actually cryovacs tbh but vac sealers? Butchers systems work differently. Many years ago almost bought a $300 domestic model from a butchers suppliers only to find the identical model from crazy sales. for $65 !!! Years on still going strong and the 4 or 5 that I have recommended to family and friends the same although last look they were $50!!!

The important bits are the ability to remove and clean the vacuum chamber for when you suck in blood/juice and general cleaning. Able to use the widest bags available. And I like the seal only button as well.

Edit they are $80 now, still a bargin compared what the name brand and ones at camping shows sell for?

https://www.crazysales.com.au/online-maxkon-vacuum-food-saver-preservation-heat-sealer-w-free-bag-rolls-1011.html

[trinityalyce]

We picked one up on Ebay. Use it on a lot of things around home (cryovac meat, left overs, all sorts of things!) and definitely an essential item to help us pack efficiently when we head away.

The one thing I'll note - don't suck ground coffee through the vacuum. Hubby did that and had a heck of a job cleaning it all out. It works still, but no where near as efficiently as it did when we first got it.

[TonyF8]

I'm sure what you mean is a vacuum sealer. Cryovac is a registered trademark and a process, not an appliance. Cryovacing actually kills both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, whereas vacuum sealing only kills aerobic bacteria, as a previous poster said , leave it up to your butcher to cryovac your meats, it generally works out at $1 per kilo, thats a lot of professional cryovacing compared to buying a half a process appliance..

[KeithB]

WE bought a vac sealer for $58 on ebay plus a roll of bags, which also turned out top be very cheap. They are great for casseroles, curries and so on. Just freeze in a takeaway container in single serves then vac them. Chuck into a billy of water on the fire and dinner is ready in 20 minutes with no washing up. On a cold night after a long day together with an adult beverage, it's a Godsend.

[loanrangie]

I bought an Aldi one at the last sale for around $60 , 2nds world had the sunbeam for $70 recently.
 The Aldi one works well.

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[Nomad]

I have had the Maxkon one for a while now after my aldi one died after a few years.
When I bought the maxkon I thought it would be a max con but has turned out ok.

You have to stop sealing after 4 or 5 bags to let it cool a little but only for like 10 to 15 seconds.

Rolls from ebay or Aldi when they have them.

I like being able to buy meat in bulk and break it down to meal sizes and then freeze........together with the fridge in the car we can buy any meat we want wherever we are and then break it down.....i,e was in byron and bought a heap of bangalow pork and in Tiaro and bought a heap of the smoked bacon from butcher in the main street there.

[Frostd]

We bought a Kambrook vac sealer about 6 years ago, when we did Cape York for 6 weeks.  Since then we have used it on a 5 week trip to Uluru and currently on our National meet and Great ocean road trip.
We sealed all of our meat, including steaks, sausages, pork chops and mince.  We also make curries and spag bols, that we vac seal.  Make sure you either freeze first and vac, or do what we do, is place a piece of absorbent towel rolled up at the top of the bag, so the moisture doesn't get into the machine
One thing we found was chicken does not vac seal really well and I have refused to take vac sealed chook since - goes off quickly.

[JCAT]

We have an Aldi one and it's great. We used ours on our big trip for dinner meat, sandwich meat, bacon and even some vegies. Really reduces the space required in the fridge.

Ours would not run off our 300 watt invertor.

Just take it to a laundry at a van park and do it there if need be, thats what we did at Nitmiluk.

In Kununnurra we used the 240 volt at our site.

[Craigandmelanie]

Thanks all for your replies
Very informative, we have a 1000watt inverter so that side of things
shouldn't be a problem
Had a look today at Hardly Normal, cheapest unit was $199  so might
keep an eye out for the Aldi specials and have a look at them

Cheers

Craig

[Merts]

I'm sure what you mean is a vacuum sealer. Cryovac is a registered trademark and a process, not an appliance. Cryovacing actually kills both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, whereas vacuum sealing only kills aerobic bacteria, as a previous poster said , leave it up to your butcher to cryovac your meats, it generally works out at $1 per kilo, thats a lot of professional cryovacing compared to buying a half a process appliance..

You are correct that cryovac is a brand name, but wrong about the process. Vacuum sealers, including cryovac brand ones, don't kill bacteria, they simply remove the air and provide an impermeable barrier which prevents further bacterial infection, and drastically slows the growth rate of any bacteria which is already present. When you get a butcher to 'cryovac' meat, all they do is vacuum seal it into a plastic bag. You can do exactly the same thing yourself with a decent vacuum sealer at home.

[dales133]

Thanks all for your replies
Very informative, we have a 1000watt inverter so that side of things
shouldn't be a problem
Had a look today at Hardly Normal, cheapest unit was $199  so might
keep an eye out for the Aldi specials and have a look at them

Cheers

Craig

Yea mine was about 270 full retail but i paid less for it.
The aldi ones are ony 50 or so from memory

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[dales133]

I did just find this...god reviews and i think its 12v.

https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-food-vacuum-sealer/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_ads&gclid=CObMxJbIwNMCFRKAvQodwcMNww

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[trinityalyce]

The Aldi one appears OK. We bought one for a family member and gave it a go to demonstrate how to use it. I actually think its better than ours. Our Ebay one was roughly $100 I think, the Aldi one was $50. We also stock up on the bags/rolls when Aldi have them on sale.

[holsty]

We received one of these as a wedding gift.

It is an Orved Fast Vac Pro. Works really well and looks like it should last forever . More info https://www.orved.it/eng/products/external-vacuum-line/28/fast-vacuum/